Love is Local Summit Overview
Join Lift Orlando on October 17 for an inspiring day designed to equip and connect funders of place-based philanthropy and celebrate local achievements.
DONORS FORUM BREAKFAST | 7:30 - 9 A.M.
An exclusive roundtable focuses on exchanging ideas and encouraging investments in place-based philanthropy. It aims to help funders understand the impactful work of Lift Orlando and the benefits of place-based work for better investment in communities.
HUMBLE GENEROSITY IN ACTION
Featuring: David Daniels, CEO of the Bainum Family Foundation. After investing millions in the well-being of children and families in Florida they’ve recently committed $100 million over five years to early childhood education.
To join the breakfast, become a Sponsor of the Love is Local Summit.
LOVE IS LOCAL SUMMIT | 9 A.M. - 3:30 P.M.
This initiative transcends traditional corporate partnerships; it's a call to action for funders and businesses to inspire a movement. Join us to hear from national voices in philanthropy, learn the place-based model, and engage with community leaders and local residents, all dedicated to driving positive social impact.
SESSION 1 | WELCOME + CALLING BUSINESS LEADERS | 9 A.M.
Featuring: Tom Sittema, Partner at StepStone and Co-founder of StepStone Private Wealth as well the chairman and co-founder of Lift Orlando will share how business leaders investing in local communities can help create generational cycles of prosperity in neighborhoods.
SESSION 2 | CATALYZING PLACE-BASED PHILANTHROPY | 11 A.M.
Featuring: Jim Shelton, President, Blue Meridian Partners, one of the most significant philanthropic initiatives addressing poverty, with over $4 billion raised and hundreds of millions dollars invested in transformative, place-based partnerships.
SESSION 3 | PHILANTHROPY & PLACE-MAKING | 11 A.M.
Featuring: Ken Robinson, President and CEO of Dr. Phillips, Inc and the Dr. P. Phillips Foundation, the largest local grant-making organization with over $200 million invested in Central Florida. Hear about how the legacy and vision of the new Packing District unfolding near downtown Orlando.
SESSION 4 | GAME CHANGERS: THE ROLE OF MAJOR LEAGUE SPORTS IN PHILANTHROPY | 1 P.M.
Learn from leaders in the sports industry about innovative approaches to stadium development and management that prioritize local economic growth, social equity, and community well-being. We'll highlight how the world of sports can serve as stewards of community development, ensuring their presence uplifts rather than disrupts the neighborhoods they call home.
Featuring:
Steve Hogan, CEO, Florida Citrus Sports (FCS)
Alex Martins,CEO, Orlando Magic
Jarrod Dillon, President of Business Operations, Orlando City Soccer Club
Ken Boehner, President and Chairman, Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
SESSION 5 | HEALTH EQUITY & PLACE BASED IMPACT | 1:45 P.M.
Explore how local initiatives are driving health equity for children and creating lasting, positive change in communities. This session will address the disparities impacting children’s health outcomes and highlight community-based strategies that bridge these gaps. Hear from leaders transforming children’s health through dedicated, community-driven efforts.
Featuring:
Susan Towler, Executive Director, Florida Blue CSR/Florida Blue Foundation
Sherry Magee, Senior Director, KPMG
SESSION 6 | PLACE-BASED INNOVATION IN EDUCATION | 2:30 P.M.
The New York Times called it “one of the most ambitious social-policy experiments of our time.” The Harlem Children’s Zone is a world-renowned education and poverty fighting organization in New York City. This cradle to career network of programs is serving over 34,000 children and 100% of their Promise Academy students graduate and go to college.
Featuring Keynote Speaker: Christian Rhodes, Deputy Executive Director of the William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children's Zone. He is the former Senior Advisor, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Education.
FEAST ON THE 50 - NOW SCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER 23
THE GOOD TIMES BEGIN AT 5 PM
An evening of community-wide celebration in partnership with SouthState Bank and Florida Citrus Sports, titled "Feast on the 50: Love is Local Edition."
This family-friendly event features food, music, and entertainment in a lively tailgate atmosphere. It serves as an opportunity for corporate partners to engage with the community residents. Tickets are included in registration and you must be present at the summit to obtain your tickets, additional tickets may be purchase here.
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David Daniels, Bainum Family Foundation
David Daniels serves as the CEO and President of the Bainum Family Foundation, located in Washington, DC. The foundation is dedicated to enhancing early childhood development, health and mental health, family economic security, and stable housing. It collaborates closely with communities facing racial and economic disparities to foster sustainable systems change that promotes the well-being of children and families.
Tom Sittema, StepStone
Tom Sittema is a partner at StepStone and the co-founder of StepStone Private Wealth, where he serves as executive chairman. He leads strategic initiatives and oversees investment activities aimed at providing individual investors access to private market advantages typically available only to large institutional investors.
Before joining StepStone, Tom was CEO of CNL Financial Group, managing $10 billion in assets and facilitating individual investor access to private markets. He also held various leadership roles at Bank of America Merrill Lynch over a 27-year career, including U.S. Head of Real Estate Investment Trusts and Lodging Investment Banking.
Ken Robinson, Dr. Phillips, Inc.
Ken Robinson is president and CEO for Dr. Phillips, Inc. and The Dr. P. Phillips Foundation. He oversees their purpose-driven real estate operations and investments as well as the largest local grant-making organization with over $200 million invested in Central Florida. He will share about the power of place-making, featuring the 202 acre public/private development, known as The Packing District, transforming the landscape of Orlando.
