We Were Built For This
How Fenton is Answering the Call to Protect and Advance Progress
Democracy
Philanthropy
Making
philanthropic
priorities a reality
We are the go-to partner for philanthropy.
We help foundations of all types successfully use communications to move the issues that matter most in the communities they serve. We build the skills of their grantees to become more influential, and encourage funders to tell more powerful stories about their work.
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Area Experts
Philanthropy is a critical force for social change, shaping a more just and equitable society–that’s why it’s a cornerstone of our agency’s work. With insider knowledge and hands-on experience, we help philanthropic organizations and grantees build capacity, amplify their impact, and drive meaningful action.
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Valarie De La Garza Chief Executive Officer
As Fenton’s CEO, Valarie brings energy, leadership and passion for social change to both her work in strategic marketing communications and her commitment to the community. Prior to joining Fenton, Valarie led the communications and marketing for the California Community Foundation (CCF), one of the largest and most prestigious community foundations in the country.
Valarie is a highly skilled strategist, writer and team builder. She has expertise in marketing, media relations, community outreach and public affairs. While her nonprofit and public sector experience run deep, including her representation of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America’s Latino marketing efforts, she has also had an extensive career with major consumer brands. Valarie earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from UCLA, where she was honored to serve as the first Latina editor-in-chief of The Daily Bruin.
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Paul Hernandez Chief Strategy Officer
Paul is best known as a communications and public affairs strategist. He has over 20 years of experience working to engage and influence policymakers and other decision-makers on key issues ranging from health care to racial equity to homelessness to early childhood education.
From strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, campaign management to message development, Paul has acted as a consigliere to several prominent funders throughout the country.
He has been a senior consultant to the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in its efforts to improve the health, living conditions and economic security for children and families living in New Mexico, and to improving public schools in Michigan. He acted as a lead communications strategist for a collaborative of the nation’s most prominent foundations, Executives’ Alliance to Expand Opportunities for Boys and Men of Color, including coordination with President Obama’s My Brother’s Keeper Initiative. He partnered with the Silicon Valley Community Foundation to plan a campaign to engage California’s gubernatorial candidates to support early childhood development. And was a longtime senior policy advisor to the Blue Shield of California Foundation in its efforts to support the successful implementation of the Affordable Care Act in California.
He has also served as a trusted advisor to public and nonprofit sector organizations such as the Advancement Project, Los Angeles County Chief Executive Office, and Oakland Unified School District.
Prior to joining Fenton, Paul spent more than eight years with The California Endowment, the state’s largest private health foundation. He led efforts to build alliances and generate support for the foundation’s health priorities and was a key strategist in crafting and implementing a multi-million-dollar campaign to advance statewide health reform in 2007.
He is also a veteran of local government and politics, having served as a legislative deputy to Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina, where he acted as the Supervisor’s chief advisor on law enforcement, public safety and transportation issues.
Outside of the office, Paul serves on the Boards of the Liberty Hill Foundation and Community Health Councils and is a proud alumnus of U.C. Berkeley and Coro Southern California. And he can also point you to the best restaurants and cocktail bars in Los Angeles.
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Jennifer Hahn Chief Client Officer
Jennifer Hahn is the Chief Client Officer at Fenton. A field leader with more than 20 years of nonprofit experience, she designs and directs campaigns for critical social issues such as education, social and economic justice, gender equity and children, youth and families. With a strategic mind and an activist’s heart, she harnesses issue framing, messaging, media advocacy and public engagement to advance her client’s progressive goals. From strategic planning to CEO speechwriting, campaign management to opinion research, Jennifer is consigliere to nonprofits and foundations.
- Client Service Operations
- Corporate Social Good
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Daria Hall Executive Vice President
Daria L. Hall (she/her/hers) is an executive vice president in the D.C. hub of Fenton Communications, the first national agency founded to focus solely on social impact. She leads the firm’s Racial Justice & DEI Group, where she works with clients and consults with staff to incorporate authentic storytelling, compelling messaging, and effective communications strategies to advance racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion – across sectors and issues. She also launched and chairs the firm’s DEI Task Force, an internal team of staff at different levels, which supports practices and policies to sustain an equitable and inclusive culture at Fenton.
