Alex SmithTopic:
Company Update
Longtime champion for Veterans and collaborative leader will guide the Los Angeles nonprofit’s next chapter of growth, innovation, and impact.
LOS ANGELES, CA / ZEEST MEDIA / June 16, 2026 / Village for Vets, a leading Los Angeles nonprofit dedicated to ending Veteran homelessness and supporting at-risk Veterans, announced today that Gennifer Yoshimaru has been appointed Executive Director.
Yoshimaru brings extensive experience as a community leader, advocate, strategist, fundraiser, and innovator, along with a deep and unwavering commitment to serving Veterans, particularly those experiencing housing instability and healthcare challenges.
Most recently, Yoshimaru served as Assistant Head of School at Brentwood School, where she managed a broad range of operational and community initiatives and served as the school’s primary liaison with the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System. She also helped establish the Veterans Center for Recreation and Education, whose programs have since expanded to provide a broad range of services benefiting Veterans and their families.
“Gennifer and I have worked together for more than a decade serving Veterans throughout Los Angeles,” said Marcie Polier Swartz, Founder and President of Village for Vets. “I have seen firsthand her passion, professionalism, and commitment to putting Veterans first. With the full support of our Board of Directors, we are excited to welcome Gennifer as Executive Director and begin an exciting new chapter for Village for Vets. I am confident her leadership and vision will help us expand our impact and serve even more Veterans and their families.”
As Executive Director, Yoshimaru will lead a team of more than 50 team members throughout Greater Los Angeles, overseeing the organization’s operations and growth while ensuring Veterans receive the support and services they need to achieve lasting stability.
In 2025, with support from the Department of Veterans Affairs, Los Angeles County, and private donors, Village for Vets served approximately 2,541 Veteran households. Through housing, food assistance, and other critical support services, the organization fills critical gaps and helps Veterans achieve long-term stability and successfully reintegrate into their communities throughout Greater Los Angeles and beyond.
“Village for Vets has built an extraordinary reputation for compassionate service and measurable impact,” said Yoshimaru. “I am honored to join this remarkable organization and work alongside our dedicated staff, community partners, supporters, and the Veteran community as we continue creating pathways toward stability, dignity, and independence for those who have served our country.”
About Village for Vets
Village for Vets is a non-profit organization that partners with the Greater Los Angeles VA Healthcare System to assist Veterans and their families. Village for Vets serves unhoused and at-risk Veterans through a combination of privately supported programs, federal and county grants. Village for Vets is a tax-exempt 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization. EIN: 81-1275379. https://www.villageforvets.org/
Contact Information:
Marcie Polier Swartz, Founder / CEO
(310) 922-8080
Marcie@marcieps.com
SOURCE: Village for Vets
