Laura Teicher Bonnell, President
Laura Bonnell is the founder and CEO of The Bonnell Foundation: Living with Cystic Fibrosis. Her connection to cystic fibrosis began when her daughters, Molly and Emily, were born with the disease. Laura and her husband, Joe, were shocked to learn they were both CF carriers, despite having 10 siblings between them and no family history of CF.
A Detroit news reporter for 25 years, Laura used her journalism and storytelling skills to raise awareness and give a voice to families living with CF. She began fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, created the Portraits of Cystic Fibrosis calendars in 2003, and hosted the first Celebrity Softball Game featuring the Detroit Tigers’ wives.
In 2010, Laura founded The Bonnell Foundation to provide emotional and financial support to CF families. Today, she continues to advocate for the CF community and work toward a future where no family has to navigate CF alone.
Lori Tournay Liggett, Vice President
Lori Tournay Liggett is a founding board member of The Bonnell Foundation and continues to be honored to support Laura Bonnell and her mission to help families affected by cystic fibrosis navigate the emotional and financial challenges of the disease. Lori is a dynamic sales and media manager who has built her career around strong relationships, creative marketing, and helping businesses connect with their audiences. She brings a strategic and collaborative leadership style to everything she does, with a passion for building relationships, growing business, and supporting the people and organizations she believes in.
Patricia B. Jaeger, Treasurer
With more than 20 years of experience as an IT Coordinator at a local Catholic high school, I bring a practical, service-focused approach to technology and supporting the people who rely on it every day. I am committed to helping students, educators, and staff use technology effectively in an environment grounded in community and faith.
For more than 13 years, I have volunteered with the Bonnell Foundation as Treasurer, helping manage medical-assistance payments for individuals and families affected by Cystic Fibrosis. Serving on the Board allows me to use my skills to help families during some of the most difficult times in their lives. I believe in responsible stewardship, compassion, and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
Outside of work and volunteering, I enjoy being a grandmother to my one-year-old grandson. My husband and I spend one day each week caring for him, which brings us great joy.
Cathy Nagle, Board Member
I met Laura more than 25 years ago because our kids were in school together. Watching the Bonnell family navigate the girl’s Cystic Fibrosis journey has been enlightening and inspiring. She has taught me so much about CF, the rare disease community and all that goes into managing life-long medical conditions.
I’ve volunteered with The Bonnell Foundation for more than six years, serving as a Board Member and Secretary and helping develop and launch both the Hand in Hand Mentoring Program and the Hospital Bag Program. I continue to run the Hospital Bag Program from my home, making sure families receive a little extra comfort and support when they need it most.
For me, volunteering with a nonprofit is about filling the gaps in our community and helping people in meaningful ways. I truly get more from this work than I could ever give.
Outside of the Foundation, I’m a wife, mother of four, and grandmother of three. I’m a retired physical therapist and continue to be involved with three nonprofits. I love spending time with my family and friends—and whenever we can, we head up north!
Rae (Rachel) Alder, Board Member
Rae recently overcame racial bias, health disparity, and rapid health deterioration to finally receive the correct diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF) in January 2023 at the age of 26. Subsequently, Rae has shifted her focus to patient advocacy, particularly in health equity and for all other Biopic folks facing cystic fibrosis.
Sathab Abbo, Board Member
I’ve been with the Bonnell Foundation since around 2022 or 2023 and being part of this organization has given me a strong sense of purpose.
As a Board member, I know that my fellow board members and I are taking steps every day to help change the lives of people impacted by Cystic Fibrosis. Being able to bring comfort, education, and support to families as they navigate this rare disease gives me a real sense of accomplishment and gratitude.
I volunteer because I believe in the power of community and in being there for people when they need it most. Through the Bonnell Foundation, we are not only providing support, but we are also building a community of care around CF and helping families feel less alone along the way.
Jane Mitchell, Board Member
I have been proud to serve on the board of The Bonnell Foundation for more than seven years, and most importantly, I am a proud mom of an amazing teenager with cystic fibrosis.
