Shelter names new leader

Friendship Shelter, which just celebrated its 20th anniversary, has a new leader.

Dawn Price has been named to the post of executive director at the Shelter, and will serve as the organization’s chief executive.

Price is an experienced nonprofit manager who recently relocated to Orange County with her husband, Jerry, who is the new vice chancellor and dean of students at Chapman University, according to Shelter officials.

She most recently served for four years as chief executive for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Rio Grande Valley, Texas.

Previous to that appointment, Price served three years as vice president of external affairs for Planned Parenthood of Greater Iowa, where she was responsible for development and public relations.

She launched her career at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Price has a master’s degree in mass communication from Drake University and a bachelor’s in English from Carthage College, Wisconsin.

Her son, Preston Henry Price, has begun his sophomore year at Laguna Beach High School.

Friendship Shelter has also announced the establishment of 20th Anniversary Trustees, a select group of philanthropists who have made a commitment to people facing challenges and to enhancing quality of life in the community.

Trustees serve a two-year term, by invitation, and act as advisors to the chief executive and the executive committee of the board. The inaugural group of trustees includes Keith and Judy Swayne, John and Lisa Mansour, Bill and Cindy Shopoff and Bill Witte and Keiko Sakamoto.

“This community has been nurtured by an impressive array of leaders, including many who have been with us from the beginning, most notably [Shelter] founder [the Rev.] Colin Henderson,” Price said. “An energetic and talented staff — led so tirelessly by Carol Rhoads — has brought new life to programs and facilities, with the help of so many supporters and volunteers. I am honored to join this auspicious community and look forward to meeting the many friends of Friendship Shelter in the days and weeks to come.”

Friendship Shelter was founded in 1988, and has served more than 5,000 homeless adults in Orange County.

The organization offers shelter and support services in Laguna Beach and transitional living apartments in San Clemente, operates the only year-round shelter in South County, and is known as the most comprehensive homeless service provider in the area.

For more information visit www.friendshipshelter.org or call (949) 494-6928.

CINDY FRAZIER is city editor of the Coastline Pilot. She can be contacted at (949) 494-2087 or cindy.frazier@latimes.com.