Charlotte Kleeman, 1996 Santa Clarita Valley Woman of the Year, passed away earlier this week, leaving her philanthropic legacy behind.

The Santa Clarita philanthropist, well-known for her community outreach, has positively impacted dozens of nonprofits since 1965 not only with her fundraising efforts, but also her positive spirit.

“She was the life of the party, the ‘straw that stirs the drink,’ the light in the room,” said Jeff Hacker. “I don’t know a non-profit organization that wasn’t blessed by her generosity. Charlotte wove a quilt of people together to support our community. Her passage marks the end of an era.” 

A Philanthropic Legacy 

Kleeman was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in North Hollywood, California where she went on to graduate from Occidental College and earn two teaching credentials from California Lutheran University. 

After working as a social worker for more than eight years, she moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in 1965 with her husband, Frank and son, Jeff – followed shortly thereafter by the birth of their daughter, Shari.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Charlotte went on to serve on the board of directors and executive board of the SCV Boys and Girls Club where she quickly became active in local fundraising. 

She chaired as the Ambassadors of the SCV Chamber of Commerce and by the mid-90s became a board member of the SCV Child & Family Center, the Arts Council, on the board of the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center, AAUW, and Foundation committees at College of the Canyons.

Frank Kleeman

With her extensive history volunteering with local nonprofits, Kleeman was named SCV Woman of the Year in 1996. Her husband, Frank was named SCV Man of the Year in 2002. Frank passed away in 2016. 

“In order to feel like I really deserved it, I started volunteering more and began accepting more leadership roles,” Kleeman said after receiving the award in a previous article. “It was the most meaningful award I ever received.”

Since receiving the award more than 20 years ago, Kleeman has kept up her work with the SCV Child & Family Center and chairing the annual Taste of the Town fundraiser. 

She served on the board of the Repertory Theatre and became president of the Samuel Dixon Family Health Center board for two years, while also serving on the board of the Foundation for Children’s Dental Health and the COC Foundation.

In 2002, she and her husband were voted the “Philanthropists of the Year” by the Network of California Community Colleges. In 2005, the couple was honored as the recipients of the COC Silver Spur Community Service award.  

The Hardest Goodbye

“The twofer, Frank and Charlotte, were family to us and surrogate grandparents to my kids,” Hacker said. “We will not see another like her.”

KHTS owners Carl Goldman and Jeri Seratti Goldman are deeply saddened.

“Jeri and I are saddened by the loss of Charlotte Kleeman. Charlotte and her husband Frank were anchors that make our valley so unique,” KHTS owner Carl Goldman said. “Jeri and I would marvel at how Charlotte could walk in and instantly light up a room with her laugh and positive energy. She and Frank were involved with so many Santa Clarita non-profits. They were a class of couples who formed the early foundation of our city and our valley. We will miss her passion.”

To learn more about the impacts of Kleeman’s philanthropic history, click here.

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