Kelly Zajfen
Co-Founder, Alliance of Moms
FRANCIS M. WHEAT COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Honoree
Kelly McKee Zajfen is a mother, advocate, and community builder whose work has long centered on supporting children and families across Los Angeles. As a Board Member of the Alliance for Children’s Rights and co-founder of the Alliance of Moms, she has devoted years to standing alongside young people in foster care, especially pregnant and parenting youth so they have the support, stability, and opportunities they deserve.
Kelly Zajfen
Co-Founder, Alliance of Moms
FRANCIS M. WHEAT COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD Honoree
Kelly McKee Zajfen is a mother, advocate, and community builder whose work has long centered on supporting children and families across Los Angeles. As a Board Member of the Alliance for Children’s Rights and co-founder of the Alliance of Moms, she has devoted years to standing alongside young people in foster care, especially pregnant and parenting youth so they have the support, stability, and opportunities they deserve.
Her commitment to this work comes from a place of deep empathy and lived experience. Through the Alliance of Moms, Kelly has helped build a community of women who believe in equity, access, and love as catalysts for meaningful change. Their programs provide parenting education, mental health resources, and holistic support to help young parents gain confidence, heal from trauma, and create healthy futures for themselves and their children.
Kelly is also the proud mother of Lily and George. The loss of her son George in 2022 profoundly reshaped her life and strengthened her dedication to leading with compassion. In his honor, she now hosts the annual George Zajfen Tennis Tournament benefiting the Alliance for Children’s Rights, an event that brings together community, remembrance, and purpose to raise critical funds for foster youth. It has become a celebration of George’s spirit and a reminder that even in grief, there is room for connection, joy, and impact.
Her advocacy extends beyond organizational roles. Kelly uses her voice and platform to elevate conversations around belonging, mental health, community care, and what it means to show up for one another. Her work with the Alliance, her partnerships with mothers and change makers, and her support of institutions like Children’s Hospital Los Angeles reflect her belief in collective action and shared humanity.
At her core, Kelly believes every child deserves to be seen, supported, and deeply loved. Her compassion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice continue to inspire those around her and help create a world where all children and families feel a sense of belonging and possibility.