Every Tuesday night With Mariya
Tuesday December 27, 2022
Mariya Palanjian's interview with Autumn Strier.
Autumn Strier is the Co-Founder/CEO of Miracles for Kids, a 501(c)(3) non-profit serving children with life-threatening illnesses and the families that care for them. Since 2004, she has led the organization from humble beginnings as an employee contribution program to a significant resource for families in crisis throughout Southern California and beyond. Today, Miracles for Kids provides financial aid, shelter, basic necessities, counseling, and other long-term aid for 2,000+ families with children battling over 150 life-threatening illnesses or conditions. Strier has remained a driving force within the industry, proudly serving as the chief architect of all organizational programs and services, as well as its lead fundraiser, bringing in nearly $30 million within the last 18 years.
Putting herself through school, Strier earned her Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with a minor in International Relations from the University of California at Santa Barbara. She went on to earn a Master’s of Public Administration in Nonprofit Management (with honors) from New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Her early career was spent helping to co-found an internationally-affiliated training and resource center for non-profit management in Santa Barbara County. She then served as assistant to the Finance Director and City Manager for the City of Carpinteria, California.
During her time in New York, Strier gained valuable experience at Morgan Stanley, assisting governments, authorities, and non-profit organizations to structure/finance public sector projects in the municipal bond market. While there, she also spent nearly three years working for the Giuliani Administration, assisting in the oversight of high profile projects for the Deputy Mayor for Operations and Office of Management and Budget. Her proven track record of success continued with her work as the Statewide Public Policy Manager for the New Jersey chapters of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Among other responsibilities, she directed statewide public policy affairs for the organization and lobbied on behalf of people with disabilities in Washington, DC.
With a steadfast focus on serving those in great need, Strier consistently lives out a passion for - and dedication to - her community, extending well beyond her role at Miracles for Kids. She has served for five years as the President of the Board of Orange County’s first online public school, Epic Charter School. She is also a 12-year member of Alder, an organization of select national thought leaders focused on generational leadership. As a member of the National Charity League, Strier and her daughters volunteer actively for various regional charities. Building a reputation for her tireless dedication, business acumen, and entrepreneurship, she earned an annual spot on the Orange County Business Journal’s “Women in Business” Honoree awards list from 2010-2021. In addition, OC Metro magazine named her one of 2009’s “Top 40 Business Leaders Under 40.”
Strier has worked as a staff member or volunteer within the non-profit sector for most of her life, serving populations such as the homeless, elderly, battered women, families in transition, and those with incurable diseases, among others. Her experiences have shaped and deepened her passion for helping others, which is one of the main reasons she has dedicated her life to this field. She currently resides in South Orange County with her husband, their three children, and four dogs.
Social Media/Websites: Instagram @MiraclesForKids
