The United Way of San Diego County recently named five new members to its board of directors. Among the five is Otay Ranch resident Ka’eo Griffin.
Griffin and the rest of the board will provide governance over the affairs and activities of the United Way. He also will act on one or more board sub-committees, including workplace campaigns, finance, Tocqueville Society, major giving, public policy and marketing.
Board members serve a three-year term.
Griffin was appointed to the United Way board in August and one of his first orders of business was to help find a new chief executive officer to run the nonprofit that works with the government, businesses and other nonprofits to ensure that children and families have the resources they need to succeed.
“It was a privilege for me to have voted and have a say in the selection of the new CEO,” he said.
The board collectively picked Nancy Sasaki as its new CEO.
As part of his board duties, Griffin runs the annual United Way campaign for San Diego County.
Griffin said one of his goals as a board member is to have the United Way more involved in the South Bay and with the special needs population. He said although the United Way already has a tax assistance program and the Union United program, the United Way can expand its reach by extending to South County.
Jim Woods, vice president of corporate relations for the United Way, said Griffin is a good fit to the United Way’s board of directors.
“What he really brings outside of his passion for education and giving back and helping our youth is he brings that lens of somebody who’s been inside the workplaces and knows United Way’s role in partnering with corporate partners to make an impact here in San Diego,” Woods said.
Griffin’s first involvement with the United Way of San Diego County came 14 years ago while working at the United Parcel Service.
Griffin said UPS has a corporate culture of supporting their local United Way and through this he learned about the nonprofit charitable organization.
In 2010, Griffin moved to Hawaii where he continued his involvement with the United Way.
In 2014 Griffin moved to Otay Ranch where he took his involvement newer heights.
“When I came back to San Diego I really stepped up my involvement with the United Way,” he said.
It was here that Griffin founded the Emerging Leaders network, a group within the United Way that gives members the opportunity to develop business acumen and leadership skills while building a cross-industry network.
