We apply sound business principles, a bias for action, and strategic collaborations to fund, activate and lead programs designed to have a high and immediate impact throughout San Diego County. And our co-founders match all donations up to $1.5 million per year.
To prevent and alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County
To be a national model for addressing homelessness by applying leadership, expertise, accountability, and sound business principles.
We study the issue daily, meet to strategize weekly, and convene key stakeholders and political leaders regularly to instigate progress, collaboration, and change. We employ sound, principled business practices to ensure that every donation makes a difference. By diligently following the facts, we thoroughly vet every effort in order to fund, activate, and lead high-impact programs. Then, by collaborating with best-in-class organizations, we coordinate and focus local efforts to rally the community and call on elected leaders to act. We endeavor to lead San Diego to best practices in all areas of homelessness.
The Lucky Duck Foundation was formed in 2005 by Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny to raise funds and awareness for numerous charitable causes throughout San Diego.
In 2016, when Pat & Stephanie noticed a growing and urgent need for leadership and action to address San Diego’s homeless crisis, the late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler and business and civic leader Dan Shea were simultaneously calling upon business leaders, politicians, philanthropists, and other stakeholders to join them in taking action to address the issue in a best-in-class, fact-based manner.
After closely studying homelessness and collaborating with Peter & Dan, Pat & Stephanie knew the Lucky Duck Foundation could have an even greater impact if they focused the Foundation’s efforts squarely on homelessness. They decided to do so, and shortly after pivoting, the Lucky Duck Foundation purchased several large industrial tent structures to provide shelter and critical services for more than 650 individuals.
Originally called the AGIA Foundation (Arrowhead General Insurance Agency), where Pat was the principal, the name was changed to the Lucky Duck Foundation to honor the Kilkenny family’s Irish heritage and as a nod to their love for the University of Oregon.
The premise is simple: if you have had some good luck and fortune in your life, share your luck with those less fortunate. And, Pat & Stephanie match all donations up to $1.5 million per year.
CEO, K2 Insurance Services
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President, Gringo Ventures LLC
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Senior Vice President and Chief Legislative Officer, SDG&E and SoCalGas
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Managing Partner, Bentley & More, LLP
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Aquario LLC, Managing Member
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Founder and Managing Member at Norwood Development Strategies
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Partner, Panish Shea & Boyle LLP
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Founder and President, Double Pump Inc.; Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Harold Pump Foundation
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Chief Executive Officer and President, Align Financial Group, LLC
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Philanthropy Editor for Giving Back Magazine
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Chief Executive Officer
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In order to better inform our work, we have established an advisory committee of individuals with lived homeless experience, including youth and seniors, each with their own story and experience of working to put homelessness behind them.
The advisory committee is led by LDF Board Member Ben Schuster, who was homeless for much of his youth. Ben went on to earn a dual undergraduate degree from Chico State and a Master of Science in Real Estate from the University of San Diego, and worked at BlackRock before joining Comfort Capital as a partner in 2023. Having spent much of his youth homeless, Ben is passionate about using his experience to lead the advisory committee.
The advisory committee meets regularly to discuss the multitude of issues of homelessness throughout San Diego County, including but not limited to navigating the “system” and what works and what doesn’t. Committee members have particular expertise and experience within LDF’s priority areas of youth and seniors. Their perspectives help to inform LDF’s work as it relates to policy and investment of our philanthropic resources.
We look forward to increasing our impact through the leadership, insight and perspectives of the advisory committee.
Many members of LDF’s Board of Directors participate in the Tuesday Group, a group of fact-based business and civic leaders committed to leading San Diego to best practices in all areas of homelessness. The Tuesday Group was co-founded by the late Peter Seidler and Dan Shea and convenes weekly to discuss best-in-class strategies and action steps for improving the San Diego region’s homelessness crisis. Since forming in 2016, the Tuesday Group has met every single Tuesday without missing a Tuesday, including Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and all other holidays.
Peter Seidler was a member of the Lucky Duck Foundation’s Executive Committee and co-founder of the “Tuesday Group.” Peter’s focus and positivity in addressing homelessness were unmatched. He was off the charts amazing on so many levels in his deep commitment to and passion for helping San Diego’s unsheltered neighbors find a brighter path. He insisted that the Tuesday Group meet weekly to determine what the private sector and philanthropy (via the Lucky Duck Foundation) could do to accelerate change and instigate political will, and it is due to his leadership that the Tuesday Group has not missed a weekly meeting since its inception in 2016, including all holidays. While Peter will be deeply missed, his passing will only increase our focus and resolve to immediately prevent and alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County.
