Jennifer L. Perry

Jennifer Perry has been Executive Director of the Children’s Action Network (CAN) since its inception. By marshalling the immense communications power of the entertainment community, CAN inspires the public to take action on behalf of children. CAN is now involved in a national campaign devoted to raising awareness about the 107,000 children in this country waiting for adoptive homes and improving outcomes for the more than 400,000 children in foster care.

Jennifer is a co-founder of FosterMore, a coalition of media and entertainment companies, non-profits, businesses and philanthropic organizations working to create greater understanding, empathy, and action to improve the future of youth in foster care. FosterMore shines a light on the accomplishments and potential of foster youth, while securing support for their academic success and creating a pipeline of potential foster parents.

Prior to her tenure at CAN, Jennifer was Director of Public Affairs for Act III Communications and served on the Washington, DC staffs of Senator Alan Cranston and Congressman Mickey Leland.

Jennifer is a recipient of the Nancy Daly Advocacy Award from the Lewis Hine Awards for Service to Children and Youth, Raise A Child Honors and the Evan B. Donaldson Spotlight Award. Under her stewardship, CAN has received an Adoption Excellence Award from the US Department of Health and Human Services and a Television Academy Honors for A Home for the Holidays, CAN’s annual special promoting foster care adoption and was recognized as a CCAI Angel in Adoption.

Jennifer is currently on the board of the Foundation for California Community Colleges and the Children's Law Center. She has served as a board member of the North American Council on Adoptable Children, an Advisor to National Center for Children in Poverty, the Major League Baseball Player’s Trust for Children and on the Los Angeles Commission on Children Youth and their Families. She also served on the board of the Mar Vista Family Center and Para Los Niños, and was appointed to the Los Angeles City Child Care Commission and the Commission on the Status of Women. In her early life she was awarded the coveted honor of “Camp Clown” at summer camp.