Kansas Children’s Service League Announces New CEO, Foundation President

Topeka, Kan. – Dec. 18, 2019 – Kansas Children’s Service League (KCSL) has named Gail Cozadd chief executive officer and Margaret La Rue president of the Kansas Children’s Service League Foundation (KCSL-F) effective Jan. 1, 2020. Cozadd will assume day-to-day leadership of the agency, and La Rue will manage philanthropic activities and donor cultivation. Both leadership positions will be based in Topeka. Dona Booe, KCSL’s current president and CEO, will retire from her position on Dec. 31. Booe has served in this position since 2011 and first joined KCSL in 2006 as vice president of program services.

“Our directors and trustees recognize the wonderful contributions Dona has made to KCSL during her tenure,” said KCSL Board of Directors Chair Zachary Schultz. “She and her staff reestablished the focus of KCSL’s work and advanced our role as the Prevent Child Abuse America chapter for Kansas. While we will all miss her, we wish her joy and happiness as she joins her husband, Larry, on their retirement adventures.”

As a senior member of KCSL’s management team for over a decade, Cozadd has played an integral part in helping improve the lives of Kansas children and youth through services that strengthen families and prevent the need for foster care. For the last 13 years, Cozadd has served as KCSL’s children and family services director. Previously, she held a variety of administrative positions throughout her career with an emphasis on improving outcomes for children and families in the state of Kansas.

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead KCSL,” said Cozadd. “I thank Dona for her mentorship and look forward to continue our important work in child abuse prevention programming. As we embark on a new decade, it is exciting to begin this new journey with a dedicated and skilled colleague like Margaret.”

A long-time advocate for children and families, La Rue has volunteered at KCSL for nearly 20 years. She has held significant leadership roles and played a major part in shaping KCSL’s financial stability with the Building Healthy Families giving initiative. Currently, La Rue is a KCSL-F Trustee and serves as Fund Development committee chair.

“I am a believer in the old adage, it takes a village,” said La Rue. “This is what guides my community involvement. It is a privilege to work at a place like KCSL that has a strong board, foundation and staff paired with such an abundant history of children services that has truly made difference to so many over the years. We each play a role in making our communities strong. And that’s what I will continue to do in my new role as Foundation president.”

KCSL-F Board of Trustees Chair Rick Bloomer praised Cozadd and La Rue for their leadership. Bloomer added both boards are confident about the succession plan and have the utmost confidence in Cozadd and La Rue’s direction moving forward to ensure minimal disruption in the continued achievement of KCSL’s mission, to protect and promote the well-being of children.

“The decision to hire internally for KCSL’s leadership positions was based on the fact that we had two highly qualified, highly intelligent, and highly effective leaders in Gail and Margaret,” said Bloomer. “This transition allows KCSL to maintain our positive course on the strategic plan priorities that help meet the needs of the children and families we serve.”

Gail Cozadd
Gail Cozadd has been KCSL’s children and family services director since 2006. Throughout her 13-year career with the organization, Cozadd has played a major role in shaping KCSL’s growth strategy significantly through strengthening programs like post adoption support; foster family placement; youth interventions and intensive in-home support for substance-using parents. She recently served as board president of the Children’s Alliance of Kansas for the last two years.

Prior to joining KCSL, Cozadd worked for Social and Rehabilitation Services for nine years, where she investigated child abuse and neglect with an emphasis on cases of severe physical abuse and sexual abuse. She graduated with a Bachelor of Social Work in 1996 from the University of Kansas and completed her Master of Social Work Administration in 2002. This emphasized program development, continuous quality improvement, human resource management, social service budgeting and social policy. 

Margaret La Rue
Margaret La Rue is a community volunteer, director of Heritage Bank and director of her family's business, Salisbury Supply Co. Inc., a distributor of construction and industrial supplies. Previously, she was a vice president with Capitol Federal Savings in Topeka. During her tenure, she served in the areas of retail banking and residential mortgage lending.

A life-long Kansas resident, La Rue has been a KCSL volunteer for nearly 20 years. She currently is a member of the KCSL Foundation Board of Trustees and serves as Fund Development committee chair. La Rue is the founding president of the Topeka West High School Foundation, a CASA volunteer and formerly an Episcopal Diocese of Kansas Trustee and Finance committee chair. She is also a founding member of The Women’s Fund and a sustaining member of The Junior League of Topeka. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Kansas.

La Rue and her husband, Tighe, are third generation owner/operators of their family business, Salisbury Supply Co. Inc., with offices in Topeka, Wichita and Manhattan. They have two children.