Keynote Speaker

Jennifer Stolo

Jennifer grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Los Angeles to attend Loyola Marymount University. Jennifer continued her education at California State University of Long Beach in the Child Development Graduate Program. She also attended the Indiana School of Philanthropy. Jennifer has completed Leadership Programs with Achieve Global and the Center for Creative Leadership.

Jennifer began her career over 25 years ago in executive non-profit management. She spent 10 years in early childhood education and transitioned to at-risk youth at Boys Town where she honed her skills in national non-profit fundraising. From there, she managed a $40 million statewide campaign for the California Dental Association Foundation.  The campaign was developed to expand access to dental care including Pediatric Oral Health Care and Fluoridation Initiatives.

She began her current position with Make-A-Wish in August of 2012 as Chief Executive Officer. In this role, one of her first projects was to manage the merger of the Northern California and Northern Nevada Make-A-Wish chapters. Jennifer recently oversaw another merger with the Central California Make-A-Wish chapter. Make-A-Wish Northeastern & Central California and Northern Nevada covers 45 counties and grants more than 400 wishes a year at the local Wishing Place in Sacramento. Jennifer has actively participated with the Make-A-Wish National Office, including her involvement on search committees for Make-A-Wish CEOs, acting as a mentor for new CEOs starting at Make-A-Wish, serving as a member on the Chapter Success Task Force and a current member of the Make-A-Wish National Board of Directors Development Committee.

Jennifer lives in Roseville, California with her husband and four children ages 13, 15, 16 and 21. Like Jennifer, her family is devoted to Make-A-Wish and frequently volunteers for the organization.