About the Stepfamily Foundation Team
Jeannette Lofas, Ph.D, LCSW
Founder /President of The Stepfamily Foundation
Jeannette Lofas, Ph.D., LCSW
America’s Pioneering Authority On Divorce, Remarriage And Children
The Stepfamily/Blended Family
Counselor, Lecturer and Spokesperson
President and Founder, The Stepfamily Foundation, Inc.
Certified Divorce & Co-Parenting Mediator
In 1995, received the first National Parent's Day Award from President Clinton for
"your efforts in strengthening step relationships in families across America and thus contribute to effective parenting."
America’s Pioneering Authority On Divorce, Remarriage And Children
The Stepfamily/Blended Family
Counselor, Lecturer and Spokesperson
President and Founder, The Stepfamily Foundation, Inc.
Certified Divorce & Co-Parenting Mediator
In 1995, received the first National Parent's Day Award from President Clinton for
"your efforts in strengthening step relationships in families across America and thus contribute to effective parenting."
About Jeannette Lofas
Jeannette Lofas was the first person to uncover and present the here to fore unknown dynamics, ways of functioning of the stepfamily. Previously there were no know answers. The first answers were put forth in Lofas' first book, LIVING IN STEP, McGraw Hill with Ruth Roosevelt in 1975. Lofas then went on to found the Stepfamily Foundation, Inc. in 1976. The rest is a history of work, research, a system for counseling, books and years of appearing on TV and in the press. She was lauded and heralded as the discoverer and founder of new stepfamily movement.
Curriculum Vitae
Professional History:
Stepfamily Foundation, Inc., - Founder and President, 1975-Present; CBS, NBC, ABC TV –Reporter & Film Critic; Ivan Tors Films - Producer; Whitney Museum NYC- New American Film Series Co Founder; Radio Free Europe - On Air Reporter, US, Europe, Tokyo. Lofas is a recognized media personality and public speaker. She has appeared on: The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, and featured in: The New York Times, Vogue, and New York Magazine.
Publications:
Living In Step, with Ruth Roosevelt, McGraw-Hill, 1976; How to Be a Stepparent, Nightingale Connant Audio Book, 1986; He's OK, She's OK: Honoring the Differences Between Men & Women, Tzedakah, 1995; Family Rules, Kensington Books 1998. Stepparenting 3rd Edition May 2004, Citadel Books, the largest selling book of its kind.
Awards and Speeches:
"Woman of the Month" Good Housekeeping Magazine; Keynote Speaker for U.S. Family Service Centers, Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; Speaker at White House Conference On the Family; Keynote Speech "The State of the Family” given in Heidelberg, Germany for the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe; Speaker at Family Court Judges Association; "The New Family: Step Relationships" speech given at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater (6,000 attendees); Guest Professor at Long Island University; "Women, Remarriage and Money," the Financial Women’s' Association; Keynote Speaker at the Women's Federation of World Peace; "The 21st Century Family" speech given at the NY Employee Assistance Association, Smart Marriage Conference Presenter, Two Day Seminar Buenos Aires, Fundacion XXI; All Souls Church Lecture Series.
Degrees:
Ph.D. Westbrook University; Fordham University, M.S.W; University of Michigan, B.A; University of Geneva, Interpreter's School, (French, German into English); University of Vienna.
* * * Fluent in German and French: ability to communicate in Spanish and Swedish
Stepfamily Foundation, Inc., - Founder and President, 1975-Present; CBS, NBC, ABC TV –Reporter & Film Critic; Ivan Tors Films - Producer; Whitney Museum NYC- New American Film Series Co Founder; Radio Free Europe - On Air Reporter, US, Europe, Tokyo. Lofas is a recognized media personality and public speaker. She has appeared on: The Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Oprah Winfrey, Larry King, and featured in: The New York Times, Vogue, and New York Magazine.
Publications:
Living In Step, with Ruth Roosevelt, McGraw-Hill, 1976; How to Be a Stepparent, Nightingale Connant Audio Book, 1986; He's OK, She's OK: Honoring the Differences Between Men & Women, Tzedakah, 1995; Family Rules, Kensington Books 1998. Stepparenting 3rd Edition May 2004, Citadel Books, the largest selling book of its kind.