“Bill Walton was larger than life and an extraordinarily selfless friend and leader. He cared deeply about helping those in need and gave generously of his time, talent and treasure. We are the luckiest people in the world that we got to call him a friend. There is no better San Diegan or friend than Bill Walton, and we will miss him dearly. We send our deepest and sincerest condolences to Lori and the entire Walton family.”
-Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny, Co-founders, Lucky Duck Foundation
The late Fr. Joe Carroll was known as the “Hustler Priest” for his gifted ability to raise money. Prior to his passing in 2021, Fr. Joe served as special advisor to LDF’s Board of Directors and was a key contributor to the Tuesday Group. To honor and perpetuate his legacy and all he did for San Diego’s homeless neighbors, we created the “Fr. Joe Hustler of the Year Award” to recognize an individual or organization who embodies his spirit and ability to meaningfully help those experiencing homelessness.
You see those struggling and suffering with homelessness in San Diego and your heart breaks. So many people are experiencing homelessness due to sickness, mental illness, domestic violence, loss of job, loss of home, or other circumstances out of their control. You want to help, but where do you start? What local efforts are there to choose from? Which ones will make the most of your donation? Enter the Lucky Duck Foundation.
We fund, lead, and activate high-impact programs that alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County.
The homelessness crisis in our region is an issue too big for one organization to address. It’s everyone’s business – from mom-and-pop businesses to Fortune 500 companies, to benefactors, big and small, public and private. And we need to focus that help in the most effective way to make change happen in the lives of those in need.
This collaborative process is what our founders Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny envisioned when they brought together local leaders from all walks of life and formed a group of “Lucky Ducks” – people who have experienced good fortune in their lives and want to share that luck with others facing hardship – to make a difference in San Diego.
Powered by gratitude and pride for our region, the Lucky Duck Foundation encourages all to “share your luck” and contribute any way you can – whether that be time, talent, or monetary contributions. We commit to providing the leadership, accountability, and sound business principles to make our donors’ contributions go as far as possible. When we fight homelessness, we benefit not just those in immediate need, but also area businesses, tourism partners, and the community at large.
Help us make fighting homelessness everyone’s business by subscribing and donating.
Personal or corporate checks can be made out to:
The Lucky Duck Foundation
5675 Ruffin Road, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92123
To make arrangements donating, contact:
Leave a lasting legacy by including the Lucky Duck Foundation in your estate planning.
There are many ways your organization can get involved and support community giving and volunteering.
We offer turnkey peer-to-peer fundraising so you can create your own fundraising page and invite your friends and family to support the Lucky Duck Foundation and its programs.
We’ve partnered with LNDRY, a premier laundry service in San Diego, to pick up your gently used clothes donation (for free!) to help homeless employment and education-seekers look and feel their best!
Enjoy premium craft coffee with a purpose. Our coffee partner, Tower Roasting Co., provides 100% organic fair trade coffee while helping to prevent and reduce homelessness in San Diego by donating 30% of every sale.
Our “Shamrocks & Shipwrecks” scoring system publicly highlights tangible, positive action and calls out shortcomings of elected leaders for addressing homelessness throughout San Diego County.
Join our newsletter to stay informed about the Lucky Duck Foundation’s programs and to see how your donations are making a difference.
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5675 Ruffin Road, Suite 100,
San Diego, CA 92123
The Lucky Duck Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Tax ID: 20-3324885
© 2024 All Rights Reserved.
Co-Founder and Board Chair
“To quote my dear friend Bill Walton, ‘I am the luckiest man in the world!’ I have been blessed with a loving family, devoted friends, and dedicated business associates. I would not be where I am today without the support of all of these people. The most rewarding part of having the success I have enjoyed throughout my life is giving back to my community. I am a Lucky Duck because this Foundation allows me to gather with other like-minded individuals and pay it forward together.”
Executive Committee Member & Secretary
“I’m very excited to support the Lucky Duck Foundation and continue the momentum created by my husband Peter and the Lucky Duck Foundation and Peter’s legacy to help our homeless neighbors. It helps me stay connected to him and perpetuate his deep passion and commitment for aiding those in need.”
