Wakefield Grows Meals on Wheels, Opens Kearny Mesa Center

In His Own Words: “How will we get to 2 million home delivered meals a year? I hire people smarter than I to figure that out and engage volunteers with giant hearts. I’m grateful for my team of experts, honored by the SDBJ, and moved by the dedication of San Diegans who care about the golden demographic. THANK YOU!”

Source: SDBJ.com

By: Brad Graves | May 2025

Brent Wakefield has been named CEO of the Year for his transformative leadership and dedication to community service.

As president and CEO of Meals on Wheels San Diego County, he has expanded support for older adults, ensuring essential meals and social connection for over 2,100 seniors and disabled veterans daily. Volunteerism with Meals on Wheels San Diego County has also grown during his tenure. Today, a team of more than 3,500 volunteers deliver meals and companionship to local seniors. In addition, volunteers also deliver free pet food in collaboration with Helen Woodward Animal Center.

A third-generation San Diegan hailing from Lemon Grove, Wakefield’s leadership is deeply personal. He is passionate about supporting older adults in the region, ensuring they can live with dignity and independence – a value deeply rooted in his upbringing by his loving grandparents.

Job Change and COVID Coincide

Wakefield joined Meals on Wheels San Diego County in July 2020 at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and as the organization saw a drastic uptick in demand for services due to social distancing rules. Under his leadership and with the help of an unexpected $4 million gift, the Meals on Wheels San Diego County team rose to meet the record demand of that time and continues to deliver more than a meal to thousands of local seniors. Wakefield oversees a team of 85 employees and 3,500 active volunteers, who work to ensure that Meals on Wheels clients receive essential meals and a feeling of personal connection.

In 2024, under his leadership, the organization opened its new Kitchen and Senior Innovation Hub in Kearny Mesa to accommodate the growing needs of its senior clients. Meals on Wheels San Diego County supports over 2,100 seniors and disabled veterans daily, delivering nearly 60,000 meals each month. In 2024, more than 640,000 meals were provided countywide, from the beaches to Borrego.

A Passion for Nonprofit Work

With over 20 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, Wakefield has dedicated his career to building relationships and strengthening programs that serve the community.

Before joining Meals on Wheels San Diego County, Wakefield worked for the Salk Institute for Biological Studies, where he played a pivotal role in securing philanthropic support and led the successful launch of an organization initiative which surpassed its $48 million fundraising goal two years ahead of schedule. Before that, he worked for Serving Seniors, overseeing development efforts and external relations to generate over $2.2 million annually in support of low-income and homeless seniors in San Diego.

Wakefield has served as the president of the board of directors for Meals on Wheels California since November 2022. In addition, he serves on the Hunger Free San Diego Advisory Board, Healthy San Diego Transitions of Care Workgroup, Duals and LTSS (Long-Term Services Support) Advisory Council, the San Diego Senior Alliance, and is a member of the San Diego Wildfire Safety Council of SDG&E. In addition, he served on the board of directors of Voices of Women from 2011 to 2016 and on the board of the San Diego chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

People who know him say Brent Wakefield’s lifelong dedication to service and community engagement continues to drive his leadership, ensuring meaningful impact for those who need it most. He inspires everyone around him and keeps the team focused on reaching 2 million meals per year by 2030.

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