Awards and Speeches:
"Woman of the Month" Good Housekeeping Magazine; Keynote Speaker for U.S. Family Service Centers, Naval Academy, Annapolis, MD; Speaker at White House Conference On the Family; Keynote Speech "The State of the Family” given in Heidelberg, Germany for the U.S. Armed Forces in Europe; Speaker at Family Court Judges Association; "The New Family: Step Relationships" speech given at the Chautauqua Institution Amphitheater (6,000 attendees); Guest Professor at Long Island University; "Women, Remarriage and Money," the Financial Women’s' Association; Keynote Speaker at the Women's Federation of World Peace; "The 21st Century Family" speech given at the NY Employee Assistance Association, Smart Marriage Conference Presenter, Two Day Seminar Buenos Aires, Fundacion XXI; All Souls Church Lecture Series.
Degrees:
Ph.D. Westbrook University; Fordham University, M.S.W; University of Michigan, B.A; University of Geneva, Interpreter's School, (French, German into English); University of Vienna.
* * * Fluent in German and French: ability to communicate in Spanish and Swedish
Claudia Cuyun
Director of Stepfamily Latin America
Claudia is our Director of Stepfamily Latin America.
Website: www.consultasconclaudia.com
Clinical Psychologist, with a master’s degree in Counseling & Mental Health, specialized in Family Therapy with Cognitive-Behavioral Orientation, Prevention of Destructive Divorce and Stepfamily. Claudia is also a presenter at international conferences and has lectured on topics related to family psychology. She is a media psychologist for TV, radio, magazines and newspapers. She has participated in programs in Israel and Costa Rica, for Focus on the Family, and in Panama, for Radio Panamá and Hosanna Visión. She is a Guatemalan willing to work for the nations. She is currently writing a book for stepfamilies and a children’s book on the same subject. She constantly teaches about stepfamily in Latin America, enhancing the validation of the name and recognition of the stepfamily. She is honored to be one of the counselors of The Stepfamily Foundation, Inc., New York, under the leadership of Dr. Jeannette Lofas, Ph.D.
Website: www.consultasconclaudia.com
Clinical Psychologist, with a master’s degree in Counseling & Mental Health, specialized in Family Therapy with Cognitive-Behavioral Orientation, Prevention of Destructive Divorce and Stepfamily. Claudia is also a presenter at international conferences and has lectured on topics related to family psychology. She is a media psychologist for TV, radio, magazines and newspapers. She has participated in programs in Israel and Costa Rica, for Focus on the Family, and in Panama, for Radio Panamá and Hosanna Visión. She is a Guatemalan willing to work for the nations. She is currently writing a book for stepfamilies and a children’s book on the same subject. She constantly teaches about stepfamily in Latin America, enhancing the validation of the name and recognition of the stepfamily. She is honored to be one of the counselors of The Stepfamily Foundation, Inc., New York, under the leadership of Dr. Jeannette Lofas, Ph.D.
Christy Tusing-Borgeld - Director of Government Relations
Jim Borgeld - Director of Social Media
Jim and Christy both help the Stepfamily Foundation out with our outreach campaigns via social media (Jim) and government outreach (Christy).
Christy is well known for her work in organizing events for Stepfamily Day. Below are a list of her accomplishments and work:
National Stepfamily Day Timeline
1997-Present:
Designed, developed and implemented a campaign, nation-wide, to proclaim September 16 Stepfamily Day.
1997
Christy Borgeld begins a campaign to bring Stepfamily support and awareness to the forefront of our nation. She begins a campaign for the first National Stepfamily Day. 24 states proclaimed. September 16 1997
1998
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to include all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
In honor of National Stepfamily Day, Christy Borgeld organizes a National Stepfamily Day picnic. A little over 800 cities across our nation participate that first year.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 32 states.
1999
Christy Borgeld begins to contact government officials in Canada and United Kingdom for a National Stepfamily Day.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 38 states. The National Stepfamily Day Picnic’s are held in all fifty states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Christy Borgeld begins to petition city mayors across the United States to proclaim National Stepfamily Day.
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the 1999 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations. He honors her request.
Mr. & Mrs. James Borgeld received a Congressional Award in collaboration with Parenting Coalition International. "Parenting Emmys," Award received in Washington D.C., Russell Senate Building on National Parents Day, July 26, 1999. The award reads: Lighting the Way to the New Millennium-National Parents Day 1999-PCI Award.
