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Richard French's
involvement with the Blind Childrens Center began over 20 years ago
Richard French with Tetsu Tanimoto at The Tom Sullivan Blind Childrens Center Celebrity Golf Classic.
The Spirit of Light Award
Richard A. French Ed.D.
Richard French was born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts and he has enjoyed working in fields which serve those in need. Like the game of golf, there have been many challenging and fulfilling moments.
Golf has always been a part of Richard’s life. Growing up in Boston without parents whom he lost at an early age, Richard found golf as his way of handling the challenges of life. From these early struggles Richard earned the Francis Ouimet golf scholarship to Harvard University. This started his career in education and strengthened his love for the game.
Richard’s round of golf began as an English teacher in Boston where he loved looking into those smiling faces. The front nine holes ended with a doctorate from Boston University and his first middle school principalship.
As golf would have it, Richard saw an opportunity for greater impact across the country. In 1982 he moved to California and began his career in nonprofit. As the American Cancer Society’s Executive Director, he carried out multi-million dollar fund raising campaigns, coordinated the delivery of programs and services, and developed an influential Board of Directors. He discovered his passion for nonprofit work.
This led Richard to start his own fund development consulting business where he helps nonprofit organizations achieve management and fund raising goals. For the past ten years Richard has conducted capital campaigns to build senior centers, community centers, additions to college and hospital buildings, and established ongoing fund raising programs for organizations in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
Richard’s involvement with the Blind Childrens Center began over 20 years ago when his wife, Lena French, started her career with the Center. Richard was impressed by Ollie Cantos, VII, who gave a heartwarming speech at the Center’s graduation. Ollie, blind since birth and a Center graduate, is an attorney and now has a prominent position in the White House as Associate Director of Domestic Policy.
In 1997 Richard worked with the leadership of the Center to develop a Major Gifts Program and brochure and the Light the Way Circle was born.
In order to increase funds for the children and their families, Richard developed and encouraged a group of friends and volunteers to organize a fun, leisurely day of golf. Richard, along with Tetsu Tanimoto, Tom Mitchell, Rich Thomas, Larry McNeil and Mark West brought The Longest Day of Golf to life.
Over the past seven years, this event has raised nearly $300,000. This January alone, more than $75,000 was raised for the Kindergarten Program. Richard and Lena sponsor the tournament every year at San Gabriel Country Club and host an evening reception.
Richard continues his hole-in-one record as he supports the children through his involvement at Center events, as a member of the Light the Way Circle, and by introducing his friends and associates to the wonderful work of the Center.
Congratulations Dr. Richard French, on receiving The 2007 Steve Garvey Spirit of Light Award.