MDF Staff
Molly K. White, Executive Director
Molly White joined the Foundation in January 2012 as Executive Director to provide leadership, strategic direction and administrative oversight for the comprehensive programmatic and fundraising efforts of the Foundation and its staff. Molly has over 25 years of leadership-level experience building, implementing and running award-winning domestic and international community programs for organizations in both the private and nonprofit sectors. She has created partnerships with a range of governmental, nonprofit and private sector stakeholders to launch initiatives targeting key national issues such as childhood obesity prevention and components of health care reform.
Molly began her career in the nonprofit sector as a program and fundraising professional for several San Francisco-based nonprofits before moving to the private sector to build corporate social responsibility teams and initiatives for employers and clients that included Gap, Inc., Nike, Inc., Visa, Inc., Sony, Williams Sonoma/Pottery Barn, AAA, the Apollo Group and others. She also led strategic planning and program development efforts for nonprofit clients that included the Ford Foundation, The Wilderness Society, The Estate Project for Artists with AIDS and Canyon Ranch Institute.
Molly earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Montana, and her Master of Arts from the University of Iowa. She has received certification from the Center for Corporate Community Relations, Boston University; the Fund Raising School, Center on Philanthropy, Indiana University; and has served as a board member for numerous community organizations, including the Larkspur-Corte Madera School District, Larkspur, CA; Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA; National Association to Promote Physical Activity, Washington, DC; and Active Living By Design, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.
Working with the committed and talented board and staff of MDF, and joining in their work on behalf of increased quality of life and ultimately a cure for DM patients, is proving to be one of highpoints of Molly’s career, personally and professionally. She considers her new role at the Foundation to be both a tremendous responsibility, and a gift.
Contact: molly.white@myotonic.org
Lisa M. Harvey, Community Development and Research Director
Lisa Harvey is currently the Community Development and Research Director for the foundation. She served on the Board of Directors from January 2007 until September 2010 and was the founding Executive Director from May 2008 until January 2012. Lisa has been instrumental in driving the MDF from a start-up into a thriving non-profit including laying the groundwork and structure of the organization, launching the first educational and research programs, growing the staff and supporting families in crisis. Lisa's new role as the Community Development and Research Director will be instrumental in bringing the community of families and researchers together to expedite treatments for this disease.
Lisa was born in Tokyo, Japan where she spent her childhood and attended the American School in Japan (ASIJ). Lisa received her Bachelor of Science in Business from Auburn University where she played varsity athletics. After several years in public relations, marketing and merchandising positions, Lisa earned an International MBA in Marketing and Japanese from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. Prior to joining the MDF, Lisa was a Senior Product Manager at eBay. Lisa’s career at eBay provided her with extensive and varied experiences in international markets and managing complex projects. During her tenure at eBay, Lisa received the prestigious all-company Jeff Skoll Community Award for excellence in serving the eBay community.
In addition to her formal academic achievements, Lisa has trained as an emergency medical technician, provided crisis counseling to families in as part of the Trauma Intervention Program (TIP) with the Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments, and studied physiology, anatomy and psychology of disability as part of a physical therapy training program. In March 2010, Lisa joined the advisory committee of the University of California Davis, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. More recently, Lisa joined an author panel convened by the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) to help write an evidence-based guideline on "Myotonic Dystrophies."
Lisa, and her daughter Kayla live in Capitola, California, a small community south of San Francisco. Kayla was born in July, 2005 with the congenital form of myotonic dystrophy. Kayla's birth was the catalyst for Lisa's involvement in and dedication to help in the effort to find treatments and a cure for myotonic dystrophy.
Contact: lisa.harvey@myotonic.org
Amy Cavallaro, Development Manager
Amy Cavallaro has been with the Foundation since June 2009. As the MDF’s first Executive Assistant, Amy‘s focus was centered on helping families and medical providers access the educational resources the MDF has to offer. As the Foundation grew she helped the Executive Director develop a strong and effective infrastructure ensuring the MDF achieves its goals to support the myotonic dystrophy community through education, advocacy, research and hope. Now, as the Development Manager, Amy is the key contact for families who are advocating and fundraising on behalf of the MDF. She is also a key member of the annual conference planning team and active in the cultivation of private foundation and corporate financial support that will allow the MDF to continue to serve the DM community and fulfill our mission.
Prior to joining the MDF, Amy spent several years working in various management positions in the health and fitness industry and seven years in marketing and communications for various financial services companies. She lives in Roseville, California with her family.
Contact: amy.cavallaro@myotonic.org
