Programs Manager, Colleen Stefanek, honored with award!
Colleen Stefanek, Programs Manager at Habitat for Humanity San Luis Obispo County, has been recognized by SESLOC and Wild 106.1 for her outstanding leadership in affordable housing, volunteer coordination, and nonprofit service.
In her role with Habitat SLO, Colleen oversees programs, volunteers, marketing, and development/fundraising. She recently played a pivotal role in the completion of nine affordable homes in Paso Robles, coordinating more than 600 volunteers and over 6,000 volunteer hours to bring the project to life. This past April, she assisted in a fundraising effort that raised over $90,000 to support local affordable homeownership initiatives.
“Colleen embodies the heart of Habitat’s mission—providing a hand up, not a handout,” said Dawn Smith, Director of Development. “Her ability to unite volunteers, inspire generosity, and keep the focus on families is an incredible gift to our community.”
Outside of her professional role, Colleen has dedicated her life to service and volunteerism. From her early days in Girl Scouts and coaching youth sports to her current role as a Lil Kickers soccer coach for the Atascadero Soccer League, she has consistently invested her time in uplifting others.
Her fundraising efforts have had a profound impact across SLO County. As a previous member of Lumina Alliance’s Event Committee, Colleen helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to empower survivors of sexual violence through advocacy, healing, and prevention. As a founding member of the SLO Wedding Planners, she helped raise over $50,000 for Rita’s Rainbows, a nonprofit established in memory of her late friend Rita Goehner.
“Fundraising and volunteering have always been part of who I am,” said Stefanek. “I believe in building a community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed—and I’m honored to play even a small part in making that happen.”
Colleen’s passion for giving others a hand up continues to ripple throughout the Central Coast, where she is making a lasting difference in the lives of families and strengthening the community for generations to come.