Tonya Antle Receives Distinguished Trustee Award
The board of the Community Foundation for Monterey County (CFMC) was proud to present the annual Distinguished Trustee Award to Tonya Antle at the annual Celebration of Philanthropy on October 1, 2025 at The Club at Pasadera (see event slideshow below). Board Chair Elsa Mendoza Jimenez began the program by thanking outgoing board members Kirk Gafill, Francine Rodd and Joe Pezzini. President/CEO Dan Baldwin spoke about Foundation accomplishments and scholarship recipient Kayla Crocker shared her journey from participant to now leading the Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands program (initially created by the Women’s Fund of the CFMC), which has grown from 25 girls to serving hundreds of girls annually.
Tonya was recognized for the passion and commitment she brings to everything she does, particularly for building powerful philanthropic resources for causes close to her heart. She is a long-time member of the Women’s Fund Advisory Council, chairing the endowment campaign and supporting the GHGH program for the past 15 years. She served on the CFMC board from 2011-2016, became a generous donor advised fund holder, along with her late husband, Rick, and is now a CFMC Legacy Society Member.
Tonya Antle (center) with Mrs. Sylvia and Secretary Leon Panetta
Tonya’s philanthropic journey with the Community Foundation began in 2010, when she attended her first Women’s Fund event. When she heard a program featuring a panel of high school girls from Greenfield sharing their goals, she immediately asked, “How can I help?”
She jumped in to make a remarkable impact, bringing her energy, talent and heart to build the event from a small breakfast to a packed luncheon of nearly 600 supporters. She has been a member of the Women’s Fund Advisory Council ever since, charting the overall vision and focus for grantmaking.
- She chaired the Women’s Fund Endowment Campaign – building the endowment to more than $2.1 million.
- Helped the Women’s Fund grant more than $2.7 million – including $500,000 in scholarships.
- Empowered young women at the Girls’ Health in Girls’ Hands summits, freely sharing stories of her own journey.
Everywhere she goes, she invites people into her vision and they are happy to join the movement! Tonya’s impact extends far beyond the CFMC with volunteer commitments as generous as her giving. She now serves on the boards of The Panetta Institute for Public Policy, Carmel Woman’s Club and the Morse Foundation at Monterey Peninsula Country Club, currently working on building their CFMC endowment to fund scholarships for employees and their children. She is a mentor and guest lecturer at Cal Poly school of Ag and the CSUMB school of Business.
Her leadership has been recognized both locally and nationally with the Women in Produce Achievement Award, Ag Woman of the Year Award, Ag Against Hunger Award, Brighter Bites Philanthropy Award and the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023 Girls Inc. created the Tonya Antle Visionary Award in her honor, (with Tonya as the first recipient, of course).
For all her accomplishments, she cherishes most time with family, especially her granddaughter Simone, yet hundreds of young women are grateful that she shares her time, heart, wisdom, resources, power and talent with them. We can honestly say our community is better off for the joy she brings to her philanthropy and giving spirit.
“Tonya has a gift of casting a bold vision and inspiring others to join her to create greater good.” – Elsa Mendoza Jimenez
Event Photos
Please enjoy our 2025 Celebration of Philanthropy slideshow and feel free to like and share the photos on Facebook as well.
