Celebrate the impact of philanthropy in San Diego
AFP San Diego’s 54th Annual National Philanthropy Day, presented by PNC Bank, is a fantastic opportunity to honor an individual, organization or company making a difference in our community.
We listened and have refreshed our award categories to better reflect those you wish to recognize. We received more than 80 nominations in nine categories. Join us Friday, November 13th as we celebrate those making an impact through philanthropy.
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CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2026 NOMINEES!
Outstanding Development Professional – Emerging Leader (up to 10 years of experience)
-Ashley Carbonell, nominated by KPBS
-Alessandra Costigliola, nominated by San Diego State University
-Chelsy Clark, nominated by American Cancer Society
-Georgia Kramer, nominated by Chicano Federation
-Miguel Lopez, CFRE, nominated by San Diego Foundation
-Cory Moore, nominated by Noah Homes
-Daniel Nagey, nominated by Adri Brunner
-Daniela Ogden, nominated by Fred Finch Youth & Family Services
Outstanding Development Professional – Mid-Career (10-19 years of experience)
-Carter Anderson, nominated by Monarch School
-Jared Blakely, nominated by KPBS
-Amie Brown, nominated by Brent Wakefield
-Myrna Davalos, CFRE, nominated by TenDiez Consulting
-Ian Johnson, CFRE, nominated by SD LGBT Community Center
-Carlos Medina, CFRE, nominated by Chicano Federation
-Janelle Wallace, nominated by SVPR Communications
Outstanding Development Professional – Career Achievement (20+ years of experience)
-Jennifer Handy, nominated by STEP
-David Hanses, nominated by SD Fire Rescue Foundation
-Alexis Rodriguez, nominated by Community HousingWorks
-Debbie Smith, nominated by TCW Global
-Richard Virgin, PhD, nominated by University of San Diego
Outstanding Philanthropist(s)
-Dianne L. Bashor, nominated by San Diego State University, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance and Scouting America
-Sandy Bertha, nominated by Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA
-Toni Bloomberg, The San Diego Museum of Art
-Linda & Mel Katz, nominated by San Diego Foundation, Lifeline Community Services, Planned Parenthood, United Women of East Africa
-Stephanie & Pat Kilkenny, nominated by Lucky Duck Foundation, Hal Abrams, Dana Altman, Michael Arms, Rolf Benirschke, Dan Epstein, Feeding San Diego, Janine Giambone, Mark “Mud” Grant, Helen Woodward Animal Center, Dick & Ann Hoye, Peter Jacobsen, Robert Kamensky, Bob Kimmel, Jason Levin, Heather Lezon, Eric Lovett-Maerz, Bob McElroy, Drew Moser, Tom Mulvaney, Dan Novak, Ryan & Kristen O’Connor, Grant Oliphant, Brian Panish, Bob Rief, Debbie Ruane, John Sarkisian, Ben Schuster, Chris Sichel, Kim Sigelman-Marquardt, Kieran Sweeney, Bob Tyson, Lori Walton, Mark Wasikowski, Jennifer Wilbur, Kathleen Witz-Sweeney
-Leslie Levinson, nominated by Walden Family Services
-Patti Roscoe, nominated by San Diego Girl Scouts
-Molly & Bob Schulze, nominated by Meals on Wheels San Diego County
-Charlene & Dave Walker, nominated by Home of Guiding Hands
Outstanding Grantmaking Organization
-Blue Shield of California Promise Plan, nominated by Chicano Federation
-BQuest Foundation, nominated by San Diego Foundation
-David C. Copley Foundation, nominated by STEP, Interfaith Community Services
-Festival of Trees San Diego, nominated by Sunnyboy Biscuit Co.