With over 20 years of communications experience, Daria has worked at agencies and in-house in the corporate, non-profit, and government sectors. An award-winning communications leader, she possesses skills in strategic communications, message and narrative development, coalition-building, and partnership engagement. Her portfolio of clients at Fenton has included: Black Voters Matter, Slave Rebellion Reenactment with Artist Dread Scott, The African American Alliance for CDFI CEOs, Stanford SPARQ, Hope Credit Union, The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Greenwood Initiative, The Annie E. Casey Foundation, The Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, among others. She was also an adjunct professor in the College of Arts & Sciences at the University of the District of Columbia, the only public university in the nation’s capital and the only urban land-grant university in the United States.
Previously, Daria served as the vice president of communications and external relations at America’s Promise Alliance in D.C., the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, where she was responsible for overseeing communications campaigns focused on raising awareness and driving action in support of young people.
Over the years, Daria has participated in several social impact programs including, Leadership Montgomery, American Express Leadership Academy 2.0 at the Aspen Institute, the Council of Urban Professionals, and Coro Leadership New York. Currently, she serves on the boards of multiple nonprofits: Mikva Challenge, Partnership for Extraordinary Minds (xMinds), Friends of White Oak, and the Education Writers Association.
Daria has an Executive Master of Public Administration degree from Baruch College, a City University of New York. She also has an M.A. in Communications and a B.A. in English from New York University and Spelman College, respectively. A native Washingtonian, Daria is a proud graduate of D.C. Public Schools.
- Issue Advocacy
- Philanthropy
- Racial Justice & DEI
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Ujala Sehgal Vice President
Ujala is an award-winning communications expert with nearly 15 years of experience and a proven track record of social change. An attorney and former journalist, Ujala’s unique background informs her expertise in integrated communications strategies, training and capacity building, messaging, media relations, counsel and campaigns.
As a vice president at Fenton, Ujala’s clients have included Stop AAPI Hate, Center for Popular Democracy, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Fight Back Table and RAICES, among other leading nonprofits and foundations. She received PR Week’s Best in Nonprofit 2022 Award for her leadership on Stop AAPI Hate. A believer in empowering organizations of all sizes to maximize their impact, she also helps lead and design Fenton’s training and capacity building programming.
Prior to joining Fenton, Ujala served as the communications director for a number of human rights organizations, including ACLU New York, the Knight First Amendment Institute, and the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. At ACLU New York, Ujala led the organization’s public response to Trump’s instatement of the “Muslim ban,” and co-authored “State of Injustice” (on the right to public defense) and “Dignity for All?” (on discrimination against transgender youth).
With significant expertise across a range of issue areas, Ujala has led or participated in high-profile strategies that successfully advocated for ensuring reproductive rights, reducing solitary confinement, protecting labor rights, providing access to education and legal rights for immigrant youth, increasing educational equity, challenging discrimination against LGBTQ teenagers, redrawing voting districts, defending free speech, reforming discriminatory policing, and shining a spotlight on technological advances that infringe on privacy.
Ujala graduated with high honors from Carnegie Mellon University and from the University of Michigan Law School with awards in critical race theory and legal practice. After practicing regulatory law at Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP in New York City, she worked as a journalist for several outlets including The Atlantic and Insider.
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Jania Palacios Azami Vice President
Jania Palacios Azami is a Vice President at Fenton, specializing in marketing and branding, multicultural media relations and nonprofit communications. With more than 17 years of strategic communications experience to promote and advocate for key policy issues impacting California, she has provided support to government agencies, nonprofit organizations, healthcare providers and elected officials, among many others.
Jania previously served as Director of Communications for California Forward, a statewide nonprofit organization leading a movement to ensure the economy and government work for everyone. She led the organization’s cohesive communications efforts and secured extensive news coverage on policy issues critical to Californians’ prosperity, including economic mobility, broadband access, housing, wildfire preparation and regional, inclusive economic development.
