Accolades Abound for San Diego Foundation

In June, San Diego Foundation and its leadership team received several awards in acknowledgement of service to San Diego’s diverse communities.

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, San Diego Foundation worked with civic, business and nonprofit leaders throughout San Diego County to deliver much-needed services to San Diegans in need. The San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund granted $67 million to local nonprofits that delivered 4.14 million services throughout the county.

That work was recognized in June 2022 by the San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) with one of two of its inaugural Life Changing Awards; the region’s healthcare professionals and systems were also recognized.

“For almost 50 years, San Diego Foundation has served as our primary community and philanthropic foundation, supporting a wide range of causes and organizations throughout our region,” said Mark Cafferty, President and CEO of San Diego Regional EDC. “But never has its work been more important or its resources more critical to San Diegans than during the many months of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

In July 2021, San Diego Foundation was also recognized for the San Diego COVID-19 Community Response Fund with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary’s Award for Public-Philanthropic Partnership; SDF was one of six foundations recognized nationwide.

Pamela Gray Payton Recognized for ‘Black Excellence’

Pamela Gray Payton, Vice President, Chief Impact and Partnerships Officer at SDF, was recognized by the UC San Diego Black Staff Association with its “I Am Black Excellence” Award at their 2^nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration & Black Excellence Awards on June 16.

Honorees are nominated by the UC San Diego Black Staff Association Executive Board for their contributions, outstanding achievements and commitment to the UC San Diego Black Staff Association.

According to the organization’s website, “Black excellence [is] the celebration of success in the Black community. However, its purpose goes far beyond simply highlighting individual achievements. Black excellence is a mindset backed by actions that display leadership through perseverance. The true purpose of these actions is to advance the Black community.”

At San Diego Foundation, Pamela coordinates the work of the Black Community Investment Fund, which launched in fall 2020 and has raised and granted $3.1 million and $3 million, respectively, to education, employment, entrepreneurship and housing programs that create generational wealth for Black San Diegans. She also helped launch the San Diego Black Homebuyer Program in August 2021, which has so far assisted 30 families in purchasing their first homes. Pamela joined San Diego Foundation in May 2020.

Mark Stuart Named in SDBJ’s Top 50 LGBTQ+ Leaders of Influence

As part of Pride Month, which honors the achievements and contributions of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and queer (LGBTQ+) community members, the San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Equality Business Association have announced a list of San Diego’s Top 50 LGBTQ+ Leaders of Influence. Mark Stuart was recognized for his work as CEO and President of San Diego Foundation.

The San Diego Business Journal and the San Diego Equality Business Association will recognize the honorees at a special event on July 11. A special section that includes information on all honorees was published in the San Diego Business Journal’s June 27 issue.

Mark has served as President and CEO of San Diego Foundation since March 2019.

Policy & Innovation Center’s Susan Guinn Recognized as a Top 50 API Leader of Influence

Susan Guinn, Vice President, Chief Innovation Officer for San Diego Foundation, and President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Policy & Innovation Center, was recognized as one of the Top 50 Asian Pacific Islander Leaders of Influence by the San Diego Business Journal and the Asian Business Association of San Diego at an event on June 22.

The honorees were acknowledged for their contributions and commitment in various industries throughout San Diego. San Diego Business Journal will publish a special section recognizing all the honorees in its July 11 issue.

Susan joined San Diego Foundation in October 2020 and has served as President and CEO of the Policy & Innovation Center since its launch in September 2021.