For married couple Michelle Dungan and Veronica Zerrer, their philanthropic journey began with a simple, yet profound, question: “What are we going to do with our estate?”
As Veronica recalls, “Leaving it to my family is just not in the cards simply because they’re all doing so well and they don’t need [money] from us.”
This realization led them to think about how they could honor their parents, both of whom were educators, by continuing their legacy of fostering learning and growth, and growing the next generation of leaders in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) community.
Purpose-Driven Giving
Michelle and Veronica’s giving is deeply personal and purpose-driven. Their philanthropic efforts are primarily channeled through a legacy fund dedicated to providing scholarships. These scholarships are aimed at helping LGBTQ+ students, particularly those who are transgender, and veterans—two communities that they identify with and hold significant meaning for them.
Veronica, who served in the military, speaks passionately about the motivation behind their giving: “What I’d like to see accomplished with our scholarship fund is to inspire young trans people to reach higher than they think they can reach. It’s very often not until you’re challenged that you actually figure out you can do something.”
The Michelle Dungan and Veronica Zerrer Scholarship Fund is designed to offer opportunities not only to college-bound students but also to those pursuing vocational education.
Their generosity extends beyond scholarships.
“We also give a lot to LGBT causes,” Veronica mentions. “We give to TransFamily Support Services and the LGBT Center… Yesterday, I made a contribution to the Veterans Village of San Diego because they’re doing their annual stand down this weekend.”
These contributions reflect their commitment to supporting the communities they care about, in ways that go beyond just financial assistance.
Inspired Philanthropy
The inspiration behind Michelle and Veronica’s philanthropy is deeply rooted in their upbringing and life experiences. Both were raised in families where education was highly valued, and this has clearly influenced their desire to give back in this way.
Veronica’s reflection on her Catholic upbringing and the lessons she learned is particularly poignant: “The priest that we had always loved the gospel of Luke… there’s some passage in Luke that says, ‘To whom much is given, much is expected.’ And that’s always the way that I felt.”
This sense of responsibility has driven her and Michelle to ensure that their resources are used to uplift others. Michelle’s inspiration also comes from her parents, who both had diverse career paths before settling into teaching.
“My parents both being educators for most of their careers, but also having a background in blue-collar jobs, made us want to provide educational and training opportunities for people to have a lot of choices, just like our parents had,” she shares.
The Right Partner
Their ultimate goal is not just to provide financial assistance but to inspire others, particularly within the LGBTQ+ community, to take part in philanthropy. Their search for the right partner for their philanthropy brought them to San Diego Foundation, a decision reinforced by personal recommendations and their own research.
Veronica explains, “I know Sarafina Scapicchio from San Diego Pride, and Serafina said to give [San Diego Foundation] a call.”
This connection paved the way for what would become a rewarding and meaningful collaboration.
“We were already vaguely aware of the San Diego Foundation, but a recommendation from our family law attorney, who had a long history with my family, really sealed the deal,” Michelle adds.
This solid endorsement, combined with the ease of working with the Foundation, made their decision clear. They hope that by sharing their story, they can inspire others.
Michelle and Veronica’s journey with San Diego Foundation is a beautiful example of how personal history, values and a deep sense of responsibility can come together to create a lasting impact.
Through their scholarship fund and other charitable efforts, they are not only honoring their parents’ legacy but also paving the way for future generations to achieve their dreams. Their story is a reminder that when we give, we don’t just change the lives of others—we enrich our own.
About the SDF Community Scholarship Program
The SDF Community Scholarship Program is made possible through the generous donor support of 154 unique charitable funds, including the Michelle Dungan and Veronica Zerrer Scholarship Fund, at San Diego Foundation and is the largest in the region outside of the university system. Since 1997, the program has awarded more than $53 million to more than 14,000 college students from San Diego.
If you are interested in opening a scholarship fund to support students fueling our San Diego economy, please contact Danielle Valenciano, Director of the SDF Community Scholarship Program, at DanielleV@SDFoundation.org.
