Philanthropy Newsletter
ACNL |MAY 2026
Mary Lopez - Chair
Mary is a seasoned and retired nurse with 48 years of living her chosen path. This path was circuitous and ventured from bedside to administration to hospital association to consulting. She is a past president 2005 and ACNL is her priority non-profit of choice. She has 3 grown sons with her first born following in her footsteps to become a critical care nurse. She has been married 50 years and enjoys 10 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.
Mary accepted the responsibility to chair the PSCOB in 2021, understanding the job was to build the infrastructure needed to sustain this program long term. Mary has come to understand that philanthropy is the love of humankind. The members of the committee all want to make a difference in the nursing profession’s trajectory with a shared goal of raising money for scholarships and emergency support, which help individuals. But also share a dream of raising funds to fund research and other priorities that will benefit the multitudes within our profession. Philanthropy is not a moment in time; it has to be a movement. To that end, we are recruiting members who want to lead this moment to inspire and engage within and outside the association and grow Circles of Giving.
GOAL: Create a culture of generosity through a culture of philanthropy
My vision is for all ACNL members to share responsibility for the growth of Circles of Giving so that;
- Donor relationships are strong and are treated exceptionally;
- Fundraising is aligned with our funding priorities;
- All committee members play an active role in cultivating relationships for COG; and
- All members donate to Circles of Giving and participate in ”paying it forward.”
Benjamin Farber, DNP, RN, CNL, NEA-BC, CENP - Co-Chair
Ben Farber currently serves as Vice President, Patient Care and Chief Nursing Officer for Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, CA, leading practice and culture for the organization’s 1700 RNs, LVNs, NPs, and CNAs, and supporting the leadership teams for Volunteer Services, Chaplaincy, Respiratory Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Occupational Therapy.
Ben is an active member of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, currently serving on the Annual Conference Committee (2025-present), the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee, 2023-2025, The Nurse Manager and Director Fellowship Selection Taskforce in 2022, the 2021 Annual Conference Committee, and as an abstract reviewer for the 2018, 2019, and 2020 annual conferences. He serves on the Association of California Nurse Leaders (ACNL) Philanthropy Subcommittee, and is the President of the Inland Empire chapter of ACNL. Board service includes four years on the board of HIV Alliance in Eugene, Oregon, including two years as board president, six years of service on the Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Nurse Alumni Association board (2018-2024), as well as the Community Board of the Mizell Center in Palm Springs, CA.
Ben’s goal with the Philanthropy subcommittee is to help members see their donations as a way to “pay it forward” and help other nurses reach their leadership potential. His vision is that all ACNL members feel their gift was one they’d feel comfortable repeating because:
- Funds were used for the purposes specified
- They felt valued as a donor
- The funding priorities match the strategic priorities of ACNL
Association of California Nurse Leaders
Email: info@acnl.org
Website: https://www.acnl.org/
Location: 180 Promenade Circle suite 300, Sacramento, CA 95834, USA
Phone: 916-779-6949