Jim Shelton, Blue Meridian Partners
Jim Shelton is president of Blue Meridian Partners, and former deputy secretary of education. BMP is one of the most significant philanthropic initiatives aimed at addressing poverty. They've raised over $4 billion and invested hundreds of millions dollars in transformative, multisector, place-based partnerships, designed to tackle the root causes of poverty and improve economic mobility. He will share about "Catalyzing Place-based Philanthropy" and the need for large-scale, collaborative efforts to achieve lasting social impact.
Steve Hogan, Florida Citrus Sports
Steve Hogan has served as the CEO at Florida Citrus Sports, a 501(c)3 event management company based at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, since 2006. His organization produces the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl, Pop-Tarts Bowl, Florida Blue Florida Classic, FC Series and other major events that generate year-round exposure and economic impact for the region and benefit at-risk children and educational initiatives locally.
Alex Martins, Orlando Magic
Alex Martins has spent 36 years in professional sports management and became CEO of the Orlando Magic on December 7, 2011, after previously serving as president and COO. He also leads SED Development, LLC, which is planning a mixed-use entertainment project near the Kia Center. Martins represents the Magic on the NBA Board of Governors and manages the Osceola Magic, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.
Jarrod Dillon, Orlando City Sports Club
Jarrod Dillon joined Orlando City Soccer in 2022. He is responsible for the overall strategic business operations of each of the Club’s properties including Orlando City Soccer Club of Major League Soccer, the Orlando Pride of the National Women’s Soccer League, Inter&Co Stadium, the Orlando City Academy, the Orlando City Youth Soccer Network, and all future endeavors. Reporting directly to ownership, Dillon oversees a unified front office strategy for both Orlando City and Orlando Pride, working alongside both Soccer Operations teams to bring a best-in-class experience to fans and to the Orlando community.
Ken Boehner, Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation
Ken Boehner serves with Amy Palmer Saunders on the executive committee of the Arnold Palmer Group, which runs the various business and charitable endeavors of Arnold Palmer. In addition, he is the Chairman and President of the Arnold & Winnie Palmer Foundation, which carries forward the legacy of Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, including their passion for philanthropy around children’s healthcare, nature-focused wellness and youth character development through golf. Prior to his role with the Arnold Palmer Group, Ken was a partner with the global law firm, Jones Day.
Sherry Magee, KPMG
Sherry Magee serves as the Senior Director of Community Relations for the KPMG Lakehouse, the firm’s national learning, and innovation center in Lake Nona. In this role, she works collaboratively with internal KPMG teams and local partners to activate a targeted community engagement strategy designed to activate our core values in the communities where we live and work. KPMG Lakehouse is a 780,000-square-foot center which encompasses 800 sleeping rooms and more than 100 indoor and outdoor learning spaces. It serves as the primary point of cultural pride and learning excellence for more than 36,000 partners and professionals who visit annually.
Susan towler, Florida Blue Foundation
Susan B. Towler is the vice president of the Florida Blue Foundation and executive director of Corporate Social Responsibility for Florida Blue, overseeing the organization’s philanthropic strategy. She previously coordinated Florida Blue’s public relations programs and provided strategic communications counsel on key business issues, holding an Accreditation in Public Relations (APR).
Jennifer Flynn Dear, KPMG US
Jennifer Flynn Dear joined KPMG in 1998 specializing in experiential marketing and innovative sponsorships. Since that time, she has held various leadership roles within the firm focused on relationship and brand building programs, corporate social responsibility efforts and effective communications platforms.
Currently, Jennifer leads initiatives in support of the firm’s GROW strategy and commitment to equity and access to opportunity with a focus on community vitality. In addition, Jennifer leads KPMG Alumni Strategies centered on maintaining strong connectivity with close to 80,000 former KPMG professionals in the U.S, through world-class experiences that engender pride, celebration, and stewardship.
Christian Rhodes, Harlem Children’s Zone
Christian Rhodes is the Deputy Executive Director of the William Julius Wilson Institute at Harlem Children’s Zone. In his role, Christian has been a trusted advisor to education leaders nationwide for 15 years. Most recently, he served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of Education Dr. Miguel Cardona, providing counsel on K-12 education, strategic partnerships, and special initiatives. Appointed by President Biden, Christian also served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, where he led efforts to expand summer learning programs, supported safe school reopenings, and oversaw major K-12 discretionary grants, including the 21st Century Learning Centers and Full-Service Community Schools. His team also distributed over $122 billion through the American Rescue Plan, the largest single investment in public education in U.S. history.
Scott Boyd, Boyd Development Corporation
Scott Boyd is the owner and president of Boyd Development Corporation, an Orlando-based real estate development company that celebrates 34 years in business. He has been active in the development of anchored retail shopping centers, multi-family projects as well as mixed-use land development projects.
Bill Dymond, Lowndes
Bill Dymond is the chairman of Lowndes, having previously served as the firm’s chief executive officer and president for more than 16 years. A recognized leader in his field, Bill advises clients on a broad range of real estate and business matters, with a particular focus on the hotel, resort and leisure industry.
Named to Florida Trend’s annual list of most influential business leaders for years, Bill is a member of the firm’s Hospitality & Leisure Group, which has handled over $30 billion in real estate transactions throughout Central Florida, the United States, and Canada.
Tim Seneff, National Christian Foundation
Tim Seneff serves as the president of the National Christian Foundation-Orlando. Tim previously served as President of CNL Financial Group (CNL), a leading private investment management firm providing global real estate and alternative investments. During Tim’s 15-year career at CNL, he worked to maximize the effectiveness of the company’s capital markets and real estate platforms, while most recently serving on the company’s executive committee and operating committee. Tim’s extensive experience working in strategic planning, sales management and philanthropy within a family business context enhances his ability to serve business owners to help simplify their giving and multiply their impact through innovative giving solutions.