After my daughter’s newborn screening results and nearly losing her at birth, my life changed. I became an advocate for my daughter and my family, and along the way, I have had the privilege of forming meaningful connections with CF families across the country. I know firsthand how isolating and overwhelming it can be to navigate life with a chronic disease.
Being part of The Bonnell Foundation gives me the opportunity to support other families with compassion, help raise awareness, and advocate for the CF community. I am so grateful to work alongside Laura Bonnell and our dedicated board as we continue to support CF families wherever they are.
thebonnellfoundation@gmail.com
Anne Lichtenberg, Board Member
I have the honor and privilege of being part of The Bonnell Foundation since 2020. My experience with cystic fibrosis began with family and grew through a friendship that helped me understand CF from a mom’s and family’s perspective.
As a board member, I’m able to combine my personal experience and knowledge of CF with my curiosity, passion, and commitment to raising awareness, educating others, and supporting those affected by CF. I’m proud to advocate for individuals with CF and the families and friends who surround them.
I believe we are all called to love, support, and care for one another, and being part of this foundation allows me to live out that calling. The Bonnell Foundation provides education, resources, support, and awareness for people with CF, their families, and the communities that love them. Being able to share that support allows me to bring together my passion as a mom and a nurse to promote wellness, love, and connection.
Olga Kaiafas, Bookkeeper
I joined The Bonnell Foundation as the Bookkeeper in early 2025. I’ve always enjoyed working with numbers, staying organized, and managing finances, so I’m grateful to be able to use those skills to support an organization with such an important mission.
What I enjoy most about my role is knowing that the work I do behind the scenes helps the foundation support families affected by cystic fibrosis. Whether it’s through financial assistance, scholarships, the podcast, or other programs, it’s incredibly rewarding to see how the foundation makes a difference in people’s lives.
I especially enjoy working with Laura and the foundation’s board members. Laura’s dedication to families living with CF is truly inspiring. Her passion for the foundation’s mission, along with the commitment of the board, makes me very proud to be part of this organization.
Outside of work, I love to travel, especially to Greece, my family’s native country. Family is very important to me, and I especially love spending time with my nephews, who I absolutely adore.
I feel very fortunate to be part of The Bonnell Foundation and to contribute my skills to an organization that is making such a meaningful difference for families living with CF.
Cesar Hernandez, The Bonnell Foundation CF Familia influencer and Board Member
I am the father of Alexander Hernandez, a brave young man living with cystic fibrosis. I have been involved with the Bonnell Foundation for approximately three years.
I have had the privilege of supporting people and sharing words of encouragement with those beginning their journey with CF, especially within the Spanish-speaking community. Living with CF can be difficult, and members of the Hispanic community can sometimes feel isolated.
I volunteer with the Bonnell Foundation because I have seen firsthand how even a small amount of help can make a real difference. Although the Foundation cannot provide a permanent solution to every challenge, it can be there for families when they need it most. Being part of the Board gives me an opportunity to support others, build community, and remind families that they are not alone.
Roberta Jasina, Honorary Chair & Friend of the Foundation
Jasina worked at WWJ Newsradio 950 for 35 years, and that’s where she met Laura. Over the years, Jasina did many stories about CF to help raise awareness. Jasina met her husband Alan at Michigan State University (Go Green). They have two grown sons and a daughter-in-law.
Dayna Clark, Honorary Chair
Dayna Clark is back home on the “Great Voice of the Great Lakes” every weekday morning on WJR as part the of the Paul W. Smith Show team. Clark adds her own flair to traffic, weather and entertainment reports.
Clark’s mother, Val Clark was a reporter on WXYZ-TV7 for 20 years. When the CF gene was discovered in part by Dr. Frances Collins (former NIH director and Professor at the University of Michigan), Val Clark was there (as was Laura Bonnell before she even knew she had a CF story to tell). Dayna and Laura became friends when they both worked together and because their children went to the same school. Clark has a son, Noah, and daughter, Noel.