2000
Stepfamily Day was placed in the United States Congressional Records September 13, 2000 : Archive:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2001-09-14/html/CREC-2001-09-14-pt1-PgS9438.htm
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 48 States. National Stepfamily Day picnic’s in all 50 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
2001
Christy Borgeld request President George W. Bush to revise the language on the 2001 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in all 50 States. (State Governor Proclamation or State Senate/House Resolution)
National Stepfamily Day picnics’ are celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
2002-2009
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as stepfamily picnic's
2010-2015
Christy Borgeld request President Barack Obama to revise the language on the 2010 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster and step : Honors her request
Christy Borgeld request a Presidential National Stepfamily Day from President Barack Obama
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well a Stepfamily picnics' and other fun family activities.
2015
Christy Borgeld expanded National Stepfamily Day into having Stepfamily celebrate the whole week (September 16-22) September 16 is National Stepfamily Day which will kick off the week long holiday thus giving families a full week to celebrate!
2016-Present
Christy Borgeld's vision is expanded and is now celebrated in Hungry, South Africa,
China, Ireland, and Mexico with Stepfamily Day picnic's and/or celebration's.
National Stepfamily Day Timeline
1997-Present: Designed, developed and implemented a campaign, nation-wide, to proclaim September 16 Stepfamily Day.
1997-
Christy Borgeld begins a campaign to bring Stepfamily support and awareness to the forefront of our nation. She begins a campaign for the first National Stepfamily Day. 24 states proclaimed. September 16 1997
1998
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to include all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
In honor of National Stepfamily Day, Christy Borgeld organizes a National Stepfamily Day picnic. A little over 800 cities across our nation participate that first year.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 32 states.
1999
Christy Borgeld begins to contact government officials in Canada and United Kingdom for a National Stepfamily Day.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 38 states. The National Stepfamily Day Picnic’s are held in all fifty states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Christy Borgeld begins to petition city mayors across the United States to proclaim National Stepfamily Day.
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the 1999 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations. He honors her request.
Mr. & Mrs. James Borgeld received a Congressional Award in collaboration with Parenting Coalition International. "Parenting Emmys," Award received in Washington D.C., Russell Senate Building on National Parents Day, July 26, 1999. The award reads: Lighting the Way to the New Millennium-National Parents Day 1999-PCI Award.
2000
Stepfamily Day was placed in the United States Congressional Records September 13, 2000 :
Archive: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2001-09-14/html/CREC-2001-09-14-pt1-PgS9438.htm
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 48 States. National Stepfamily Day picnic’s in all 50 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
2001
Christy Borgeld request President George W. Bush to revise the language on the 2001 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in all 50 States. (State Governor Proclamation or State Senate/House Resolution)
National Stepfamily Day picnics’ are celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
2002-2009
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as stepfamily picnic's
2010-2015
Christy Borgeld request President Barack Obama to revise the language on the 2010 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster and step : Honors her request
Christy Borgeld request a Presidential National Stepfamily Day from President Barack Obama
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well a Stepfamily picnics' and other fun family activities.
2015
Christy Borgeld expanded National Stepfamily Day into having Stepfamily celebrate the whole week (September 16-22) September 16 is National Stepfamily Day which will kick off the week long holiday thus giving families a full week to celebrate!
2016-Present
Christy Borgeld's vision is expanded and is now celebrated in Hungry, South Africa,
China, Ireland, and Mexico with Stepfamily Day picnic's and/or celebration's.
Christy is well known for her work in organizing events for Stepfamily Day. Below are a list of her accomplishments and work:
National Stepfamily Day Timeline
1997-Present:
Designed, developed and implemented a campaign, nation-wide, to proclaim September 16 Stepfamily Day.
1997
Christy Borgeld begins a campaign to bring Stepfamily support and awareness to the forefront of our nation. She begins a campaign for the first National Stepfamily Day. 24 states proclaimed. September 16 1997
1998
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to include all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
In honor of National Stepfamily Day, Christy Borgeld organizes a National Stepfamily Day picnic. A little over 800 cities across our nation participate that first year.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 32 states.
