La Cañada Flintridge resident Wayne Herron, chief philanthropy officer at Glendale Memorial Health Foundation, is the recipient of this year’s Southern California Association of Healthcare Development Outstanding Leader Award.
Herron has been a professional fundraiser since 1996. During his career, he has worked in education and healthcare, in faith-based and secular environments. He currently serves as chief philanthropy officer for Glendale Memorial Health Foundation at Dignity Health — Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center.
His specialty is in board and staff team building, and in working with individual principal, major and planned giving donors. He also specializes in organizational community relations and engagement. He is deeply committed to the notion that philanthropy is about “people loving people” and in his work serves to facilitate this understanding through smart, effective charitable giving. Over the course of his career, Herron’s teams have raised more than $100 million.
“Wayne chose a profession based on his passion — to help others. It’s evident in his daily work and his commitment to support Glendale Memorial Hospital through his dedicated fundraising efforts,” said Julie Sprengel, interim president, Glendale Memorial Hospital. “He is a shining example of philanthropy and we congratulate him on the well-deserved award.”
Herron was born and raised in Burbank. He was named graduate of the year in 1988 at New Hope Christian College in Eugene, Oregon. In 1993, he earned his Master of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena. Initially, Herron pursued pastoral church ministry. But his professional path turned to philanthropy.
Herron began his career in philanthropy in 1996 at Fuller Theological Seminary as a major gift officer. After a short stay at Occidental College, he moved onto Azusa Pacific University in 2001 where he led the major gifts program. He was recruited to Art Center College of Design in 2007 and served as the head of its development program. In 2013 he transitioned to the Glendale Memorial Health Foundation at Dignity Health — Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center.
Herron resides in LCF with his wife, Yvonne. They have been married for 24 years and have three sons.
