Danielle Lopez has a long history of volunteer work, serving on the Women’s Fest Planning Committee, the Women’s Advisory Committee, the MAP LGBT CFO Conference Planning Committee, the Bisexual Advisory Committee, she served as an AIDS Walk San Diego Area Manager for several years, and she earned the M. Corinne Mackey Volunteer of the Year award in 2007. When Danielle was 18, she co-founded the nonprofit collective Revolution Rising in Los Angeles. Currently, Danielle serves as Treasurer of the Board at The Child’s Primary School and continues her commitment to serving the community through volunteerism.
Danielle is the Chief Financial and Operating Officer at the Make-A-Wish Foundation of San Diego and prior to that, she was the Chief Financial Officer at the San Diego LGBT Community Center, where she oversaw all aspects of accounting and finance for 13 years. She holds a Masters of Business Administration in Financial Management from National University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Accountancy.
After relocating to San Diego from Los Angeles in 2002, Danielle has settled in the South Bay where she lives with her husband, daughter, and four fur babies.
Founding President and Co-Chair
Susan L. Hartman
December 2018 - November 2019
Volunteering Since 2014
Cathy Hemphill was born and raised in Detroit, then moved to California for college and most of the rest of her life. She graduated from California State University at Long Beach in 1967 with a BS in Business. She received her MBA in Taxation from Golden Gate University in 1978.
Cathy spent her professional career working for the Internal Revenue Service in Long Beach, Washington DC, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Along the way she worked in Bonn, Manila and Toronto. She was an auditor, Appeals Officer, Chief of Appeals Audit, Associate Chief of Appeals and Chief of the Appeals Office in San Diego. Cathy taught many tax and management classes for the IRS, as well as tax classes at Los Angeles City College and UCLA Extension. She retired in 1995.
She is a life-long volunteer, starting with the Peace Corps. She was a volunteer in Thailand from 1967-1969, teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL). Since retiring she has spent several days a week volunteering for The LGBT Community Center, San Diego Pride, Councilmember Toni Atkins, The United States Police and Fire Games, and Volunteer with Cheli, where she is a Board Member. Along the way, Cathy has been a board member of the San Diego Peace Corps Association and San Diego Front Runners & Walkers.
Former Treasurer
Jonathan McMullen
November 2019 - March 2021
Volunteering Since 2018
Former Secretary
Denice Cordova
January 2017 - January 2020
Volunteering Since 2015
With much appreciation and respect for the contributions you brought forth to ensure that Volunteer with Cheli thrived!
Elaine is a second-generation San Diegan. Her volunteer career started at the age of 7, collecting bread wrappers for Scouts. For over 50 years, nonprofit work is all Elaine has known. Elaine earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from SDSU; a Master's degree in Nonprofit Leadership and Management from USD. After 14 years as Executive Director for Developmental Services Continuum, Inc. (DSC), Elaine retired to complete a Leadership PhD at USD. Elaine taught at USD’s nonprofit Master's program for 6 years and is currently teaching in the School of Professional and Continuing Education. In the 1980’s Elaine traveled across California with a team of consultants hired by the Association of Regional Center Agencies, providing HIV/AIDS education and prevention for people visually impaired, hearing impaired, persons with hemophilia, and persons with developmental disabilities. Elaine’s interests include nonprofit governance, risk management, nonprofit finance, and human resource development and retention.
Elaine co-authored several reports for the Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research and wrote for the Center’s blog. Elaine has presented at conferences for the International Leadership Association (ILA) and for The Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA).
Elaine has volunteered with Volunteer With Cheli (VWC) for nearly 3 years. She is inspired by its mission and vision and is proud and honored to serve on the Board of Directors.
She/Her/Hers
Former Treasurer
Nicole Verdes
December 2018 - June 2019
Volunteering Since 2017
Cynthia (Cindy) Uybungco is a native San Diegan and an Army veteran. In 1995, Cindy opened her own business, Uybungco Grafix & Signs, where she is known as the “Sign Girl.” Cindy is able to share her many creative talents to the community in the form of banners, business cards and stationery, postcards, and promotional items.
Cindy has enjoyed volunteering since 1991 and is most proud of her volunteer work and the impact that volunteering has had on her. She has enjoyed working with San Diego Pride, Habitat for Humanity, AIDS Walk & Run San Diego, the LGBT Community Center, Imperial Court de San Diego, Volunteer with Cheli, and many more well-known organizations and businesses in San Diego.
Ben Orgovan-Lee was born and bred in Chula Vista. He graduated with honors at Southwestern College with an Associate’s degree in Science/Computer Information Systems with emphasis on Application Programming. Ben is a Special Projects Manager with the California Police Athletic Federation where he handles logistics for national and international sport events, manages grant applications and submittals, and other activities. He has held positions at San Diego LGBT Pride, and ResortCom International.
Ben’s love for volunteering was really awakened during his time at San Diego Pride where he saw how volunteering makes a positive impact on the quality of life around us. Ben continues to make major contributions in volunteering, especially with Volunteer with Cheli as its Co-Chair!