Philanthropists honored in San Luis Obispo
About 150 people gathered at the Madonna Inn on Nov. 15 for the 2nd Annual San Luis Obispo County National Philanthropy Day Awards.
More than 150 community leaders turned out at the Madonna Inn on Nov. 15 as the 2nd annual San Luis Obispo County National Philanthropy Day Awards honored two of the region’s high tech pioneers.
Bert and Candee Forbes, who founded and owned Ziatech until its sale to Intel in 1999, shared Philanthropist of the Year honors. Over 24 years they built Ziatech from a startup to 200 employees and they launched their careers as philanthropists after Intel paid an estimated $240 million for the company.
Bert Forbes said that investment in community was something that he learned in the early days of his career while working at Hewlett-Packard. “We based our company on the H-P way. That meant uncompromising integrity,” he said.
A second award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy went to five women volunteers for Project Surf Camp, which uses surfing instruction to help severely disabled youngsters gain confidence and skills in the water.
The program was hosted by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Chapter for SLO County, SLO investment adviser Bob Wacker and Matthew Cottle, chair of the Association of Fundraising Professionals chapter
• Contact Henry Dubroff at hdubroff@pacbiztimes.com.
