Honorary Co-Chairs

John and Elizabeth Stahr, Corona del Mar

Over the past three decades, John and Elizabeth Stahr have tirelessly and generously provided leadership, service, and significant funding to many local arts, cultural, civic, and educational nonprofit organizations including: the Newport Beach Public Library, UC Irvine, Pacific Symphony, Pacific Chorale, Ballet Pacifica, South Coast Repertory, Philharmonic Society of Orange County, Arts Orange County, Orange County Museum of Art, American Field Service, Orange County Community Foundation, MIND Institute, Orange County Performing Arts Center, and the Girl Scouts of Orange County.

Recently, Elizabeth Stahr led the fundraising efforts to take the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra on its inaugural tour to Sofia, Bulgaria, the home country of the ensemble's conductor, Maxim Eshkenazy. She accompanied the group in May 2011 and the trip was commemorated with a documentary film created by PBS SoCal and produced by Maria Hall-Brown. Past recipients of AFP OC’s National Philanthropy Day Lifetime Achievement Award, John and Elizabeth Stahr strongly believe that private individuals must support important community resources. This belief is evidenced by their philanthropy and service, which have made an indelible mark on Orange County that will benefit residents many generations to come.