hello!
We are a committed group of volunteers who fundraise to provide grants for critically needed capital items to nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego County.
ACTIVE MEMBERS
Las Patronas members serve a term of six to seven years and hold two to three organizational positions each year, ensuring our long-standing success as an organization. In addition, all members work with the Grants Committee, bi-annually, making on-site visits to each eligible nonprofit organization that applies for a grant. As a group, we thoroughly assess and vet each organization’s request, present our findings to our peers, select our major and minor grant recipients, and distribute available funding.
The funds granted to these organizations are generated through our year-long fundraising efforts and the presentation of our annual Jewel Ball, one of San Diego’s most enduring and coveted social, cultural, and philanthropic traditions.
All funds raised by Las Patronas stay in San Diego County and are distributed to many small grass-root nonprofits as well as larger, more visible organizations that provide valuable community services in the areas of health, education, social services, and cultural arts.
Juliana Anthony
Karen Benito
Lisa Bresnahan
Michelle Brown
Mimi Brunson
Sara Carpenter
Megan Casey Jones
Kim Chao
Kristen Churchill
Julia Civardi
Celia Cravatt
Christa Duncan-Arfaa
Lizzet Fitz
Giulia Grindle
Rose Ham
Laurel Hanson
Susan Hanson
Lisa Hersman
Amber Hunt
Ashley Jacobs
Anna Joslin
Amanda Kalish
Avelina Kauffman
Mia Kelly
Katherine Kozo
Lesley Kroupa
Jennifer Landa
Colleen Lighter
Laurie Lopez
Andrea Marvin
Jenny McGowan
​Meredith Novak
Meredith Pathria
Mary Powell-Penrith
Dagmar Smek
Kate Spiro
Laura Thompson
Rowena Treitler
Lauren Walsh
Ingrid Westlake
2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Vice President/Grants Chair
Recording Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Chief Financial Officer
Advisory Representatives
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Rowena Treitler
​Colleen Lighter
Andrea Marvin
Sara Carpenter
Lisa Hersman
Michelle Wiseman
Nicole Velazquez
Lisette Farrel
Amy Carr
Susan Barrera​
Jennifer Kelly
Social Chair
Membership Chair
Nominating Chair
Communications Chair
Historian
Jewel Ball Chair
Immediate Past President
Information Technology Chair
Investment Chair
Parliamentarian
Ashley Jacobs
Jenny McGowan
Ashley Jacobs
Laurie Lopez
Avelina Kauffman
Katherine Kozo
Julie Garrie
Laurel Hanson
Dagmar Smek
Mia Kelly
Founding Members
Mrs. Dinnie Andeck
Mrs. Margret Doane
Mrs. Betty Foster
Mrs. Mary King
Mrs. Dolly McChesney
Mrs. Kathryn T. McReynolds
Mrs. Pat Pending Morrison Mertz
Mrs. Lynn Porter, II
Mrs. Marjorie Preston, II
Mrs. Ruth Rombaugh
Mrs. Jo Bobbie MacConnell Showley
Mrs. Ruth Stoefen
Mrs. Claire Tavares
Mrs. Dorothy Willoughby
PAST PRESIDENTS
2022 - 2023
2021 - 2022
2020 – 2021
2019 – 2020
2018 – 2019
2017 – 2018
2016 – 2017
2015 – 2016
2014 – 2015
2013 – 2014
2012 – 2013
2011 – 2012
2010 – 2011
2009 – 2010
2008 – 2009
2007 – 2008
2006 – 2007
2005 – 2006
2004 – 2005
2003 – 2004
2002 – 2003
2001 – 2002
2000 – 2001
1999 – 2000
1998 – 1999
1997 – 1998
1996 – 1997
Julie Bubnack
Tina Boynton
Martha Sottosanti
Kelly Kjos
Michelle Wiseman
Sherry Macelli
Leigh Plesniak
Lisa Betyar
Annette Bradbury
Jena Joyce
Pat Marsch
Lisa Albanez
Sallie Warren
Tracy Lyon
Lydia McNeil
Barbara Mulligan
Terry Cooper
Vicki Eddy
Teresa Hixson
Eugenie “Jeanie” Carlstead
Debby Thomas Fishburn
Susanna Lipe Aalbers
Maryl Weightman**
Julia Peck
Sue Kalish
Cindy Wollaeger
Deirdre Carlson
1995 – 1996
1994 – 1995
1993 – 1994
1992 – 1993
1991 – 1992
1990 – 1991
1989 – 1990
1988 – 1989
1987 – 1988
1986 – 1987
1985 – 1986
1984 – 1985
1983 – 1984
1982 – 1983
1981 – 1982
1980 – 1981
1979 – 1980
1978 – 1979
1977 – 1978
1976 – 1977
1975 – 1976
1974 – 1975
1973 – 1974
1972 – 1973
1971 – 1972
1970 – 1971
1969 – 1970
Karen Gabsch**
Maggie Coleman
Anne Dick
Sukey Rice Ridgway**
Melesse Traylor**
Anne Coleman**
Sandy Melchior
Judy Lessard
Dawn Matthiesen
Marilyn Bilger
Denise Blickenstaff**
Shirley Campbell
Nancy Johnson**
Joan Wilson**
Berneice Copeland
Alice Cavanaugh
Susan Myerson
Vicki Fraser Costello**
Ann Jones**
Bege Gravette**
Nancy Didricksen
Virginia Winegardner**
Constance K. “Connie” Noah**
Allison McBride**
Marilyn Mayne**
Nancy Van Dorn**
Priscilla Wright**
1968 – 1969
1967 – 1968
1966 – 1967
1965 – 1966
1964 – 1965
1963 – 1964
1962 – 1963
1961 – 1962
1960 – 1961
1959 – 1960
1958 – 1959
1957 – 1958
1956 – 1957
1955 – 1956
1954 – 1955
1953 – 1954
1952 – 1953
1951 – 1952
1950 – 1951
1949 – 1950
1948 – 1949
1947 – 1948
1947
Janet F. Gallison
Jill Bradburn
Sue Leavenworth
Norma James**
Betty Barwise McLean**
Sally Stout
Sue Bell**
JoAnn Latimer**
Maryjane Halsey**
Edie Watts**
Carol Whitney**
Leith Ramsey
Dolly McChesney**
Judy Keelin**
Barbara Sanderson**
Barbara Archer**
Tess Millard**
Emily Hunte Black**
Ginny Irwin**
Marian Trevor**
Mary King**
Lynn Porter**
Kathryn T. McReynolds,** Founding President
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** Deceased