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Here are
some of the people who make Children’s Fairyland
the special place it is. Visit the other
sections of this web site to see more photos and
profiles!
 C.J.
Hirschfield
Executive Director
C.J. joined Children’s Fairyland as executive
director in 2002 after a distinguished 25-year
career in cable television. But long before
that, she had visited Fairyland with her young
daughter, Micah. “I remember thinking Fairyland
was unique, and that we are very lucky to have
this special place in Oakland,” C.J. says.
Fairyland’s
focus on reading readiness was one reason C.J.
was drawn to her current job. For many years,
she has volunteered her time in community
efforts to promote childhood literacy. She
served on the Oakland Library Advisory
Commission for four years, including two years
as chairperson, and she currently serves on the
board of the Oakland Parents’ Literacy Project,
which sponsors family reading nights at
low-performing Oakland elementary schools. C.J.
also serves as chairperson of the board of
directors of the newly established California
Attractions and Parks Association, which
promotes park safety and high professional
standards. She is also a member of the
Government Relations Committee for the
International Association of Amusement Parks and
Attractions.
C.J. graduated
from Stanford University with a degree in
communications. She lives in Oakland with her
daughter, who is now a teenage volunteer in
Fairyland’s animal department.
 Ann Hyde
Director of Operations
Is the carousel spinning? Is the Bubble Elf
blowing bubbles? Are the birthday party areas
ready for “showtime”? Those are just a few of
the questions Ann Hyde answers every day. As
operations manager, Ann is responsible for all
of the park’s day-to-day functions. Fortunately
for us, she has lots of experience in managing
complex programs. She came to Fairyland in 2006
after spending nearly 30 years in the City of
Oakland’s building maintenance division managing
structural, plumbing, painting, and playground
safety projects. Ann
shares her three-and-a-half-acre home in Clayton
with two spoiled llamas and a kelpie.
Matt Webb
President, Board of Directors
A member of Fairyland’s board since 2002, Matt
Webb has a long history of commitment to his
Oakland community. He is the chairperson of
Oakland’s Parks and Recreation Commission, on
which he has served since 1996. He also founded
and is president of Operation E.L.F. (Everybody
Loves Families), which has provided holiday
gifts to Alameda County families in need since
1991.
Matt holds B.A.
and J.D. degrees from St. Louis University. The
Law Offices of Matthew Webb, based in Oakland’s
Tribune Tower, specializes in real estate and
business law.
Karl
Osterloh
Volunteer Extraordinaire!
A former president of our board of directors,
Karl Osterloh has given his time and talent to
Fairyland for more than 30 years, and is truly
our “Volunteer Extraordinaire.” The topiary
dragon in Fairyland’s entry plaza was dedicated
to Karl in honor of his volunteer efforts
between 1999 and 2001, when he donated 2,500
volunteer hours as general contractor for major
construction work at the park. He also
co-chaired Fairyland’s “Magic 25,” a six-month
international festival that commemorated the
park’s twenty-fifth anniversary. Several of
Karl’s six daughters are graduates of
Fairyland’s renowned Children’s Theatre Program,
as is his granddaughter Holly. Karl has been
awarded “Citizen of the Year” by the Lake
Merritt Breakfast Club (Fairyland’s founders),
and “Local Hero” by the Oakland City Council.
After he retired from the Army in 1975 with the
rank of lieutenant colonel, Karl co-founded
Maintenance and Construction Systems, which has
managed many large construction projects for U.C.
Berkeley (Karl’s alma mater), the City of
Oakland, and the City of Berkeley. Karl and his
delightful wife Rita are the wind beneath our
fairy wings!
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