1999
Christy Borgeld begins to contact government officials in Canada and United Kingdom for a National Stepfamily Day.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 38 states. The National Stepfamily Day Picnic’s are held in all fifty states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Christy Borgeld begins to petition city mayors across the United States to proclaim National Stepfamily Day.
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the 1999 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations. He honors her request.
Mr. & Mrs. James Borgeld received a Congressional Award in collaboration with Parenting Coalition International. "Parenting Emmys," Award received in Washington D.C., Russell Senate Building on National Parents Day, July 26, 1999. The award reads: Lighting the Way to the New Millennium-National Parents Day 1999-PCI Award.
2000
Stepfamily Day was placed in the United States Congressional Records September 13, 2000 : Archive:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2001-09-14/html/CREC-2001-09-14-pt1-PgS9438.htm
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 48 States. National Stepfamily Day picnic’s in all 50 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
2001
Christy Borgeld request President George W. Bush to revise the language on the 2001 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in all 50 States. (State Governor Proclamation or State Senate/House Resolution)
National Stepfamily Day picnics’ are celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
2002-2009
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as stepfamily picnic's
2010-2015
Christy Borgeld request President Barack Obama to revise the language on the 2010 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster and step : Honors her request
Christy Borgeld request a Presidential National Stepfamily Day from President Barack Obama
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well a Stepfamily picnics' and other fun family activities.
2015
Christy Borgeld expanded National Stepfamily Day into having Stepfamily celebrate the whole week (September 16-22) September 16 is National Stepfamily Day which will kick off the week long holiday thus giving families a full week to celebrate!
2016-Present
Christy Borgeld's vision is expanded and is now celebrated in Hungry, South Africa,
China, Ireland, and Mexico with Stepfamily Day picnic's and/or celebration's.
National Stepfamily Day Timeline
1997-Present: Designed, developed and implemented a campaign, nation-wide, to proclaim September 16 Stepfamily Day.
1997-
Christy Borgeld begins a campaign to bring Stepfamily support and awareness to the forefront of our nation. She begins a campaign for the first National Stepfamily Day. 24 states proclaimed. September 16 1997
1998
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to include all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
In honor of National Stepfamily Day, Christy Borgeld organizes a National Stepfamily Day picnic. A little over 800 cities across our nation participate that first year.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 32 states.
1999
Christy Borgeld begins to contact government officials in Canada and United Kingdom for a National Stepfamily Day.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 38 states. The National Stepfamily Day Picnic’s are held in all fifty states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
Christy Borgeld begins to petition city mayors across the United States to proclaim National Stepfamily Day.
Christy Borgeld request President Clinton to revise the language on the 1999 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations. He honors her request.
Mr. & Mrs. James Borgeld received a Congressional Award in collaboration with Parenting Coalition International. "Parenting Emmys," Award received in Washington D.C., Russell Senate Building on National Parents Day, July 26, 1999. The award reads: Lighting the Way to the New Millennium-National Parents Day 1999-PCI Award.
2000
Stepfamily Day was placed in the United States Congressional Records September 13, 2000 :
Archive: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2001-09-14/html/CREC-2001-09-14-pt1-PgS9438.htm
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in 48 States. National Stepfamily Day picnic’s in all 50 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom.
2001
Christy Borgeld request President George W. Bush to revise the language on the 2001 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster, and step. He honors her request.
National Stepfamily Day is now celebrated in all 50 States. (State Governor Proclamation or State Senate/House Resolution)
National Stepfamily Day picnics’ are celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and United Kingdom.
2002-2009
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well as stepfamily picnic's
2010-2015
Christy Borgeld request President Barack Obama to revise the language on the 2010 Presidential Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Proclamations to honor all parents, biological, adopted, foster and step : Honors her request
Christy Borgeld request a Presidential National Stepfamily Day from President Barack Obama
National Stepfamily Day is celebrated in all 50 States, Canada, and the United Kingdom as well a Stepfamily picnics' and other fun family activities.
2015
Christy Borgeld expanded National Stepfamily Day into having Stepfamily celebrate the whole week (September 16-22) September 16 is National Stepfamily Day which will kick off the week long holiday thus giving families a full week to celebrate!
2016-Present
Christy Borgeld's vision is expanded and is now celebrated in Hungry, South Africa,
China, Ireland, and Mexico with Stepfamily Day picnic's and/or celebration's.
