Page 33 - The Indian EYE 053025

Newsmakers of the Week MAY 30, 2025 | The Indian Eye 33

As director, McFarling will play riers, Building Futures,” focuses on providing professional development for
a central role in helping to manage nonprofit fundraisers to help sustain and grow revenue and organizational
KSJ — an elite mid-career fellow- capacity so nonprofits can better serve their communities, especially during
ship program that brings prominent uncertain times.
science journalists from around the In addition to expanding to two days, this year’s conference is sponsored
world for 10 months of study and by PNC Bank, helping to keep the cost of registration affordable for nonprofit
intellectual exploration at MIT, Har- professionals. PNC Bank offers a wide range of banking and asset manage-
vard University, and other institu- ment services for its customers, from individuals and small businesses, to cor-
tions in the Boston area. porations and government entities.
“I’m eager to take the helm The early bird registration rate for San Diego nonprofit professionals is
during this critical time for science $279 and will be available until midnight, Saturday, May 31. Thereafter, reg-
journalism, a time when journalism ular registration for San Diego nonprofit professionals will be $349 until the
is under attack both politically and event sells out or August 30, 2025. The event has sold out within weeks each
economically and misinformation year. To register, visit its website.
— especially in areas of science and San Diego Foundation believes in just, equitable and resilient communi-
health — is rife,” says McFarling. ties where every San Diegan can prosper, thrive and feel like they belong. We
“My goal is for the program to find even more ways to support our field and partner with donors, nonprofits and regional leaders to co-create solutions
its practitioners as they carry on their important work.” that respond to community needs and strengthen San Diego. Since our found-
McFarling is a veteran science writer, most recently working for STAT ing in 1975, our community foundation has granted $1.8 billion to nonprofits
News. She previously reported for the Los Angeles Times, The Boston Globe, to improve quality of life in San Diego County and beyond.
Knight Ridder Washington Bureau, and the San Antonio Light, and was a
Knight Science Journalism Fellow in 1992-93. McFarling graduated from TARUNA RAMANI
Brown University with a degree in biology in 1988 and later earned a master’s
degree in biological psychology from the University of California at Berkeley.
Her work on the diseased state of the world’s oceans earned the 2007 200 Students Take the Stage at
Pulitzer Prize for explanatory journalism and a Polk Award, among others.
Her coverage of health disparities at STAT has earned an Edward R. Murrow Verbal Vortex 2025
award, and awards from the Association of Health Care Journalists, and the
Asian American Journalists Association. In 2024, she was awarded the Victor
Cohn prize for excellence in medical science reporting and the Bernard Lo, ver 200 students from Kinder-
MD award in bioethics. garten to 12th grade came to-
Ogether to speak, shine, and soar
PRIYA PARKER at the 3rd Annual Verbal Vortex Pub-
lic Speaking Tournament, held across
Author to be the featured Edison and West Windsor last week.
Hosted by Taruna Ramani,
speaker at San Diego TEDx speaker, TEDx speaker coach,
and founder of Power Speakers Un-
Fundraising Conference limited and the Verbal Vortex Tour-
nament, the event welcomed young
participants to express themselves
an Diego Foundation (SDF) through speeches, poems, and im-
announced recently that best- promptu challenges.
Sselling author Priya Parker will While younger students brought
be a featured speaker at the third an- imagination and heart to the stage
nual San Diego Fundraising Confer- through creative speeches and poetry
ence presented by PNC Bank taking recitations, middle and high school students tackled both prepared speeches
place September 18 – 19 at the Hilton and impromptu speaking, where topics were assigned on the spot, challenging
San Diego Bayfront Hotel. students to think quickly and speak with impact.
Parker, author of the bestseller
“The Art of Gathering: How We “Our mission is simple,” said Ramani, “to give every child a
Meet And Why It Matters,” has platform to be heard. Public speaking is more than a skill—it’s
spent 20 years helping leaders and
communities throughout the world a doorway to confidence, leadership, and future success.”
have complicated conversations
about community, identity and vision The event was run through the PSU Foundation, a nonprofit focused
at moments of transition. on youth empowerment. The finals were judged by a distinguished panel of
Trained in the field of conflict Toastmasters champions, educators, authors, community leaders, and media
resolution, Parker has worked on professionals.
race relations on American college campuses and on peace processes in the The tournament was made possible by the dedication of high school vol-
Arab world, southern Africa and India. Parker studied organizational design unteers and families who believe in the power of communication.
at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, public policy at the Harvard Following the success of the tournament, Power Speakers public speaking
Kennedy School, and political and social thought at the University of Virginia. classes will launch in Edison this fall, offering students of all ages the chance
“Priya’s powerful insights on gathering with purpose speaks directly to the to build confidence and communication skills year-round.
heart of philanthropy: bringing people together to create lasting impact. Her
perspective will inspire development professionals and nonprofit leaders,” said To read more about Indian diaspora and Global Indians, log on to and follow
Mark Stuart, President & CEO of SDF, which hosts the annual conference. our website www.TheIndianEYE.com
The theme of the San Diego Fundraising Conference, “Breaking Bar-

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