CELEBRATING YEARS OF SERVICE
Honoring Susan Haley’s Retirement
December 2026

 

After 29 remarkable years of dedicated service, the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation proudly announces that Susan Haley will retire in December 2026, concluding an extraordinary career defined by leadership, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to strengthening the communities we serve.

For nearly three decades, Susan has served as a Senior Program Officer, building meaningful relationships, championing nonprofit organizations, and helping countless projects take root and thrive. Throughout her tenure, she has been a passionate advocate for children and families, with a particular focus on advancing food security and supporting foster youth, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive.

As Susan prepares for this exciting new chapter, we are taking the opportunity to celebrate the impact she has made over the past 29 years. Her thoughtful leadership, genuine care for others, and steadfast commitment to philanthropy have left an enduring mark—not only on the Foundation, but across Contra Costa County. Her kindness, integrity, and collaborative spirit have earned the respect and admiration of colleagues, nonprofit leaders, and community partners throughout the region.

 

Reflecting on Susan’s extraordinary contributions, Board Chair Steve Lesher shared:

“For 29 years, Susan has embodied the values my grandparents envisioned when they established the Foundation. She has transformed countless lives. We are profoundly grateful for her extraordinary service and for the legacy she is creating.

On behalf of the Lesher family and our Board of Directors, I offer Susan our heartfelt thanks and wish her every happiness as she prepares for her well-earned retirement.”

 

Although Susan will remain with the Foundation through December, we wanted to recognize her remarkable career and the lasting legacy she will leave. Her impact will continue to be felt through the nonprofit organizations she has championed, the partnerships she has nurtured, and the countless children and families whose lives have been enriched by her work.

Please join us in congratulating Susan Haley on her upcoming retirement in December 2026 and in thanking her for 29 years of extraordinary service to the Dean & Margaret Lesher Foundation. We look forward to celebrating Susan in the months ahead and wish her every happiness as she prepares for this exciting new chapter—one filled with family, friends, new adventures, and all that brings her joy.