Laura Teicher Bonnell, President
The Bonnell Foundation was founded in 2010. Laura Bonnell came up with the idea after her daughters, Molly and Emily were born with the disease. With 10 siblings between them Laura and Joe had no idea they were carriers. No one else in either family was diagnosed with CF. A news reporter for 25 years Bonnell used her expertise as a journalist in Detroit, to get the word out about CF. Bonnell continues to advocate for all things CF. Prior to starting her Foundation (in 2010) Bonnell raised funds by hosting the Detroit Tigers’ wives in the first Celebrity Softball game. In 2003 Bonnell began the Portraits of cystic fibrosis calendars. Both fundraisers remain a part of The Bonnell Foundation. Prior to her Foundation, Laura (and family) raised funds for the CF Foundation.
Lori Tournay Liggett, Vice President
Lori is a founding member of The Bonnell Foundation. Lori adds her expertise in marketing and organizational planning. Lori’s passion started with her friendship with Laura, and their daughter’s friendship. Lori currently works at the General Sales Manager for Cumulus Media in Nashville.
Patricia B. Jaeger, Treasurer
Patty is the Learning Resource Coordinator at Shrine Catholic High School in Royal Oak. Jaeger works with students, faculty, and staff on all of their technology challenges. Jaeger joined the Bonnell Foundation after witnessing Laura’s daughters’ growth and health struggles at Shrine. Jaeger’s organizational skills and ease with numbers make her the perfect fit as the Treasurer. Jaeger is married to her high school sweetheart, and they have three grown men impacting the world.
Cathy Nagle, Board Member
Nagle is a friend of Laura’s, and her fourth child, Grace, and Laura’s daughter Emily, are friends. Nagle is a retired physical therapist. Nagle says she is honored to serve on The Bonnell Foundation Board, and to serve the CF community.
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
Abbo is a single mother of two young women. She met Laura through a mutual friend and happily joined the Board. Abbo is an attorney with the Office of General Counsel at Ford Motor Company, where she specializes in the area of Commercial Transactions and IT Contract Law. When she’s not working, she enjoys cooking, baking, entertaining, arts, culture, reading and travel.
Jane Mitchell, Board Member
When first meeting Laura, a fellow CF Mom, I immediately saw this fun, amazing woman with passion who has committed herself to improve the lives of other CF families. So when I was asked to join her on her mission, I felt honored to become a Board Member of the Bonnell Foundation. Mitchell is currently getting her master’s degree in social work while raising her two kids, one of whom has CF. Jane’s husband is the general manager of a TV station in Memphis. As a CF mom, I hope to share the hope, strength and knowledge I have gained and continue to work on through this CF roller coaster ride of life.
thebonnellfoundation@gmail.com
Anne Lichtenberg, Board Member
Anne enjoys spending time surrounded by her faith, family, and friends. She has three grown children; JP, Eric, and Clara, and husband John. She is a nurse at Beaumont, and helps patients prepare for surgery. She has been a part of Shrine and Royal Oak her entire life, minus the four years she spent in Ann Arbor for college and where she met John. Anne learned about and became involved with CF back in 1991 when her cousin’s twins were diagnosed. Being able to help care for and nurture Catherine and Elizabeth into the healthy young ladies they are today is a gift Anne will always cherish. Anne is honored and excited to be a part of The Bonnell Foundation.
Ying Li, Junior Accountant/Bookkeeper
Ying Li is thrilled to join the Bonnell Foundation as a Junior Accountant/Bookkeeper. She is currently finishing her dual Master’s degree program in MBA and MS of Accountancy at Walsh College. Ying and her husband Ning, who has a Ph.D. in Astronautical Engineering from the University of Southern California, are raising their two young kids in Rochester Hills. Ying really enjoys working with organizations that help individuals and communities. She loves volunteering a lot at her school district and community, such as organizing field trips and various festival events.
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 as part the of the Paul W. Smith Show team. Clark adds her own flair to traffic, weather and entertainment reports.
Clarks 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 U 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.
