The Association of Fundraising Professionals Inland Empire chapter has named Reginald and René Webb, and the Philanthropic Foundation of California State University, San Bernardino as Excellence in Philanthropy Honorees for 2022.
The Webbs, who were recipients of the CSUSB Honorary Doctorate in Humane Letters in 2021, were named the Community Champions of the Year Award, and the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation was named the Foundation/Business of the Year.
The Webbs and Foundation members were honored at a special reception held at the Mission Inn in Riverside on Nov. 2.
CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales called the Community Champions of the Year Award “a significant and well-deserved honor of the Webb family for their dedication to help others succeed.
“This is a great day for our good friends Reginald and René Webb, as they are recognized for their amazing work to improve the quality of life and well-being of people in our communities,” said CSUSB President Tomás D. Morales. “Their philanthropic efforts serve as an inspiration to us all.”
Reginald Webb said he and René, and their family were surprised and delighted.
“We are overwhelmed and deeply honored with the award,” said Reginald Webb. “Our family, the Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement’s boards of directors, members and staff are humbled that our work and commitment to improving life in the Inland Empire is recognized in this special way. Rest assured that we are inspired to continue to evolve and grow more contributive in light of this honor.”
As founder and chief executive officer of Webb Family Enterprises, Inc., Reginald Webb owns over 15 McDonald’s restaurants that span the Inland Empire to Los Angeles, providing employment for over 1,100 Southern California residents. Related firms include Webb Family Investments (which contains other family investments) and Cooperative Economic Empowerment Movement (which provides resources such as entrepreneurial workshops and support to Black businesses to help redirect and circulate capital in the Black community).
Reginald Webb has served on various boards over the years: since 2014, as a member of the University of La Verne board of trustees; Los Angeles Urban League; Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center; Los Angeles County Fair Association (1997 as a board member, 2007 as vice chair, and director emeritus in 2012); McDonald’s of Hawaii; and the Ronald McDonald Children Charities.
His honors include the 365Black Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 at the second annual McDonald’s event. The award is in recognition of an honoree’s outstanding achievements in making positive contributions that strengthen the African American community.
René Webb was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 1985 and she and her husband have worked together to raise funds in support of disease research. She was named to the Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Hall of Fame in 2011 in appreciation of her efforts. The Webb’s additional philanthropic service includes the Learning Centers at Fairplex, Southern California Public Radio, the National Council of Negro Women and Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles.
The entire family is entrepreneurial: eldest son Karim Webb is the owner of four Buffalo Wild Wings in greater Los Angeles; daughter Kiana Webb is president of Webb Family Enterprises; and younger son Kyle Webb is the company’s chief financial officer.
“Mr. and Mrs. Webb are passionate entrepreneurs and have passed that drive down to their children,” said CSUSB Vice President for Advancement, Robert J. Nava, who nominated the Webbs. “But while realizing that building economic success was one way of lifting up the overall health of families and communities, the drive to give back on both their parts extended beyond those direct business efforts to include board as well as non-profit philanthropic service.”
The non-profit CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation was honored for its work in raising and managing gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations for the benefit of the university and community CSUSB serves.
“Since its inception, the Philanthropic Foundation has excelled in creating and improving academic access for our students through its scholarship fundraising endeavors,” said Nava. “I am proud to work with this dedicated group of individuals.”
The CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation, which is comprised of business and civic leaders from throughout the community, raises between $9-12 million on average in which funds raised support scholarships for students in the community attending CSUSB as well as critical programs such as the Street Medicine program in the Coachella Valley and food insecurities and basic needs for students.
In the past five years, the Foundation has provided over $8 million in scholarships to nearly 2,400 students living in the region. The financial support also helps increase academic access and build a bigger educated workforce in the Inland Empire.
Learn more at the CSUSB Philanthropic Foundation website.
