Past Presidents
Linda L. Katz
Founding President (July 2000 - June 2004)Community Leader
Founding member and founding SDWF President, Linda led SDWF through our first four grant cycles. Over the course of those cycles we granted out $608k to twenty organizations working on health and human services, civil society, economic and employment development, and the environment.
Julie Dubick
(July 2004 - June 2005)Director of Policy for San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders
A founding member and bpard member of SDWF, Julie served on the board from 2003 – 2006. As President, Julie oversaw the 2005 grants process where we awarded $239k to seven organizations with arts & culture programs that contribute to the creative expression, vitality and quality of life of the San Diego Region.
Alicia Foster
(July 2005 - June 2007)Community Leader
Alicia is a founding member of SDWF and served on the board from 2003 – 2007. As president, she oversaw the 2006 grants cycle where $231k was awarded to six organizations providing educational programming as well as the 2007 cycle where we granted $239k to seven organizations working to improve access to nutritious foods for people of all ages in low-income households experiencing hunger, food insecurity, or food insufficiency.
Carol Littlejohn Chang
(July 2007 - June 2009)Community Leader
A founding member of SDWF, Carol served on the board from 2004 – 2009. As president, she oversaw the 2009 and 2008 grants processes where $223k was granted to five organizations working to build resiliency in vulnerable youth by supporting efforts to help middle-school-age youth develop positive skills and behaviors and $201k was granted out to four organizations with projects to retain and expand work opportunities that providing sustainable wages and upward mobility to underserved San Diegans.
Cynthia Olmstead
(July 2009 - June 2011)President, Olmstead Consulting
A founding member of SDWF, Cindy served on the board from 2004 – 2012. As president she oversaw two grants cycles that granted over $181k to five organizations providing accessible artistic and cultural experiences to engage and educate underserved K-12 youth, and over $152k to four organizations working to connect people to local nature and promote informed awareness of the natural environment of the San Diego region.
Teresa Jacques
Interim President (July 2011 - June 2012)Human Resources Professional
Teresa has been a member of SDWF since 2005. She served on the board from 2008 – 2014 and oversaw the 2012 grants process where over $197k was granted out to five organizations with educational programs that develop basic skills and knowledge for improved performance in school and life.
Rita Solberg
(July 2012 - June 2013)Community Leader
Rita has been a member of SDWF since 2004 and served on the board from 2007 – 2014. As SDWF President, she oversaw the 2013 grants cycle where $166k was awarded to four organizations with programs that promote self-sufficiency in individuals and families living above the Federal Poverty Level, but not meeting the Self-Sufficiency Standard for San Diego County.
A.J. Frank
(July 2013 - June 2014)Financial Planner
A.J. has been a member of SDWF since 2004 and served on the board from 2008 – 2015. Under her leadership SDWF granted out $166k to four organizations working to improve water conservation and address water quality challenges in San Diego County.
Leigh Hartman
(July 2014 - June 2015)Community Leader
Leigh has been a member of SDWF since 2006 and served on the Board of Directors from 2008 until 2015. As President, she oversaw our 2015 grants cycle focused on community leadership development, where we granted $172k to four organizations.
Suzanne LaTour
(July 2015 - June 2016)Certified Financial Planner
Suzanne has been a member since 2003 and served on the board from 2008 – 2017. Under her leadership, SDWF granted over $186k to four organizations working to combat joblessness through employment readiness programs.
Valerie Jacobs
(July 2016 - June 2018)Philanthropy and Wealth Consultant
Valerie is a founding member of SDWF and served on the Board of Directors from 2002 – 2006 and again from 2009 – 2019. As president she launched the SDWF President’s Circle initiative, and led SDWF through two grants cycles where we provided over $390k in funds to five organizations providing services to unaccompanied homeless youth and six organizations providing enrichment programs with behavioral health outcomes.
Sara Bennett
(July 2018 - June 2019)Insurance Professional
Sara has been an active member since 2009 and she helped spearhead the launch of SDWF’s Young Philanthropist initiative. Under her leadership, SDWF granted over $243k to five organizations working to combat human trafficking in San Diego County.
Susan Howe
(July 2019 - June 2020)Community Leader
Susan served as the Director of Major Gifts at the San Diego Public Library Foundation for over seven years. She has also served as a member of the Nominating Committee and Board of Directors at Junior League, President of the Scripps Ranch Friends of the Public Library, and as a Founding Member of Hidden Valley House Auxiliary. Susan is an alumna of Scripps College where she graduated with a BA in Political Science.
Cindi Hill
(July 2020 - June 2021)Compliance Consultant
Cindi has worked in the finance industry since 1985. She received her BS in Finance from San Jose State University and obtained her Investment Adviser Certified Compliance Professional (IACCPSM) designation in 2011 and her Certified Financial Planner® (CFP®) designation in 1993. Cindi served on the NAPFA National Board from 2008-2011 and as Treasurer, Vice Chair, and Chair at ElderHelp of San Diego.
Michelle Candland
(July 2021 - June 2022)Author And Community Leader
Michelle served as San Diego Rotary Club President from 2014-2015, and President of the Monarch School Project. She received San Diego Magazine’s 2004 Art of Giving Award and the Corporate Directors Forum as a Director of the Year for her work with Monarch. After retiring as Managing Director of CBRE in 2004, she wrote her first book “Common Threads: Women Who Weave Tribulation into Triumph.
Shari Miller
(July 2022 - June 2023)FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Shari has more than 30 years of experience in the financial services industry and is a founding partner of Symbio Financial Partners. Before joining LPL in 1992, Shari worked for five years at Kidder, Peabody in New York City. She is an LPL Registered Principal, LPL Financial Advisor, and has completed the Certified Financial Planner Professional Education Program. Shari earned a Bachelor of Science from Kansas State University.
Julie McKay
(July 2023 - June 2024)Real Estate Asset Manager
Julie has been an active Women’s Foundation member since 2016. Julie holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from San Jose State University. She has worked in the finance industry for the past 11 years and has been involved in numerous community and volunteer organizations during that time. She is passionate about financial education and currently works as an Investment Analyst for The Resmark Companies.