A Tribute to Legends

Over the past several years, our community has lost many vital contributors who made a difference in our county, but four pillars were especially known for lifting others up with their generosity, compassion and leadership. They were honored in memoriam on April 10, 2025, at the Community Philanthropy Summit hosted by the Lodi Community Foundation and the San Joaquin Community Foundation. Their philanthropic involvement enriched the lives of many in our academic, cultural, social service and health care institutions. Reflecting on their legacy, we remember these good guys for their service.

Darrell Drummond
Darrell Drummond made those in conversation with him feel like they were the most important person in the world to him. A successful financier, he founded the Lodi Community Foundation as a way to manage the endowments and expendable funds for local nonprofits. Today, it manages nearly $2.5 million for community organizations. Always smiling, he had a way of being present in his encounters that made everyone feel special. His friendships were important to him, as was his community. The owner of Drummond & Associates, a Lodi-based financial planning company, he was a champion of nonprofit organizations. He was a problem solver and came up with the idea of establishing the Lodi Community Foundation in 2005. It remains a thriving organization that recently co-sponsored the annual Lodi Philanthropic Summit at Hutchins Street Square. He was an active member of Tree Lodi, a former board member of the Lodi Memorial Hospital Foundation and former president of United Cerebral Palsy. The Lodi Chamber of Commerce honored him as Citizen of the Year and he was inducted into the Lodi Community Hall of Fame. He retired to Washington State but would return to Lodi to visit. He passed away at the age of 62 on April 15, 2022.

Donald Shalvey
Donald Shalvey, the founder of Aspire Public Schools in San Joaquin County, was a champion of charter schools and a national academic leader for more than 50 years. A longtime educator, his resume, compiled over a 57-year career, included teacher, counselor, principal, superintendent and university regent. He was instrumental in starting the charter school movement. He sponsored California’s first charter school in 1992 and started a campaign. Known for a huge, hearty laugh, he worked tirelessly to ensure educational opportunities for all students. He served as the deputy director for K-12 education for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he was in charge of teacher preparation and oversaw charter schools. In later years, he started the Pacific Prep program at University of the Pacific, where he was a regent. The program allowed Aspire high school students to take a special University of the Pacific engineering course for college credit. The visionary education leader ended his career serving as CEO of San Joaquin A+, an organization that collaborates with local families, education and workforce partners to set a vision for how the community can prepare students to be successful in the classroom. Shalvey died on March 16,2024, at the age of 79.

Andy Prokop
Andy Prokop’s wide smile and giant heart led him to lead some of San Joaquin County’s biggest nonprofit help agencies. He founded the Mary Graham Children’s Foundation and was executive director of the Child Abuse Prevention Council before taking the helm of United Way of San Joaquin County, which he led for more than 20 years. He was honored as Stocktonian of the Year, was awarded the Goodwill Helping Hands honor and was named Veteran of the Year. He was a proud Vietnam War vet and worked tirelessly to support veterans. A savvy businessman, he found success as a franchise owner of Carl’s Jr. restaurants. Many in the community will remember him for his tireless work over the years at the Asparagus Festival. He could also be found at University of the Pacific sporting events. After retiring, Andy and his wife, Carol, moved to Reno, Nevada. Kristen Spracher-Birtwhistle, who took over his role at United Way when he retired, spoke fondly of the giant leader at the Lodi Philanthropic Summit in April. “I never, ever saw him have a bad day, share an off remark about anyone; he only saw the good in everyone,” she said. At United Way, they called it “The Andy Effect.” To honor him, United Way plans to create the Andy Prokop Always Positive Scholarship for military families and personnel. He passed away January 11, 2025, at 77.

Richard “Wayne” Craig
Philanthropist Richard “Wayne” Craig served as president and CEO of the Lodi Memorial Health Foundation. He was an avid classic car buff who was race car chairman for the Ironstone Concours d’Elegance. He had an ability to create strong, long-lasting friendships and was known as a generous, kind-hearted, charismatic and inspirational community leader. His generosity included his time and his money. After 38 years in the commercial real estate business, he began his philanthropy work at University of the Pacific, where he served as major gifts director and then interim development director, wrapping up a $70 million campaign. From there he took the helm of the Lodi Memorial Health Foundation, where his tireless fundraising efforts helped Adventist Health secure state-of-the-art surgical robots and also helped Adventist Health open a new surgery center in Lodi. He was involved on other boards, including the Ironstone Foundation, Visit Lodi Tourism Board, and was retired from the Micke Grove Zoological Board. He passed away February 24, 2025, just shy of his 78th birthday.