City of Stanton

Brian Donahue began working at age 13, selling cold drinks at spring training baseball games in St. Petersburg, FL. That desire to work has stayed with him. Even now that he’s retired, he stays busy with volunteer activities in Stanton, as well as various hobbies and travel. He refuses to slow down, referring to the Toby Keith song “Don’t Let the Old Man In,” made famous in the Clint Eastwood film The Mule.

Brian lived in New York until he was 11. Then he moved with his mother and sister to Florida, graduated from high school, joined the Navy, where he was trained as an electrician, and eventually found his way to California. He majored in Industrial Arts at Pasadena City College, earning an associate’s degree, and then went on to San Diego State to earn a bachelor’s degree in the same field, followed by enrollment at Cal-Lutheran University to get a master’s degree in secondary education administration. He became what was known at the time as a “shop teacher,” teaching high school students electricity, electronics, and other skilled trades. Later he took on more administrative duties at various regional occupational centers in Southern California and served as consultant-in-charge at the Los Angeles County Office of Education.

Having moved to Stanton with his family, he applied for an opening as a member of the Stanton Parks & Recreation Commission, at the urging of a neighbor, Joanne Case. A few years later she was instrumental in getting him involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Stanton.

After six years with the Parks and Recreation Commission, Brian won a seat on the Stanton City Council where he served for 24 years, including five terms as mayor. During his time on the city council, Brian saw the need for a nonprofit organization that could raise funds to offer programs to the community, so he was instrumental in establishing the Stanton Community Foundation in 2010. Through his leadership he was able to enlist a variety of citizens to serve on the foundation board of directors.

The Stanton Community Foundation sponsors such programs as Threads for Kids (school hoodies donated to elementary schools), Shopping Carts for Seniors (carts donated to the local senior apartment complex), Supply Our Schools (local teachers apply for mini-grants to purchase classroom supplies), and a free senior exercise program. Brian was instrumental in starting all these programs.

He also worked with foundation board members and other community members to plan fundraising events, such as the Classic Car Show, Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast, and the Charity Shootout.

Brian’s work with the Boys & Girls Club began in 2002. While attending the Boys & Girls Club Pacific Region Conference, he saw clearly how valuable these clubs are for our youth, and he was determined to do even more with the local Stanton Club. He has now served as president of the board of directors for eight years.

Brian’s leadership helped to ensure that the Stanton Boys & Girls Club stayed open during the summer of 2020 when all the other clubs in the area closed due to the pandemic. The club provided distance learning opportunities and teen mentors free for the entire summer, an invaluable service to the families in the community.

Since the Boys & Girls Club needs to raise funds, Brian, along with staff and other volunteers, plans four fundraisers each year: Harvest Dinner and Auction, Golf Marathon, Casino Night, and a fireworks stand.

In 2021, Brian decided it was time to retire from the Stanton Community Foundation board and the Stanton Lions Club, where he had been a member for more than 10 years. He and his wife, Hedy, wanted more time to travel and enjoy their family of four adult children and ten grandchildren.

His greatest sense of accomplishment comes from working on a project that has positive results. Certainly, the people of Stanton have benefited greatly from all the projects he has worked on over the years.

Closer to home, his wife says, “He can fix anything.”

HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY “HEROES” HONORED