-Lucky Duck Foundation, nominated by Monarch School Project
-Rancho Santa Fe Women’s Fund, nominated by Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, HomeStart, Meals on Wheels, Project Next
-Rotary Club of Downtown San Diego, nominated by Monarch School Project
-Sahm Family Foundation, Meals on Wheels San Diego County
Outstanding Philanthropic Business/Corporation
-California Bank & Trust, self-nominated
-Griffin Funding, nominated by Shelter to Soldier
-Harrah’s Resort Southern California, nominated by The San Diego Museum of Art
-Hunter Industries, nominated by Cal State University San Marcos, Boys & Girls Club of San Marcos, Palomar College Foundation
-Maya’s Cookies, nominated by Monarch School Project
-Seven Mile Casino, nominated by South Bay YMCA, YMCA of San Diego, Living Coast Discovery Center
-TCW Global, self-nominated
-US Bank, nominated by Accessity, American Red Cross, Boys & Girls Club of Vista, Chicano Federation of San Diego County, Junior Achievement of San Diego, LEAD San Diego, Lifeline Community Services, MAAC, The Old Globe Theatre, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation’s (EDC)
Outstanding Organization for IDEA
-Home of Guiding Hands, self-nominated
-San Diego LBGT Community Center, self-nominated
-Union of Pan Asian Communities, self-nominated
Outstanding Student Volunteer
-Malillany Gonzalez, nominated by Community HousingWorks
-Amaan Khan, nominated by Laura O’Sullivan
-Anne Lawrence, nominated by Gigi’s Playhouse San Diego
-Anna McCarthy, nominated by Interfaith Community Services
-Chris Zheng, nominated by Casa de Amistad
Outstanding Volunteer
-Dr. Suzanne Affalo, nominated by Actuate Solutions
-Pedro Anaya, self-nominated
-Brian Bonert, nominated by Oncology and Kids
-Silvia Calzada, nominated by Community HousingWorks
-Fred Davis, nominated by Serving Seniors
-Charles Kaye, nominated by STAR/PAL and Andy Weiss
-Theresa McKenna, nominated by Noah Homes
-Ray Menegus, nominated by The San Diego Museum of Art
-Tracy Mitchell, nominated by Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, Junior League of San Diego, Patrons of the Prado, St. Paul’s Senior Services Foundation
-Ann Owens, nominated by Alzheimer’s San Diego
-Lily Quiros, nominated by Catholic Charities
-Tim Rupe, nominated by Reality Changers, and Tamara Craver
-Valerie Schlieder, nominated by Gigi’s Playhouse of San Diego
-Thomas Story, nominated by Border View YMCA, YMCA of San Diego County
-Karen & Bill Tincup, nominated by Interfaith Community Services
-Amy Zabrowski, nominated by McAlister Institute
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2026 NPD Honorary Committee
Each year, the Honorary Committee Chair and Board President build a committee of non-profit and business leaders, philanthropists, community collaborators and positive changemakers who are creating impact through philanthropy right here in the San Diego region. The committee is charged with reviewing nominations and selecting honorees in each category for National Philanthropy Day.
- Mark Stuart, CFRE, Honorary Committee Chair, San Diego Foundation
- Ingrid de Llamas, CFRE, AFP San Diego President
- Justin Apger, Downtown San Diego Partnership
- Valerie Attisha, PNC Bank
- Adri Brunner, JPMorganChase
- Mark Cafferty, SD Economic Development Corporation
- Chris Cate, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Phyllis Epstein, Philanthropist
- David Gillig, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance
- Sharyn Goodson, CFRE, Jewish Community Foundation of San Diego
- Lety Martinez Hermosillo, International Community Foundation
- Lisette Islas, Lifeline Community Services
- Rudy Johnson, Neighborhood House
- Samer Khouli, TCW Global
- Alicia Kitagawa, Life Science Cares
- Kimberly Koch, Copley Foundation
- Lindsay Langford, Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
- Connie Matsui, Social Entrepreneur
- Enrique Meza, US Bank
- Drew Moser, Lucky Duck Foundation
- Adrianna O’Donnell, CFRE, Chicano Federation
- Ramla Sahid, PANA San Diego
- Denise Scatena, Scatena Media Group
- Todd Tibbits, YMCA of San Diego County
- Lori Torio, CFRE, Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation
- Karla Torosian, Redbone Consulting
- Adrienne Vargas, SDSU & Campanile Foundation
- Sara Vaz, CSUSM
- Susana Villegas, SVP Communications
- Kimberly White-Smith, USD Soles
- Bill York, 211 San Diego
About National Philanthropy Day
National Philanthropy Day® (NPD) is a special day set aside on the fifteenth of November to recognize the great contributions of philanthropy—and those people active in the philanthropic community—to the enrichment of our community and the world.
NPD was originally conceived of and organized in the 1980s, and the first official event was held in 1986 after NPD was officially proclaimed. The day provides an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of giving and all that it has made possible. NPD celebrates the endless daily contributions individuals and organizations across the world make to countless causes and missions.
San Diego’s NPD is one of the largest and most successful in the U.S., attracting between 750 and 1,300 participants including philanthropists, nonprofit leaders, board members, development professionals, business, community, and civic leaders. NPD has been celebrated in San Diego for decades. Philanthropists who have been recognized include Gwendolyn Sontheim Meyer, Ron Fowler, Kimberley & Marcus Boehm, Bob Wilson and many others who have given back so much to our community.
Themes have included San Diego Strong - Resilience Through Philanthropy, A Symphony of Philanthropy and Reaching New Heights and in recent years the event itself has been held virtually on The CW San Diego, and previously at The Hilton Bayfront, Copley Symphony Hall, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Three primary committees are engaged in making the event possible, the Honorary Committee, Planning Committee, and Resource Development Committee.
Recent presenting sponsors have included PNC Bank, San Diego Foundation, The Rancho Santa Fe Foundation, The Jewish Community Foundation, Sempra, and UC San Diego, and as many as 65 corporate, foundation and nonprofit sponsorships have been secured in a single year for NPD. There’s nothing quite like the community coming together with hundreds of like-minded San Diegans in support of all of the good work that we accomplish through philanthropy and development.