It’s not every day you get two reasons to dress up and mark a milestone together.
Last month, the Legacy of Light team gathered for the San Diego Business Journal’s 2026 Nonprofit Leaders Awards, where both Legacy of Light and Founding Director Darren Schwartz were recognized as finalists alongside other changemakers throughout San Diego.
Legacy of Light was named a finalist for the Community Impact Award, an honor that reflects just how many people have played a role in bringing the initiative to where it is today.
What began as an ambitious idea to reimagine Holocaust education has grown through years of collaboration among educators, Holocaust survivors, donors, civic leaders, school districts and community partners. Today,
Legacy of Light is working to make meaningful Holocaust education more accessible to students and educators throughout San Diego County.
Behind that growth has been Darren’s ability to bring people, partners and resources together — leadership that also earned him a finalist nod for Nonprofit Executive of the Year.
As Legacy of Light’s Founding Director and Chief Planning and Strategy Officer for Jewish Federation of San Diego, Darren’s work extends across the region, strengthening organizations and communities while helping guide Legacy of Light from an ambitious idea to a growing regional initiative.
What made the evening so much more meaningful was marking these milestones alongside so many local nonprofit leaders and organizations doing incredible work across San Diego. Check out the full list of 2026 Nonprofit Leaders Awards honorees to meet more of the people helping strengthen our region.
We’re grateful to the San Diego Business Journal for recognizing Legacy of Light and Darren among this year’s finalists — and especially grateful to everyone who has played a role in bringing this work to life.
With Spark Interactive now visiting schools and communities across the region, there’s plenty more to look forward to!
Interested in bringing Spark Interactive to your school or community? Reach out to learn more about upcoming opportunities and how to get involved.