2025 Volunteer of the Year: Rebecca Curtright’s Quiet Revolution of Kindness
In a world that celebrates the loudest voices and most visible contributions, Rebecca Curtright is a powerful reminder that lasting impact is often made quietly, behind the scenes - through consistent service, deep expertise, and genuine humility, Rebecca has transformed countless lives, not for recognition, but because she sees a need and chooses to meet it.
As First Foundation Bank’s Compensation Manager, Rebecca brings her financial expertise to the nonprofit world through volunteer service that has become an invaluable asset to the organizations she supports throughout the Coachella Valley in California. She manages nonprofit finances, prepares tax returns, and teaches financial literacy - educating board members and organizational leaders on business fundamentals that help nonprofits stay compliant, financially stable, and positioned for long-term growth.
Rebecca’s commitment to community service began early. As a child, she watched her mother support neighbors despite having little to give herself - preparing meals, sharing baked goods, showing that even small acts of kindness can strengthen an entire community. That lesson stayed with Rebecca, shaping a lifelong dedication to service rooted in generosity rather than abundance.
In college, Rebecca joined Zeta Tau Alpha, an organization she remains connected to today. Its creed — To prepare for service and learn the nobility of serving, thereby earning the right to be served — reflects values Rebecca has embodied throughout her life. The emphasis on authenticity, personal growth, and service to others continues to guide both who she is and the work she does.
“Becca is one of the most selfless people I know,” says Bianca Rae, founder of the Bianca Rae Foundation. “She is compassionate, kind, loving, honorable, and an extremely dedicated friend.”
Rebecca’s involvement with the Bianca Rae Foundation began in 2013, shortly after she and Bianca met. What started as a new friendship quickly grew into a trusted partnership that helped shape an organization dedicated to empowering socially disadvantaged and underserved children in the Coachella Valley. Through mentorship, leadership opportunities, as well as hands‑on activities — many centered around caring for homeless animals — the foundation has made a lasting impact on young lives.
For more than a decade, Rebecca has managed the foundation’s financial books and prepared its tax returns, applying the same care and precision she brings to her professional work. Her role has extended far beyond accounting. When Bianca was learning to navigate the complexities of managing a growing nonprofit budget, Rebecca became a teacher and trusted mentor. “She was beyond patient explaining everything,” Bianca recalls. “I will never forget it.”
In 2025 alone, Rebecca contributed more than 211 volunteer hours to the Bianca Rae Foundation, ensuring the financial accuracy, stability, and sustainability of an organization that depends on every dollar to serve children and animals throughout the desert.
As if one nonprofit commitment were not enough, Rebecca also devotes an extraordinary amount of time to Shay’s Warriors, an organization dedicated to informing, inspiring, empowering, and supporting cancer survivors and their families through health, fitness, and mind‑body healing. Through programs, resources, and events, Shay’s Warriors creates a powerful community of hope and recovery.
In 2025, Rebecca volunteered an astounding 668 hours with Shay’s Warriors — nearly 17 full‑time work weeks. As Treasurer on the Board of Directors, she supports the organization through grant writing, financial oversight, tax preparation, and hands‑on planning and execution of the Annual Cancer Survivors Retreat.
Shay Moraga, Founder and Visionary of Shay’s Warriors, puts it simply: “Rebecca is indispensable to our organization. Whether it’s through her boundless energy planning the retreat or preparing financials for board meetings, we are profoundly grateful for her. Rebecca treats going the extra mile as the rule, not the exception. Her passion for this cause is truly limitless, and we would be lost without her!”
Altogether, Rebecca donated 879 volunteer hours in a single year. That alone is a remarkable achievement but what truly sets her apart is not the volume of her service. It is the spirit with which she gives.
“She has a very giving heart and supports many nonprofits in the Coachella Valley with her time, treasure, and talent,” Bianca explains. “But what makes her unique is that she prefers to stay behind the scenes. She’s never looking for recognition or credit — she gives quietly, without expectation.”
This humility defines Rebecca’s service. She shows up consistently, year after year, offering her skills, patience, and heart wherever they are needed. Her financial expertise has strengthened organizations and expanded their reach. Her mentorship has empowered leaders to move forward with confidence. And her dedication has helped build foundations — both literal and figurative — that continue to change lives.
Rebecca Curtright reminds us that some of the most transformative work happens away from the spotlight. Her quiet revolution of kindness shows us that the quietest of contributions can echo the loudest in the lives they touch.
For these reasons and many more, we are proud to celebrate Rebecca Curtright as our 2025 Volunteer of the Year.
