VAN NUYS, CA – The 30th Annual National Philanthropy Day ® (NPD) Award Luncheon will be held on November 2nd, hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter (AFP/GSFVC) and presented by Valley Presbyterian Hospital. Anthony Angelini, a third-year undergraduate student in the Near Eastern Languages and Cultures department at UCLA, will be honored as Outstanding Youth Volunteer, and Stephanie Wilson, a Cultural Affairs Commissioner for the City of Thousand Oaks, will be honored as Outstanding Professional Fundraiser at the luncheon.
“National Philanthropy Day® is the day we recognize and pay tribute to the contributions that philanthropy — and philanthropists — have made to our Valley and our nation,” noted Charles Robbins, President of the Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter. “With future government funding in question, charities have to rely more and more on individual contributions. Our honorees have made the commitment to support philanthropy in our Valley and keep the spirit of civic betterment alive and strong.”
Anthony Angelini, a resident of Newbury Park, is a 23-year-old student at UCLA and has been a humanitarian and activist since the age of 6, when he donated his birthday presents to the victims of 9/11. Since then, he has been heavily involved in political activism and humanitarian work both in the Los Angeles area and abroad. Organizations that Anthony has worked closely with include Gold Coast Theatre Conservatory, Animal Foundation of America, and Partners In Care. In 2015, Anthony traveled to a rural village in Liberia, West Africa, to open a school with the organization, A New Dimension of Hope. He placed the first book, “Oh! The Places You’ll Go!” on the shelf and gave the dedication speech. Unfortunately, in July 2016, the school was destroyed by corrupt officials and Anthony and the NDHope team were forced to raise the money to rebuild. Which they did this summer. Anthony is proud to announce that the construction of a new, better school, is currently underway.
Stephanie Wilson, CFRE, a resident of Simi Valley, is Vice President of Development for Partners in Care Foundation, an organization that works primarily with low-income, frail elderly people to keep them healthy and safe at home. She has been raising funds since 1997 for Tall Ships, Shakespeare, Symphonies, Botanical Gardens and four Capital Campaigns, including an NPR Broadcast Center.
Stephanie developed Gold Coast Plays, a professional Equity theatre company and created the inaugural programs as Director of Education at the Granada Theatre in Santa Barbara. As a volunteer, she serves on the Cultural Affairs Commission for the City of Thousand Oaks and the board of AFP-GSFV. She has chaired several organizations including the California Alliance for Arts Education, The Ventura County Arts Council and the Social Justice Fund for Ventura County, and served on dozens of boards. On weekends Stephanie teaches theatre to all kinds of young people, including those with autism.
Nominees for the National Philanthropy Day ® 2017 Awards were submitted by Valley organizations and the honorees were selected by a Blue Ribbon Panel of Valley leaders. This year’s honorees are:
Outstanding Philanthropist: Marla & Steven Kort
Outstanding Volunteer: Cheryl “Cookie” Hopper
Outstanding Youth Volunteer: Anthony Angelini
Outstanding Corporate Foundation: Comerica Bank
Outstanding Professional Fundraiser: Stephanie Wilson, CFRE
The award luncheon is a celebration of the spirit of giving. The Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter joins more than 100 chapters throughout North America in observing National Philanthropy Day ®, recognizing outstanding efforts in philanthropic causes. There will be more than 50,000 individuals participating in NPD programs and activities.
AFP is the largest association of fundraisers in the world and represents more than 30,000 fundraising practitioners across the globe. The AFP Foundation for Philanthropy supports programs and initiatives that help train fundraisers and increase knowledge and awareness of ethical fundraising.
National Philanthropy Day ® luncheon Thursday, November 2 at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Fleming Conference Center, 15107 Vanowen St., Van Nuys, CA 91405. Sponsorships, tributes and reservations are available through October 20. For more information, visit the chapter website at www.AFP-GSFV.org.
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