Donald Goodman, president of Don Lee Farms, has been named the “2022 Philanthropist of the Year” by the Los Angeles Business Journal.
The Los Angeles Business Journal event, sponsored in part by Wells Fargo and The Los Angeles Rams, honored “the amazing work of the nonprofit community along with the corporate citizens and businesses that support them. From the tireless work of nonprofit leaders, teams and programs to the efforts of individuals and companies who donate their time, funds and efforts to improve the communities they serve.”
Another highlight of the event was a keynote presentation by Alex Wilson, co-founder of The Giving Block; and a panel discussion bringing together some of Los Angeles’ most insightful nonprofit decision makers.
The Los Angeles Regional Foodbank profiled Goodman as “a visionary philanthropist who has been involved with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank for nearly 40 years. He currently serves on the food bank’s emeritus council and is the premier sponsor for the food bank’s annual ‘Taste of the Rams’ event that has raised more than $1 million to help fight hunger in our community. He previously served on the food bank’s board of directors for eight years, including three years as board chairman.
“His company, Don Lee Farms, has been a food donor for nearly 40 years, donating millions of pounds of protein food and dairy items valued in the tens of millions of dollars. Donald has provided much-needed leadership over the years as the food bank has increased distribution levels to record highs and expanded the number of people that it reaches throughout Los Angeles County. He serves as co-chair of the food bank’s Building Hope Campaign to raise $165 million dollars to increase the reach of the food bank.”
U.S. Congresswoman Maxine Waters presented Don Lee Farms and Goodman a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition for supporting scholarships to outstanding high school students in the City of Inglewood. Goodman was recently nominated for the Los Angeles Times CEO Leadership Award, an award for individuals who are impacting change.
“I am really honored by this. I really learned about philanthropy at an early age, by observing my parents,” Goodman said. “It may have been watching my mom helping children who were not properly provided for or my dad’s support of the UCLA Santa Monica Hospital and the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. It just became a part of my life. I must say it has been very gratifying for me personally to help others. I want to thank the Los Angeles Business Journal for this award.”
Established in California in 1982, Don Lee Farms is a family-owned producer of fresh and frozen foods for some of the world’s most recognized and successful brands. Don Lee Farms makes plant-based and meat proteins for more than 10,000 markets, clubs, foodservice and school foodservice locations. Consumer products and end items are sold at major retailers nationwide such as Costco Wholesale, Whole Foods Markets, Trader Joes, Kroger, Publix, H-E-B and Albertsons Companies under the Don Lee Farms label, private brands and under brands of their partners.
For more information, visit DonLeeFarms.com.
