Скачать или смотреть 2020 YMCA of San Diego County Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Human Dignity Award Honoree - Dee Sanford

The YMCA's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Human Dignity Award is annually bestowed upon a person who exemplifies Dr. King's work and character. The inaugural award was given to Rufus DeWitt, the first African-American executive director in our YMCA association who served at the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA in the 1960s.

Subsequent honorees continue to embody Dr. King's spirit and humanitarian ideals. All nominees are submitted for recognition by their peers and are chosen by a prestigious committee that includes past recipients.
2020 Human Dignity Award Winner: Dee Sanford

We are proud to announce this year's Human Dignity Award Winner, Dee Sanford. Sanford has been a pillar in the community for decades. She was raised in Southeastern San Diego, graduating from Lincoln High School and San Diego State University. Her professional journey began in 1976 after graduating college to become the first Black woman in outside sales for Pacific Telephone locally. With a lack of Black female mentors to help her navigate the corporate world, Sanford leaned on her father, James McCann, General Dynamic’s first Black manager in San Diego in the 1960s. This led her to a successful 20-year career in telecommunications before starting her consulting company, Dee Sanford International, in 1994.

Sanford’s savvy for consulting in customer service, sales, business/presentation skills and professional development led her to many opportunities. She became an adjunct professor for several local colleges and universities. Additionally, she saw a need for professional networking organizations for Black business women and men in San Diego. She pioneered and led multiple efforts to fill this gap for more than 14 years. Sanford also created and hosted popular public access TV and radio shows designed to help provide affordable exposure for small businesses and non-profits.

Sanford has proudly served on the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA board for more than 30 years, a family legacy her father started. She has also served as Chair of the MLK breakfast since 1999. Throughout her career she has received numerous recognitions for her contributions to community. As her “last assignment,” Sanford recently retired after 11 years at Greenwood Memorial Park & Mortuary.

“Dee Sanford has been an amazing force and shining light for not only our Jackie Robinson Family YMCA, but our community at-large,” said Baron Herdelin-Doherty, President & CEO of the YMCA of San Diego County. “To say she exemplifies the work and character of Dr. King is an understatement. We are thrilled to honor her with the 2020 Human Dignity Award.”

For more information on Dee Sanford, visit https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/....