Philanthropy. Giving Back. Paying it Forward
However, you want to put it, it’s part of how I live my life and run my businesses. My areas of focus might change from year to year, and my ways of being involved might shift from period to period, but finding ways to support organizations and issues that matter to me is always a priority.
Currently, much of my philanthropic efforts are through DonorsChoose.org, helping teachers and students around the country, and Kiva, helping women entrepreneurs around the world, in addition to being a monthly donor to the ACLU, Human Rights Campaign (HRC), Planned Parenthood, and Ocean Conservancy. Plus, we love being members of and supporting the San Diego Zoo and Safari Park, the Fleet Science Center, and the San Diego Natural History Museum. I also enjoy supporting local and national organizations like the MS Society, Alzheimer's Association, American Heart Association, EQ/CA, Outdoor Outreach, Barrio Logan College Institute, and others, including through events that friends, family members, and colleagues participate in.
Below are details about two previous long-term philanthropic efforts, to which I devoted time, talent, and treasure over many years.
San Diego Women's Foundation - www.sdwomensfoundation.org
Member: 2004 - 2018. Board of Directors: 2005 - 2010, and 2011 - 2017.
Over the years, I held leadership positions in the Grants Committee, the Marketing Committee, the Development Advisory Team, the Membership Committee, and the Board Executive Team, was an active member in the annual Grants process, and served as a member on the Grants, Membership, Education, Marketing, Finance, and Governance Committees, in addition to many ad hoc committees and teams, as needed. I was also honored to continually be asked to serve as a spokesperson on the radio and TV, as well as at events, many times for the organization.
Susan G. Komen for the Cure, San Diego - www.komensandiego.org
Donor and Supporter: 2003 - 2017. Board of Directors of the San Diego Affiliate: 2008 - 2012
My involvement with the Komen organization started in 2003, when I first participated in the 3 Day Walk. I walked in that event six times (all in San Diego), and crewed it twice (Arizona and Seattle), raising approximately $63,000 for the cause in the process. I also participated in the San Diego Race for the Cure each year. So, when I joined the board in 2008, I changed my fundraising focus to the local Komen organization and initiatives, and was one of the top fundraisers for most years from 2009 - 2016, adding another approximately $45,000 to my Komen fundraising total, through fundraising for the Race, as well as a special campaign for my 40th birthday. I was also honored to periodically serve as a spokesperson at events, for corporations, or on TV or radio, whenever needed or desired by the San Diego affiliate.
One of the coolest moments (and chilly too, as it was December!) - waiting out in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC all day to hear if SCOTUS would take on two important cases for marriage equality, California’s Prop 8 and the nationwide DOMA. And the answer was yes! Less than 7 months later, marriage equality returned to California, and nationwide rights were given to all married couples, no matter where they lived. [iPhone photo]
Banner Image at page top: Image by Erika Rodriguez Photography, Claudia + Julia, Green Gables Wedding Estate, San Marcos