Mary-Ann has a long history of serving non-profits and advocating for causes such as housing affordability, transit and children. The former Raleigh Mayor, she also served on the Raleigh City Council for a decade and now serves as the Chair of GoTriangle, our regional transit agency.

As the Executive Director of the Cooper Charitable Foundation, Mary-Ann continues her mission to make a meaningful impact. Under her leadership, we have helped house 311 people, including 163 children, since June 2024.

During the past year, she received the IMPACT Award from Triangle CREW, the Community Champion Award from Triangle Business Journal and was named one of the Women to KNOW in North Carolina by the organization, KNOW Women.

Kathy Colbenson was hired to lead the Cooper Charitable Foundation’s expansion into the Atlanta region, serving as Associate Executive Director. With almost 40 years of non-profit leadership experience, Kathy will focus on creating strategic partnerships, establishing an Advisory Board to guide the Foundation’s work, helping with potential donor relationships, and amplifying awareness of the Foundation’s work and impact.

Kathy retired at the end of 2024 from her role as the CEO of CHRIS 180, an organization that provides behavioral health services, foster care, community services and a supportive housing program that helps children, adults and families. Additionally, she is a licensed marriage and family therapist.

During her 37 years with CHRIS 180, she was recognized with numerous awards and from 2019 through 2024 was named by Atlanta Magazine as one of the city’s 500 Most Influential Leaders. Most recently, she was honored by the Rotary Club of Buckhead with the Reverend Robert Ross Johnson Humanitarian of Year Award.