Following its’ formation, Jania played a critical role in establishing First 5 California as a leader in early childhood development among the Latino community. She has conducted public education campaigns to promote the benefits of DACA and other policies to help immigrants.
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Desiree Dozier Vice President
Desiree Dozier is a Vice President at Fenton, where she draws upon her 10 years of diverse agency experience across corporate and consumer public relations, CSR, and diversity, equity & inclusion to build and implement custom communications strategies that further clients’ missions. Desiree leverages her skills in media relations, messaging, and purpose-driven storytelling to leave a lasting impact and drive meaningful awareness for the issues that matter most to her and her clients.
After developing the first-ever DEI program for her former corporate client, Desiree has been motivated toward a career in social change. Her prior experience building the Diversity in Design Pipeline initiative in partnership with the Interior Design Society, which focuses on fostering inclusion in the design community, led to her position at Fenton.
Desiree spends her free time traveling, cooking, and enjoying long walks with her Pomeranian, Periwinkle. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Desiree began her career in the publishing industry, where she honed her writing skills and learned the ins and outs of media, before transitioning to the electrifying world of public relations. Desiree graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in communication from the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
- Advertising
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Alex Chen Associate Vice President
Alex is an Associate Vice President at Fenton. He joined the Fenton team in 2016 from the environmental advocacy nonprofit Greenbelt Alliance, where he managed marketing and communications. Greenbelt Alliance was a past client of Fenton’s, and while there, Alex saw firsthand the lasting impact our work can have on an organization, even years later.
Since starting at Fenton, he has serviced clients in environment, sustainability, community development, social justice, education, philanthropy and corporate social responsibility. Alex uses his experience in advocacy, digital marketing and PR to help organizations that work on progressive issues but are short on capacity or expertise.
Born and raised in the Bay Area, Alex grew up in South Bay, graduated from UC Berkeley and now lives in San Francisco with his television and Playstation 4. When not working, he spends most of his waking hours in search of the Bay Area’s best fried chicken and Korean BBQ.
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Stacey Arévalo Account Director
Stacey Arévalo is an Account Director at Fenton, where she utilizes her previous legal experience and journalism skills to implement bilingual communication strategies that make lasting change. Stacey supports the account teams in many ways to execute strategies all over the United States, but primarily in California.
Stacey has a demonstrated commitment to advancing and empowering the Latinx community in the United States. Her prior experience with CARECEN, the Central American Resource Center in Los Angeles, CA, led to her position at Fenton. Stacey graduated with honors from California State University, Northridge with a double degree in journalism and Central American studies and a minor in Spanish-language journalism.
- Advertising
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Emily Smith Account Director
Emily Smith is an Account Director at Fenton, where she leverages her strategic communications skills to advance clients’ social change goals.
Emily is passionate about ensuring all communities’ rights are upheld and respected through thoughtful advocacy. Her prior experience at the communications firm Finsbury Glover Hering led her to Fenton.
Emily graduated cum laude from Princeton University, with a degree in politics and a minor in American studies, and she earned a master’s degree in human rights at University College London.
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Chris Compton Senior Writer
Chris Compton serves as Senior Writer at Fenton, where he uses his experience with nonprofits and philanthropy to create stories that spark empathy, engagement and action on a wide range of progressive issues. He drives narrative strategies and crafts written content that helps clients effect lasting, positive change.
Chris strives to connect to the head and the heart, telling diverse stories that create common ground. He comes to Fenton from the California College Guidance Initiative, where he helped advocate for equity-focused education policies and provide data-driven college and career tools to students. Before that, he spent nearly a decade with the California Community Foundation, where he worked to engage donors and move the needle on affordable housing, immigration, healthcare and education in Los Angeles.
