News Release
Santa Barbara, Calif. — The Association of Fundraising Professionals Santa Barbara/Ventura Counties Chapter is excited to announce their upcoming National Philanthropy Day awards program on November 14 at 5:00pm. This special event will take place at the scenic Santa Barbara Zoo and will include honors for two locals – Stephanie Wilson, CFRE as Ventura County Fundraiser of the Year and Doug Yarrow as Ventura County Philanthropist of the Year.
Originally introduced locally in 1987, National Philanthropy Day (NPD) is a nationwide celebration spearheaded by the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This is an occasion to shine a light on the tremendous impact, both locally and globally, of philanthropy and celebrate those who have contributed significantly to enriching our world through volunteering and service.
Philanthropist of the Year, Ventura County: Doug Yarrow and his wife Penny have called Westlake Village home for 38 years. Doug’s civic dedication is evident through his two terms on the Westlake Village City Council and his dual tenures as Westlake Village City Mayor. The Yarrows’ philanthropic endeavors have been marked by contributions to projects like the Church of the Epiphany in Oak Park and the Yarrow Family YMCA in Westlake Village. Their charitable reach extends to causes such as the American Heart Association, Senior Concerns, Mary Health of the Sick, the New West Symphony, the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and their alma mater, the University of Southern California. Penny faced the challenge of an Alzheimer’s Disease diagnosis in 2012, leading to five more years of shared travel memories before she moved to a memory care facility. In 2018, Doug established the Penelope Yarrow Alzheimer’s Research Fund at the USC Keck School of Medicine.
Professional Fundraiser of the Year: Stephanie Wilson, CFRE, has been deeply engaged in the nonprofit sector since her involvement in the 1984 Olympic Arts Festival. Her extensive career includes serving as the Development Director and Deputy Director of New West Symphony, as well as successfully managing multi-million dollar building campaigns, which encompassed critical projects such as the VCCF’s Nonprofit Center, the KCLU Broadcast Center, and the Channel Islands Boating Center. Her commitment to community service extends to her board service, with Stephanie contributing to over twenty nonprofit boards. She also played a pivotal role in founding and chairing Ventura County’s Arts Council and Social Justice Fund, in addition to her involvement in the statewide California Alliance for Arts Education. For two decades, she served as the Thousand Oaks Arts/Cultural Commissioner, and she currently holds the position of Simi Valley Cultural Arts Commissioner. Her current role as Managing Director at Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum marks what she envisions as her final, dramatic act in a remarkable career.
The 2023 honorees represent a diverse tapestry of community members across both Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. To access the complete list of awardees, visit here: https://community.afpnet.org/afpsbv/events/npd.
The NPD festivities include a cocktail reception and will culminate in an award ceremony where the honorees will be officially recognized for their outstanding contributions. The Chapter’s Co-Presenting Sponsors are Kellogg Organization, Montecito Bank & Trust, and the Santa Barbara Foundation.
The NPD’s Chair and past AFP SBV Board President, Molly Kemper, shared: “Join us for this extraordinary occasion, where the joy of giving takes center stage, and the heartwarming stories of our honorees inspire us all to reach greater heights in our own acts of kindness and generosity.”
The Association of Fundraising Professionals empowers individuals and organizations to practice ethical fundraising through professional education, networking, research, and advocacy. AFPSBV Chapter offers professional development and networking opportunities for fundraisers and nonprofit leaders locally. To learn more: https://community.afpnet.org/afpsbv/aboutus/ourchapter
