Annette Stephens: Putting the “Fun” in Fundraising

By Alexandra Krueger

In the early 1960s on the streets of San Francisco, you’d find a woman named Jacqueline Cerles walking through neighborhoods with her little daughter, Annette, in tow. With a stack of envelopes in one hand and her daughter’s hand in the other, they’d knock on each door, gathering donations for the American Heart Association.

Annette, no more than ten years old at the time, remembers these moments fondly; they set the stage for a lifetime of community involvement. “Those are my first recollections of volunteering,” she said. “My parents were very giving.”

Today, Annette Stephens is one of the most active volunteers and fundraisers of her community, having supported a number of organizations, including the Alzheimer’s Association, Hospice of San Joaquin and the St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute. And although Annette doesn’t want the spotlight, preferring instead to support from behind the scenes, she was recently a recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer Fundraiser Award at the Community Philanthropy Summit, along with her close friend and fellow fundraiser Lisa Corren.

“I was totally shocked and humbled to receive this award because there are so many other people in my community who do the same thing I do,” revealed Annette. “I was honored to be recognized!” She and Lisa, whom Annette calls “my partner in good crime,” both won the award in recognition of their work with St. Joseph’s 5K Fun Run/Walk for Wellness. All the proceeds from the Fun Run are given to the St. Joseph’s Cancer Institute. “Supporting local is important, and St. Joe’s really is the heart of our community,” says Annette. “And making sure that their doctors have the funding for the equipment they need to do their jobs well is something I feel strongly committed to.”

For the upcoming Fun Run, Annette, Lisa and their group of philanthropic friends make up the team Running to Zap Out Cancer, affectionately known as Team Zap. You can donate to their team or to the Cancer Institute in general via the St. Joseph’s Foundation’s website.

Aside from her commitment to supporting local, Annette feels connected to St. Joseph’s for personal reasons. In 2009, her husband passed away at St. Joseph’s, and the hospital was extremely supportive through the process. She also has multiple family members who have passed away from cancer and close friends who are breast cancer survivors.

And when a tragedy struck Annette’s family during her senior year in high school, the Dominican nuns, an instrumental force in the St. Joseph’s Hospital’s early days, were a source of nurturing and support for Annette. “These are all driving forces that motivate me to give back to St. Joseph’s,” she said.

Aside from Team Zap, Annette has found creative ways to raise awareness for the upcoming Fun Run. When she and her group of friends get together to ride horses out at Wild Wine Farm in Linden, calling themselves the Buckaroo Buddies, Annette brings her favorite horse into the fundraising fold. “His name is Boomer, and he’s the most patient horse. He lets me dress him up for photos all the time!” she laughed. “He’s my four-legged friend and partner in fundraising.”

And Boomer isn’t the only animal pal helping raise money for a good cause. “The dogs have gotten involved, and even the cattle!” exclaimed Annette. “And I’d like to give credit to Ann Moznett-Avansino of Wild Wine Farm, because these are her animals and it’s her barn in which we stage photos. I couldn’t do any of this without her.”

Are you thinking about getting involved in your community or supporting St. Joseph’s foundation? Give Annette a shout-out and she’ll “rope” you in. To those interested in donating their time, Annette says your generosity will return to you tenfold.

“I feel so rich in my life to have the friends that I have, knowing that we’re all making a difference in our own way,” Annette affirmed. “Collectively, the impact on our community is huge.”

The 2024 Fun Run/Walk for Wellness will be held on January 27. For more details, please visit the St. Joseph’s Foundation‘s website.