Extraordinary Lives Foundation

Profile Current (Last updated: Apr 10, 2025 )

MANAGEMENT

CEO/Executive Director

Mara J. James

CEO/Executive Director Experience

Born & raised in New York City, Mara attended the University of Rochester, graduating with double majors in Psychology and Economics. After college, Mara worked for Drexel Burnham Lambert, Swiss Bank Corporation and Credit Suisse First Boston, where she was Vice President of Foreign Exchange Operations. In 2007, Mara and her family relocated to Orange County, California, where Mara helped start and manager her husband's OBGYN practice. Mara has also organized extracurricular activities and several fundraisers for her children’s school. She is a past board member for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation in New York, where she co-chaired the Foundation’s annual Neiman Marcus sponsored luncheon two years in a row. Mara started ELF from scratch and is already making a significant impact in bringing awareness to mental health issues. ​Mara is the author of "The Power of Piggie Bear," which is being donated to at-risk children and children's school programs to help increase Emotional Intelligence.

Staff Information

Number of Full-Time Staff 1
Number of Part-Time Staff 0
Number of Volunteers 25
Number of Contract Staff 5

Staff Demographics

Ethnicity
Caucasian 6
Hispanic/Latino 0
African American/Black 0
Native American/American Indian 0
Asian Americans/Pacific Islander 0
Gender
Male 1
Female 5
Not Specified 0

CONTACT

Extraordinary Lives Foundation

26800 Crown Valley Parkway
Suite 460
Mission VIejo, CA 92691

Mara James

mara@elfempowers.org

Phone: 949-315 9735

www.ELFempowers.org