Chief Executive, California Community Foundation
THE LATEST: Under Hernández, the California Community Foundation awarded $4.9 million in grants to Los Angeles County-based nonprofits in the first quarter of 2019, including grants to provide opportunities to students and to address L.A.’s homelessness crisis. In February, the organization’s Wildfire Relief Fund announced plans to give $5 million to communities affected by the Camp, Woolsey and Hill fires. The organization proposed and helped pass L.A. City Proposition HHH and L.A. County Measure H, which created a $5 billion public investment in homeless assistance.
BACKGROUND: The foundation works with more than 1,600 individual, family and corporate donors to support health, housing, education and immigration programs. During Hernández’s tenure, the philanthropic organization more than tripled its assets and has distributed nearly $2 billion in grants. Before joining the California Community Foundation in 2004, Hernández served as president and general counsel of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
WORTH NOTING: Hernández is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the American Law Institute. She is a board member at the Automobile Club of Southern California, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Forest Lawn Memorial-Park Association and Grameen America.
YEARS ON THE LA500: 3
