Pleasant Hill, CA — September 19, 2025 — This year marks a major milestone for Special Olympics Northern California (SONorCal) as the organization celebrates 30 years of “doing something special.” Since officially becoming its own chapter in 1995 after Special Olympics California was strategically split into two chapters, SONorCal has experienced remarkable growth—both in scale and in its connection with communities across the region, from the Oregon border to Tulare County.
Rooted in the transformative power of sports, SONorCal’s work continues to reduce bullying, improve health outcomes, and open doors for inclusion across thousands of lives. Now, as the organization looks ahead to its next chapter, it has launched a bold regionalization strategy to better serve communities at the local level.
Regional Model for Deeper Impact
In 2024, Special Olympics Northern California completed the implementation of a new regional framework, establishing four regional offices with dedicated staff in:
- East Bay/North Bay
- San Francisco Peninsula/Silicon Valley
- Sacramento/North
- Central Valley
This strategic realignment reflects the organization’s long-standing commitment to community-first programming—and it’s already proving highly effective. Over the past year, SONorCal has welcomed more than 5,000 new athletes and 300 additional coaches, underscoring the demand for inclusive programming across Northern California.
“This regional model is a purposeful evolution—just as meaningful as Special Olympics NorCal’s founding moment in 1995,” said David Solo, President & CEO of Special Olympics Northern California. “It allows us to bring the mission of inclusion even closer to the communities we serve.”
Welcoming Chief Development Officer Joshua Lachs
To support this growing momentum, SONorCal is proud to announce the appointment of Joshua Lachs as Chief Development Officer. A seasoned executive with more than two decades of experience in mission-driven organizations, Lachs brings deep expertise in strategic fundraising, donor engagement, and organizational growth.
Most recently, Lachs served as CEO of Moneythink, a national ed-tech nonprofit, from 2018 to 2024. Under his leadership, the organization secured its largest-ever investments and scaled its digital platform to serve students nationwide. Prior to his time at Moneythink, Joshua held leadership roles as the Chief Business Development Officer at Net Impact, CEO of Breakthrough Collaborative, and Chief of Workforce Development at Goodwill of San Francisco, San Mateo & Marin. Joshua holds degrees from UC Berkeley and Columbia University and has served on several nonprofit boards where he succeeded in helping raise tens of millions of dollars from Fortune 500 companies, major foundations, public agencies, and individual donors.
“We are excited to welcome Josh Lachs as our new Chief Development Officer,” said David Solo. “Josh has a wealth of experience at both the national and local levels that will guide Special Olympics Northern California to new heights. His unique and impressive background creates an ideal blend for our organization, combining nonprofit, education, and technology expertise with high-level corporate relationships. Josh has already demonstrated the ability to collaborate on big-picture ideas while also building meaningful personal connections, specifically with Special Olympics athletes who are at the heart of our mission. I look forward to working with him to create a more inclusive Northern California through the power of sports.”
Strengthening the Leadership Team
The appointment of Lachs complements other key organizational realignments within the leadership team under the new regional designations, including:
- Cathy Domanski appointed as Chief Operating Officer
- Ilisa Kessler appointed to Chief Administrative Officer & VP of Government Relations
- Stefanie Bruggeman elevated to Senior Vice President of the San Francisco Peninsula/Silicon Valley Region
As SONorCal celebrates 30 years of impact and looks ahead with renewed purpose, these leadership moves reflect the organization’s unwavering commitment to building a more inclusive Northern California.
About Special Olympics Northern California
SONorCal is dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities through inclusive sports, education, leadership, and health programs. The 501(c)3 nonprofit organization offers free year-round training and competition programs for more than 39,000 participants. On school campuses, SONorCal impacts more than 182,000 school-aged students by promoting inclusion through the Unified Champion Schools Program. SONorCal is also committed to improving the overall health and well-being of individuals with intellectual disabilities through health programs and leadership training.
More information may be found by visiting www.sonc.org and on Facebook/Twitter/TikTok @SONorCal and Instagram @SpecialOlympicsNCA.
CONTACT
Kimberly Angell
Wish Public Relations
