Nominations Sought for Top Fund-Raiser

The local chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives is accepting nominations for fund-raising volunteer of the year, philanthropist of the year and professional fund-raiser of the year.

Winners will receive their awards at a luncheon in November.

The awards are a way for nonprofit groups to honor the people who enable them to operate, said Berta Steele, chairwoman of this year’s luncheon.

“Without support, organizations are going to disappear,” Steele said. “There’s a lot of leadership out there that needs to be recognized.”

The 14th annual luncheon will be held on National Philanthropy Day, Nov. 10, at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo. The day was established to honor those who make philanthropic contributions and those who are active in nonprofit groups, Steele said.

Past winners include Helen Yunker, a Ventura real estate broker who was selected Philanthropist of the Year in 1999 for her support of several organizations, and Ventura’s Monty Clark was picked as 1998 Fund-Raising Volunteer of the Year for his help in raising $600,000 for the Pier Into the Future Foundation.

Nominees can be either individuals or organizations, Steele said, and must be active in or serve nonprofit organizations in Ventura or Santa Barbara counties.

The organization’s five awards include a fund-raising volunteer and philanthropist of the year for each county, plus one professional fund-raiser of the year from either county.

Nominations must be received by Sept. 15. For more information, call 647-7442.