AFP eWire – November 24, 2010

PRESS RELEASE: For Immediate Release

John Kelleher, CFRE, Honored as the Outstanding Professional of the Year

L - R: John Kelleher, CFRE, awarded the 2010 Outstanding Professional of the Year Award at the National Philanthropy Day. Presenters were (Left to Right - Vincent Fraumeni, NPD Chairman; Paula Kupiec, President, AFP/GSFVC; John Kelleher, CFRE and Pegi Matsuda, publisher, SFV Business Journal and MC for NPD.

(Nov. 24, 2010)

Sherman Oaks, California was the setting of the National Philanthropy Day award luncheon hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professional/Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter (AFP/GSFVC).   Ms. Pegi Matsuda, publisher of the San Fernando Valley Business Journal, served as Master of Ceremonies. 

 Change the World with a Giving Heart was the theme of the event.  John Kelleher, CFRE, of Canyon Country, California was honored and recognized by his fellow professionals as the Outstanding Professional of the Year.  

John’s fundraising career spans more than thirty years.  He began his not-for-profit career with Danny Thomas and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as the LA-Area Director and grew the office into one of the most successful office for raising funds for St. Jude.  He served as Executive Director at Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills and at Pacific Hospital of Long Beach Foundation.  He developed his own full service consulting firm in February 1993, KELLEHER & ASSOCIATES, specializing in fundraising, marketing, and governmental affairs for organizations, from concept creation to expansion of existing programs and services.  KELLEHER & ASSOCIATES have assisted more than 125 organizations throughout the U.S., Europe and the Philippines in bringing their dreams into reality.  In addition to serving on the Board of Directors of the Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter; Kelleher is also an active member of the AFP/Desert Communities Chapter serving on their board.  John was recently re-elected to AFP International Board of Directors and is involved with the U. S. Governmental Affairs Committee and a member of the AFP Political Action Committee.  He also serves as Secretary of the Southern California Association of Healthcare Development (SCAHD).  John has received numerous awards during his distinguished career including Professional Fund Raiser of the Year (2000) from AFP/Greater Los Angeles Chapter; Professional Fundraiser of the Decade (2003) from AFP/GSFVC; and the Barbara Marion Award for Outstanding Leadership to AFP (2006) from the Association of Fundraising Professional.

 Paula Kupiec, President, recently stated:   “Let me just tell you about a little thing I like to call “The John Kelleher Effect”.  Now we all know John knows the SFV Chapter and certainly the LA Chapter.  John even helped start our chapter as well as the Desert Communities Chapter.  John, as you know, sits on the International Board for AFP.  What does that mean?  It means EVERYBODY in AFP knows him.  How do I know that?  Because at last week’s Leadership Academy and at the two previous international conferences that I have attended, AFP members from practically everywhere see my chapter name and say “Oh, I know John Kelleher!”

On a serious note, John has been one of those members in AFP who has kept the association strong.  He has pushed to increase the integrity and efficacy of our profession, he is a charter member of our chapter, he helped found our first NPD 25 years ago and he has been in our profession for 30+ years.  Who else in our chapter can say he/she worked with Danny Thomas? 

 John - It is our honor and privilege to work with you at the Chapter level and our joy to join others in recognizing all that you’ve given to us, to our Chapter, to our profession and to our association.” 

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