Executive Committee Member & Treasurer
“I am honored to be a part of this group that raises foundational and community awareness. The Kilkennys have built a philanthropic foundation that I am proud and ‘lucky’ to be a part of. We, the Lucky Ducks, will help others ‘Win the Day.”
“After years of knowing and working with the Kilkennys in a corporate and friendship capacity, I was honored when asked to join the Lucky Duck Foundation Board. My wife and I really enjoy giving back and being part of a group that allows us to leverage the Kilkenny name and relationships to do good. This makes us Lucky Ducks.”
President, Gringo Ventures LLC
“I started my business with a buck, a business partner and four team members. Now 20+ years later I have over 400 team members, no business partner, and a couple of bucks. I guarantee you that without a little luck, none of this would have happened. Granted, I was lucky to have two great parents who taught me the value of hard work and the importance of living a purposeful life. They gave me a great education and a solid base to build on. Like I tell my wife, after all the opportunities that I’ve had, I would have to have been a complete idiot not to do something halfway decent with my life. I’m honored to be asked by the Kilkenny’s to serve on the Lucky Duck Foundation Board of Directors. Being involved with the Lucky Duck Foundation allows me to give back to my community and I’m honored to be part of the team.”
Vice President, Legislative and External Affairs, SoCalGas and SDG&E
“The mission of providing shelter and more importantly lending a helping hand to individuals and families struggling with homelessness is important to me because showing kindness and creating hope for people who are homeless is something that is a necessity. We cannot be a great community, city or region unless we sincerely and consistently address problems that rob people of comfort, dignity and safety.”
Managing Partner, Bentley & More, LLP
“It is such a term of art, ‘making a difference’, this is what I love about the Lucky Duck foundation. So when the opportunity came along for me to be a part of this Foundation, I could not resist. Everyone has a story to tell and if we can help re-write their stories, we have made a difference.”
It is with gratitude and good fortune that my path crossed with Stephanie, Pat and all the “Lucky Duckers”. The LDF Community that has evolved through its work is extraordinary. Homeless service providers, educational institutions, local government and our homeless sisters and brothers banding together to make lives better. I am indeed lucky.
“Joining the board of directors of Lucky Duck Foundation is another chapter of my career-long commitment to the issue of affordable housing.” Deborah Norwood Ruane is the President and founder of Norwood Development Strategies, a consulting firm specializing in providing solutions for the creation of multifamily housing to serve individuals and families who cannot afford the high cost of housing. Ruane’s experience in finance, real estate development and most recently, as Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer for the San Diego Housing Commission, facilitate collaborative solutions for developers, financial institutions and local governments to address housing shortages.
“I am truly honored to serve on the Lucky Duck Foundation Board of Directors. The work the Kilkennys have done in the community is extraordinary. Their passion and devotion to giving back have inspired me to help them with their mission of doing good for others. I have been blessed and truly consider myself to be a Lucky Duck.”
Founder and President, Double Pump Inc.; Founder and Chief Executive Officer, The Harold Pump Foundation
“I started out 25 years ago with my twin brother, David, and a basketball. The business eventually evolved into a marketing agency that leads us to some of the most amazing friends in the sports and entertainment space. Ultimately it helped start our family foundation. There is nothing more important to me than helping others, so when Pat Kilkenny asked me to join the Lucky Duck Foundation’s Board of Directors, it was a no-brainer! I am honored to be a part of such an impactful foundation.”
Chief Executive Officer and President, Align Financial Group, LLC
“When I worked with Pat Kilkenny years ago, he said to me ‘it’s a lot harder to ask for someone’s time or money for a worthwhile cause than it is to give it.’ So, when Pat asked me to be on the Board of the Lucky Duck Foundation and to participate in any way I can to help the Foundation achieve its charitable goals, I was honored. We have all been very fortunate in different ways, and it is humbling to be able to call myself a ‘Lucky Duck’ and work with Pat and all the amazing people associated with his Foundation to help those in our communities that need it most.”
Philanthropy Editor for Giving Back Magazine
“So much of life is luck of the draw. I don’t think I would have had as much joy and success in my life, if I was born to a crack mother and never met my father. We are all in this world together and we are only as strong as our weakest link.”
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