City of Anaheim

Kay Carpenter says two people inspired her to focus on doing for others: her grandmother and her co-worker at Con Agra Foods, Bernice Hird.

As a girl growing up in Jamestown, North Dakota, the oldest child with four siblings, Kay often visited her grandmother in a nearby town of only 200 people. Living in a home with no running water and a coal stove, no husband and seven children to take care of, her grandmother struggled to make ends meet, taking in laundry to earn money; but she would always share what little she had with others, both her fellow townspeople and the itinerant workers who often found their way to her door.

Kay saw how everyone in town knew her grandmother and how generous and kind she was, and the young girl intuitively understood the importance of helping others. Kay finished high school in Jamestown and went on to earn a degree in journalism at the University of North Dakota. She then moved to California and took her “dream job” as Assistant Director of Public Relations at Knott’s Berry Farm, where she often interacted with the Knott family, particularly Walter Knott.

In 1971 she went to work as Editor, Communications Manager at Hunt-Wesson Foods (now ConAgra). Bernice Hird, the company’s Community Relations Manager, became her mentor and introduced Kay to all the many charitable organizations Bernice supported in Orange County. Working with Bernice really cemented Kay’s life-long passion for volunteering.

While she was raising her two sons, David and Eric, she became involved in many of their activities, serving as PTA president at John Marshall School, helping initiate an anti-littering and recycling program, and assisting in the classroom. She was a little league team mom and an active band mom at Brookhurst Junior High and Anaheim High School.

Over the years Kay volunteered at Second Harvest Food Bank, served as chair of the board for Pilgrimage Family Therapy (counseling for underserved families in crisis), was a communication consultant for the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce, joined Anaheim First (part of the city’s Neighborhood Investment Program) as a governing board member, and is one of the founders of the Orange County Philanthropy Day first commemoration event.

While she has enjoyed all her volunteer work, probably her two favorite organizations are the Orange County Human Relations Council--where she has served on the advisory board for 25 years, helping to plan their annual gala among other activities, and serving as chair of the advisory group in 2004--and the Anaheim Family YMCA. Her leadership at the Y includes serving more than 27 years on the Board, including becoming its first female chair in 20002001 and having a second stint in 2020-21. She has been on nearly every committee at the Y, including chairing the Marketing Committee and the Good Friday Breakfast. You know she has a passionate commitment to the Y because when asked what she would do if she won the lottery, she says without hesitation, “I would first donate money to build a new facility for the Anaheim Family YMCA!”

After 30 years at ConAgra, Kay retired as Director of Corporate Communications and Community Relations, but she stayed connected with some of her fellow retirees. For 12 years she and a group of eight other retirees volunteered weekly at the Southwest Community Center in Santa Ana, a non-profit that helps the homeless and underserved in the area. Kay’s small group prepared school backpacks, Christmas gifts, and whatever else was needed to help the Center fulfill its mission.

Kay has what she describes as “a very eclectic love of music,” having been to more concerts than she can count. Her sons benefited from her love of music. Eric was an original member of “No Doubt,” along with Gwen Stefani, a Cypress College alum. He now works with OCTA. Her son David is a professional bass player, and Kay has been fortunate to travel several places internationally to see some of his performances, including twice at Royal Albert Hall in London. She also is very proud of her three grandchildren—Davis, Giuliana, and Evan—who love music and are all very generous about helping others.

In addition to music, she loves sports, especially baseball. Her favorite team? The Angels, of course!

Kay is determined to “make a difference in the well-being of [her] city, particularly the underserved and to inspire others to do the same.” Her grandmother would be proud!