When Lynn Gorguze was just 8 years old, she read a children’s book about Helen Keller that moved her to write directly to the trailblazing disability rights advocate, political activist, and inspiration to millions.
“The book showed me how worthwhile and exciting your life has been,” she wrote in the letter. “I hope to make my life worthwhile too.”
Mission accomplished. After launching her career as an investment banker, Lynn has led Cameron Holdings, a manufacturing investment firm she founded with her father, since 1993. Her husband, Scott Peters, is a former environmental attorney and San Diego City Council president who now represents California’s 50th congressional district.
But for the couple, the true measure of a ‘worthwhile’ life isn’t in titles or résumés; it’s in making a lasting difference in their community.
Through their partnership with San Diego Foundation (SDF), Scott and Lynn have helped strengthen local priorities, inspired others to give and sparked a philanthropic spirit within their grown children.
“Scott’s from Michigan and I’m from St. Louis, but San Diego is our home,” Lynn says. “This is our community and we are committed to helping make it stronger.”
Added Scott: “My father is a minister. He’s retired now, but his whole life was about service, and that was the example he set for me and my sisters from an early age. It’s just part of our DNA to help other people. Growing up, we never had a lot of money, but we did what we could. Lynn’s been successful in her business, and I did well, so we have the means now to help people with our resources. It’s kind of exciting.”
Serving the People
Photo Credit: The New Children’s Museum
Lynn and Scott are Visionary Donors to The New Children’s Museum in San Diego, where Lynn has served on the Board of Directors. Other organizations they are involved with include Francis Parker School (their children’s alma mater), the La Jolla Playhouse (where Lynn is on the Board of Trustees), the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis (where Lynn earned her MBA), Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, and the nonprofit biological research institute Sanford Burnham Prebys. Both were also longtime, active members of the La Jolla Community Foundation.
Scott was introduced to SDF when he became chair of its Climate Initiative while he was serving as a San Diego Port Commissioner. In 2010, the couple established the Cabrillo Charitable Fund at SDF. Recent grant recipients include Ocean Discovery Institute, Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation, Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, Third Avenue Charitable Organization and New York University.
Their philanthropic focus aligns closely with SDF’s Fifty & Forward campaign, the community foundation’s ambitious 50th anniversary initiative to grant $500 million in support of the region’s greatest opportunities in three key areas: education; children and families; and the environment.
“My parents were super hardworking people from a blue collar, middle-class background,” Lynn shared. “My dad’s parents were immigrants who knew the value of hard work. He got a scholarship to college, and that changed his life. That’s why I really feel so strongly about education and making it available to as many people as possible. Often, just a little bit of help can make a big difference for an organization’s mission.”
Nonprofits that Resonate
Photo Credit: Ocean Discovery Institute
One organization especially close to their hearts is Ocean Discovery Institute, which has benefited from several SDF grants. Scott helped lead the campaign to build ODI’s state-of-the-art science and learning center, and he and Lynn continue to contribute generously to its endowment.
“They run a tremendous program teaching kids science, kids who are living in City Heights and don’t have access to the resources available in other parts of the city,” says Scott.
“A 14-year-old girl once told me, ‘I can’t believe I wasted so much time before I learned about science,’” adds Scott. Another program alum later earned a Ph.D. at UC Santa Barbara and returned to the Institute as a tutor.
The couple also support Third Avenue Charitable Organization, which provides critical services for those experiencing homeless or housing insecurity, and they remain steadfast advocates for Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, where Lynn and her daughter have co-chaired annual fundraisers.
Ways to Give
Scott and Lynn are modest when it comes to talking about the size of their contributions, but the philosophy that guides them is simple: do what you can to make a difference.
“So much of our wealth is not in our home or business, it’s in our community and being part of this community,” says Scott. “I think when you see your friends and neighbors helping the community, it inspires people to do the same. You don’t lose anything by making a community better. I just hope people will find their lane and do what they can. I can say that this has been really gratifying for us.”
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