Donna Cooper, M.P.A., M.I.M.,

Executive Director

Prior to Children First, Donna was a senior fellow at the respected national think tank, the Center for American Progress, where she led the Center’s research on early childhood education and public infrastructure and was a contributing researcher to the Center’s work to reduce the incidence of poverty. She served as the Secretary of Policy and Planning for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2003–2010 where she was responsible for the state’s education, public supports, environmental, and health care policy. While in that position, Donna led the development of the state’s Cover All Kids program which expanded access to affordable health care to nearly every child in the state. Donna also led the seven-year effort to boost funding for public education that increased K-12 funding by over $2 billion, and designed the state’s groundbreaking school funding formula which was enacted in 2008.

Donna was the founding Executive Director of Good Schools, a grassroots organizing campaign that successfully pushed public education to the top issue in the 2002 race for Governor. She also served as the City of Philadelphia’s Deputy Mayor of Policy and Planning from 1999–2002 where she designed and led the Greater Philadelphia Works Program, one of the nation’s largest and most successful efforts to help single mothers on welfare achieve self-sufficiency. Donna has a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, Fels Center of Government, and a master’s degree in Intercultural Management from the School for International Training. Reach Donna at 215-563-5848, ext. 301, or donnac at childrenfirstpa.org.

Stefanie Arbutina, M.S.W., 

Vulnerable Youth Policy Director

Before joining Children First, Stefanie was a Senior Program Officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies, where she provided technical assistance and programmatic support for child health projects, including those focused on improving publicly financed children’s behavioral health and ensuring timely healthcare for children in foster care. Before moving to Pennsylvania, she led the establishment of a statewide coalition to promote well-being for adolescents in Illinois. She also successfully advocated for a number of state legislative initiatives, including the creation of a Youth Budget Commission and youth-focused fiscal map, and presumptive subsidized child care eligibility for families receiving child welfare services. Stefanie holds a master’s in social work from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s in public policy from DePaul University. She lives in Media with her husband, son, and their boxer. Reach Stefanie at 215-563-5848 ext. 261 or stefaniea at childrenfirstpa.org.

Stephanie Blake Ed.D.

Early Childhood Education Operations Manager

Dr. Blake joined the Children First team in 2021, having worked with a variety of childcare programs providing consulting, technical assistance, and training in diverse, cultural, and socioeconomic settings. Her previous roles included working with Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs with the PA Keys. As a an adjunct faculty member at Rowan University and Arcadia University, she serves as a supervisor for pre-service teachers. Stephanie earned a Doctor of Education in Education Leadership at Gratz College along with a Master of Education with a focus in early childhood education. In her dissertation, Stephanie describes how diversity initiatives should be used to enhance the representation of African American Women in early childhood leadership positions. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree from Arcadia University. Reach Stephanie at 215-563-5848 ext. 321 or stephanieb at childrenfirstpa.org.

Larry Bomback

Finance Director

Over the past two decades, Larry has honed a robust leadership profile marked by successful fundraising, organizational expansion, and data-driven decision-making, across various nonprofit sectors. With extensive experience managing complex national and international organizations, Larry excels in strategic thinking and uniting diverse stakeholders to achieve institutional goals. Larry was the former Senior Vice President of Administration & Treasurer at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, one of the top music conservatories in the world. Before that appointment, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at DataArts. Previously, Larry was Director of Finance and Operations at OPERA America, and Operations Manager at the award-winning New York Youth Symphony. Larry’s empathetic approach and industry expertise have made him a sought-after advisor and speaker, serving on boards and committees of national nonprofit arts institutions. 

Donna Cooper, M.P.A., M.I.M.,

Executive Director

Prior to Children First, Donna was a senior fellow at the respected national think tank, the Center for American Progress, where she led the Center’s research on early childhood education and public infrastructure and was a contributing researcher to the Center’s work to reduce the incidence of poverty. She served as the Secretary of Policy and Planning for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania from 2003–2010 where she was responsible for the state’s education, public supports, environmental, and health care policy. While in that position, Donna led the development of the state’s Cover All Kids program which expanded access to affordable health care to nearly every child in the state. Donna also led the seven-year effort to boost funding for public education that increased K-12 funding by over $2 billion, and designed the state’s groundbreaking school funding formula which was enacted in 2008.

Donna was the founding Executive Director of Good Schools, a grassroots organizing campaign that successfully pushed public education to the top issue in the 2002 race for Governor. She also served as the City of Philadelphia’s Deputy Mayor of Policy and Planning from 1999–2002 where she designed and led the Greater Philadelphia Works Program, one of the nation’s largest and most successful efforts to help single mothers on welfare achieve self-sufficiency. Donna has a master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania, Fels Center of Government, and a master’s degree in Intercultural Management from the School for International Training. Reach Donna at 215-563-5848, ext. 301, or donnac at childrenfirstpa.org.

Stefanie Arbutina, M.S.W., 

Vulnerable Youth Policy Director

Before joining Children First, Stefanie was a Senior Program Officer at the Center for Health Care Strategies, where she provided technical assistance and programmatic support for child health projects, including those focused on improving publicly financed children’s behavioral health and ensuring timely healthcare for children in foster care. Before moving to Pennsylvania, she led the establishment of a statewide coalition to promote well-being for adolescents in Illinois. She also successfully advocated for a number of state legislative initiatives, including the creation of a Youth Budget Commission and youth-focused fiscal map, and presumptive subsidized child care eligibility for families receiving child welfare services. Stefanie holds a master’s in social work from the University of Cincinnati and a master’s in public policy from DePaul University. She lives in Media with her husband, son, and their boxer. Reach Stefanie at 215-563-5848 ext. 261 or stefaniea at childrenfirstpa.org.

Stephanie Blake Ed.D.

Early Childhood Education Operations Manager

Dr. Blake joined the Children First team in 2021, having worked with a variety of childcare programs providing consulting, technical assistance, and training in diverse, cultural, and socioeconomic settings. Her previous roles included working with Pre-K Counts and Head Start programs with the PA Keys. As a an adjunct faculty member at Rowan University and Arcadia University, she serves as a supervisor for pre-service teachers. Stephanie earned a Doctor of Education in Education Leadership at Gratz College along with a Master of Education with a focus in early childhood education. In her dissertation, Stephanie describes how diversity initiatives should be used to enhance the representation of African American Women in early childhood leadership positions. Additionally, she holds a master’s degree in Business Administration and a bachelor’s degree from Arcadia University. Reach Stephanie at 215-563-5848 ext. 321 or stephanieb at childrenfirstpa.org.

Larry Bomback

Finance Director

Over the past two decades, Larry has honed a robust leadership profile marked by successful fundraising, organizational expansion, and data-driven decision-making, across various nonprofit sectors. With extensive experience managing complex national and international organizations, Larry excels in strategic thinking and uniting diverse stakeholders to achieve institutional goals. Larry was the former Senior Vice President of Administration & Treasurer at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, one of the top music conservatories in the world. Before that appointment, he was Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer at DataArts. Previously, Larry was Director of Finance and Operations at OPERA America, and Operations Manager at the award-winning New York Youth Symphony. Larry’s empathetic approach and industry expertise have made him a sought-after advisor and speaker, serving on boards and committees of national nonprofit arts institutions.