About Us
Our Commitment
OUR PURPOSE
Creating an inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future for all San Diegans.
IN ORDER TO ACHIEVE THIS VISION
We advance excellence and shared opportunity through investments in
groundbreaking institutions, ideas, and people.
SO THAT IN SAN DIEGO
More people are financially secure, healthy, and empowered.
Communities are more uplifting and connected.
The institutions and systems that serve us offer equitable access to opportunity.
WE WILL INVEST IN
Visual and performing arts, medical research, healthcare, and youth success.
AND PAY ATTENTION TO
The impact of our work on climate, our character as a border region, and
advancing a shared vision for our community.
Our History
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From Indiana, Conrad Prebys moved to California with $500 in his pocket and an entrepreneurial mindset. Over the following decades, he built a real estate company as one of the largest private owners of residential multi-family properties in San Diego County.
During his later years, Conrad became dedicated to the community through charities, donating over $350M to organizations devoted to healthcare, medical research, visual & performing arts, higher education, youth development, animal conservation, and more.
To ensure his vision extended beyond his life, Conrad created The Conrad Prebys Foundation to perpetuate his commitment to philanthropic endeavors in San Diego.
Our Team
Grant Oliphant
Chief Executive Officer
Veronica Blea
Program Officer
Crystal Page
Director of Communications
Gil Alvarado
Chief Financial Officer
Nidia Castañeda
Executive Administrator
Nikki Phair
Director of Operations
Julie Dubick
Chief of Staff & Strategic Partnership Advisor
Alexandra Kritchevsky
Program Specialist
Iris Rico
Sr. Controller & Accountant
Victor Alcalá
Grants Administrator
Nancy Nguyen
Office Administrator
Brenda Lugo
Executive Administrator
Our Board
The Conrad Prebys Foundation has a dedicated Board, each director bringing a unique and insightful perspective to the mission of The Foundation as it defines its role in the community, preserving the nature of Conrad's philanthropic intent for charitable impact.
Tony Cortes is a real estate investor, developer and business entrepreneur. He has extensive experience in conceiving and developing successful real estate developments and small businesses. Tony’s relationship with Conrad Prebys began in 1979 when Tony was 28 years old. At the time, Tony hired Conrad’s company to build a small condominium. Cortes and Prebys went on to collaborate on four additional projects over the years, forming a friendship that would last until Conrad’s passing in 2016.
Over his four decades in the banking industry, Dan Yates has founded two banks – Regents Bank, which grew to over $620 million in assets in twelve years, and Endeavor Bank. In addition to creating banks from the ground up, Dan has sold, acquired, and merged banks, raised capital for banks, and, as a consultant and CEO, he has turned around banks.
Paula A. Cordeiro is the Dammeyer Distinguished Professor of Global Leadership and Education in the Kroc School of Peace Studies at the University of San Diego (USD) where she teaches social entrepreneurship and impact evaluation. From 1998-2015 she served as dean of the School of Leadership & Education Sciences (SOLES) at USD and subsequently worked with international NGOs in sub-Saharan Africa, and Central/South America.
Irma Cota is a former Chief Executive Officer at North County Health Services, a large Federally Qualified Health Center system of comprehensive integrated clinical and social services; currently operating as TrueCare Health Services, serving North and Northeast San Diego County as well as Riverside County. Irma has lived in San Diego since 1974 when she transferred from Imperial Valley College to San Diego State University.
Peter Ellsworth is a noted San Diego attorney, business executive, and civic leader. He served as president of the law firm Ellsworth, Corbett, Seitman and Mc Leod before joining Sharp Health Care as its president and CEO, where he dramatically expanded the organization into a $1 billion medical group of seven hospitals and two medical groups that cared for one third of San Diegans and became the largest private employer in the city.
Alan Sorkin has a rich, varied career as founder and CEO of several real estate, construction, development, and food service companies in Chicago, Atlanta, and San Diego as well as deep experience leading or serving nonprofit organizations.
Financial Statements
The Conrad Prebys Foundation is guided by transparency, accountability, partnership, and humility.