Chairman of the Board
Magda Cole – Magda grew up in Upland, California and was even married there in 1996. Soon after she moved to Rancho Cucamonga where she and her husband have raised their three children. After her middle child was diagnosed with epilepsy and autism in 2009 Magda began looking for a local support group to attend. She yearned for a place where she could go to talk with others who not only understood what was going on in her life but who could also offer encouragement and hope in her family’s life long journey. After years of searching for a local group that offered a social connection she decided to open one in early 2013 in the hopes of helping not only herself but other families as well. Magda is a Christian and believes that her faith is the driving force, strength and comfort in her life. She enjoys party planning, spending time with her family and friends and her job as a Financial Analyst for Pomona Valley Hospital. She assisted her church with implementation of a one on one program for children with Special Needs. She has felt it an honor and privilege to be on the board with Tina & Rachel and is excited by their collective vision for the future of the group.
Board Members:
Christina Kendall – Christina is passionate about supporting families and has a strong desire to help create safe and welcoming environments for them. She facilitates our “Share and Support” meetings, Unity Tree’s support group for parents of children with special needs. Christina also helped start a Special Needs Sensory Storytime at a local library, which dozens of children in the community enjoy weekly. On Sundays, she and her husband Mark enjoy teaching the children in their special needs Sunday school class at Purpose Church, Pomona. The Kendall’s have 16-year-old twins—a boy and girl. Their daughter has autism and is taught at home. Christina is a constant source of encouragement and loves writing. Before earning her Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Cal State Fullerton, she was a newspaper reporter for the Claremont Courier and Huntington Beach Independent. We are excited to have Christina here at Unity Tree.
Rachel Toalepai – Rachel is a mother of four children, two of which are on the autism spectrum. She stopped working to commit more time to her family and be an active participant and advocate in her children’s classrooms and educational process. Since moving to Rancho Cucamonga in 2008, Rachel has been fortunate enough to hold various positions in several school parent organizations and district committees where her children have attended. In 2015, Rachel created and help start “Special Champs”, a special needs physical fitness class, at a local gym. Before becoming a mom Rachel was a commercial insurance broker, however social issues have always been of interest to her. Rachel attended Cal State Fullerton and studied Economics and Sociology. For several years Rachel worked as an Assistant Director for group homes and transitional housing facilities that serviced foster and homeless youth in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino Counties. Next to being a mom and wife, serving as Assistant Director to this population was her most fulfilling job. Rachel is looking forward to sharing and growing with other families who have found an extended family here at Unity Tree.