OUR TEAM

Our team is a group of passionate, concerned citizens brought together by homeless advocates Marilyn Wells and Allison Schallert to better understand the solutions to homelessness in our local communities.  From attending neighborhood City Council meetings, to volunteering at local non-profits to advocating for development of Supportive Housing, our team of compassionate voices is growing. Inspired?  Join our team.

Marilyn Wells, Psy.D. is a philanthropist and advocate for people who have experienced homelessness, foster care and family trauma.  Her work focuses on galvanizing neighborhoods to embrace affordable and supportive housing.

BIO

Marilyn and her husband, writer/director/producer John Wells, are co-chairs of the John and Marilyn Wells Family Foundation. Their philanthropic focus is ending homelessness, housing foster youth and helping women and children affected by violence. Their foundation also supports educational initiatives and numerous entertainment industry charities. They are political activists 

Marilyn works as a consultant and a fundraiser for Public/Private organizations; United Way’s Home For Good, Mayors’ Fund Foundation and the Center For Strategic Partnerships (working to house youth transitioning out of foster care). She is a member of Southern California Grantmakers, Liberty Hill’s X Fund, and USC’s Center for Philanthropy and Public Policy.

She has served on numerous boards: the Rape Treatment Center in Santa Monica, Five Acres in Pasadena, and the Episcopal School Los Angeles. She served as Board Chair for Grace Center and for St. James' Episcopal School.

She has also served as Co-Executive Director at Grace Center in Pasadena where she developed a Clinical Program to serve women and children affected by family violence.

Marilyn holds a doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University where her research and clinical work focused on the treatment of domestic violence victims and the victims of child abuse. 

Marilyn was born and raised in Denver, Colorado.  She and John have two children.

Allison Schallert has been a professional photographer for nearly 30 years. Among her clients are U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Erwin Chemerinsky..   Allison Photo

Allison has spends much of her time advocating and promoting the importance of workforce housing.   She remains dedicated for creating simple and straightward ways for everyone to take action.

Allison was born outside of Chicago, Il.  Her husband is a public high school teacher of 31 years, and they have two grown children.  

Joy Mcmanus joined the SFTF team as a volunteer in early 2019 after retiring from a 26 year career as a corporate sales executive with Automatic Data Processing.  

A twenty-plus year member of  St. James Episcopal Church,  she also volunteers with St. Jame’s Soup Kitchen, and is expanding her activism as an advocate for the homeless in Los Angeles.   

Joy and Marilyn met through St. James’ Episcopal School where both served on the board and their daughters attended elementary school. 

Joy is originally from Memphis. She is married to Jeff McManus, a real estate developer, and former Art Director. They have one daughter, Kylie Ann

Marilyn and her husband, writer/director/producer John Wells, are co-chairs of the John and Marilyn Wells Family Foundation. Their philanthropic focus is housing, ending homelessness, housing youth aging out of foster care, domestic violence and arts education. They are political activists and have given to numerous charities, political organizations and schools. Stories From The Frontline is an initiative of John and Marilyn Wells Family Foundation.   

If you are experiencing homelessness (or someone you know is), a victim of domestic violence, a runaway, or in need of information on other services, please visit the LA Homeless Services Authority Emergency Response Team website for emergency services including 24 hour telephone helplines.