- Meet The State Director - Best Buddies California

Best Buddies California State Director - Patricia Sterne Evans

Patricia Sterne Evans, Best Buddies California State Director

Background

Inspired by my first job as a VISTA volunteer community organizer in Central Virginia, Ive spent nearly my entire career in non-profits, including government and charities. I settled early on in Los Angeles, and after many years in politics, public affairs consulting and local government, I moved into charitable fundraising as a response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

I spent over 4 years at AmFAR and 5 years at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, doing fundraising, event management and running workplace giving campaigns. I broadened my development expertise by creating and running the Individual Giving department at Starlight Childrens Foundation for over 4 years. I joined Best Buddies CA in October, 2010. I live with my husband John and kitty cat Pumpkin in Los Angeles.

Why did you choose Best Buddies for employment?

I love the mission of Best Buddies, not just for the impact it has on the lives of individuals, but for its potential for sweeping social change. I have lived through and participated in the movements to create a more humane society through civil rights, womens rights and gay rights. In many ways, Best Buddies is an extension of those earlier movements, changing one environment at a time through the power of friendship, accomplishment and acceptance.

What does friendship mean to you?

Friendships are the way we feel connected to the world around us. Friendships are also the vehicle by which social legislative change becomes truly integrated into society. Ultimately, people make change, not laws.

What are your goals for your state this year?

My goal is get BBCA on track to build an expandable, plugged-in and engaged private donor network; to introduce BBCA to as many new communities as possible; to meet our budget goals and to create a momentum throughout the state that will carry us long into the future.