- Client Service Operations
- Corporate Social Good
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Hillary Kessler-Godin Senior Writer
As a Senior Writer, Hillary Kessler synthesizes complex and often sensitive topics into narratives that engage, inform and inspire. Hillary taps into her experience and talent as a wordsmith to draft copy that grabs the attention of the media, resonates with stakeholders, and captures clients’ voices. From urgent press releases that seize upon breaking news to annual reports that tell thoughtful and compelling stories, Hillary’s writing advances the priorities of Fenton’s clients and gets them noticed.
Hillary’s background in communications for social change and justice led to her position at Fenton. She was the longtime Director of Communications for the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, where she directed campaigns and public information about negotiations for and distribution of payments for Holocaust survivors. Hillary has a B.A. in English from Brandeis University and a M.S. in Journalism from Columbia University.
- Corporate Social Good
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Kayla Butler Senior Account Executive
Kayla Butler is a Senior Account Executive at Fenton, where she utilizes her previous political advocacy and communications experience at a public affairs firm, political research firm and communications advocacy firm to implement thoughtful strategies that make lasting change with clients.
Kayla has dynamic professional experience ranging from political campaigns to exploratory research and public affairs. Prior to joining Fenton, she worked at JCI Worldwide, a public affairs firm where she managed several accounts and key advocacy and coalition and engagement projects, also managing a team of associates to ensure that clients’ varying needs are met. She was central to a dynamic statewide effort to educate Californians on the importance of energy stewardship and energy efficiency along with a statewide grant program to help disadvantaged and at risk communities prepare for brown-outs and cutbacks of power.
Kayla graduated from American University with a degree in CLEG (Communications, Law, Economics and Government) and a minor in justice and law.
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Isabel Morales Senior Account Executive
Isabel Morales is a Senior Account Executive at Fenton, where she brings her previous global human rights experience and progressive communications skills to implement strategies that make lasting change with clients that range from ecological restoration to immigrant and refugee rights. Isabel supports the account teams in many ways, particularly in the realms of digital and earned media, as well as coalition building, to move the needle on the issues she cares about most.
Isabel’s work has always been to use storytelling to create meaningful change. Her prior experience as a PR Associate at Public Good PR, a progressive environmental communications firm, and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) led her to Fenton.
- Government
- Philanthropy
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David Garcia Account Executive
David Garcia is an Account Executive at Fenton, where he utilizes his previous administrative experience and organization skills to assist stakeholders and account teams, while they implement strategies to make lasting changes with clients. David supports the organization at every level, aiding in the execution of these strategies that move the needle on issues he is passionate about.
David’s goal has always been to provide the best holistic organizational support to promote effective operations. His prior experience with the City of Los Angeles and Hannibal Industries, the largest steel manufacturing company in the west, led to his position at Fenton.
Outside the office, David spends his time with a myriad of passions, from community journalism, pursuing an AA in Architecture, dancing to Hip-Hop and being an avid community voice for environmental justice within his community. Originally from the Golden State, David graduated from California State University, Los Angeles, with a degree in Business Administration and a minor in Marketing Communications. He’s happy to trade his books for good movie recommendations.
- Advertising
- Government
- Philanthropy
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Linda Contreras Account Executive
Linda is an Account Executive at Fenton who is eager to build upon her experience as a Fellow and continue contributing her knowledge and passion to the team. She recently graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with a B.A. in Communications and is currently pursuing a Masters in Communication Management from USC as well. Linda is passionate about learning how to use her communication skills to amplify people’s voices, especially those in marginalized communities.
Linda’s goal has always been to use communication strategies to elevate communities and empower individuals through effective messaging and access to information. Her previous experiences, including her role as a Congressional Intern for Representative Juan Vargas (CA-51) on Capitol Hill and her work as a Research Associate with L.A.-based Daley Strategies, have been instrumental in deepening her understanding of the crucial role communication plays in achieving these objectives.
Outside of the office, Linda spends her time living in Los Angeles, taking in as much of the beautiful city as possible. Growing up in Southern California, she spends a lot of time revisiting the places she loved as a child from Disneyland to Dodger Stadium. As an undergraduate, she was in USC’s Undergraduate Student Government serving on the Communications team and loved being involved in the school’s organizations and being a Trojan through and through.
