Donna K. Delfin

          Donna K. Delfin is the founder and Executive Director of Katipunan-USA, a non-profit humanitarian organization dedicated to helping the people of the Philippines. She co-founded the organization with her father, Ernie Delfin, during the Summer of 2000 in an effort to bring about much needed changes to the Filipino society. The goals of this organization are to help build a stronger and healthier Philippines through personal and collective efforts by sharing resources, talents, and time with the less privileged members of the Philippine society, and to serve as a liaison between humanitarian, charitable, technical or educational organizations in the United States and in the Philippines.

          In its two-years of existence, Katipunan-USA has sent books to various Filipino elementary and high schools, raised money for a Filipino orphanage in Cabanatuan City, and brought a Filipina teacher to the US for free health care. The organization is also involved with other community organizations such as the Asian American Journalists Association, the Orange County Register, the Orange County Asian and Pacific Islander Community Alliance, Justice for Filipino American Veterans, Bagong Kulturang Pinoy, and many more. Katipunan-USA is open to any individual, regardless of ethnic or national background, who would like to “implement change in other people’s lives and their own.”

          Prior to starting her own organization, Ms. Delfin worked as a software developer for Metafuse, Inc., a senior contributor/editor for Progressivetimes.com, a youth contributor/editor for the Asian American Register, a staff accountant/MIS specialist for Contiki Holidays, and as an account representative for Triumph Business Systems.

          Ms. Delfin was born in Whittier, California where she earned a B.A. degree in Business Administration/Management Science Information Systems from California State University, Fullerton. Prior to that, she was a recipient of the Provost Scholarship at the University of Denver where she studied International Studies/Business for two years.

          One of her passions is writing. She enjoys writing articles and news features covering the Asian American community, Southern California life, trends, current events, and youth issues. Her work has been featured in The Asian American Register, The Asian Journal, Filipinas Magazine, Teenage Buzz Magazine, DJIcyIce.com, Progressivetimes.com, Asianwired.com, and many other publications. She also has a book in the works.

          Ms. Delfin usually can be found volunteering her time for causes she believes in. She credits her father with heavily influencing her to pursue this work for Filipino betterment. In fact, she was one of the first graduates and organizers for the first Pilipino Graduation (P-Grad) ceremony at California State University, Fullerton in May 2000. She is now a regular volunteer for the Asian American Journalists Association, Neighborhood Watch of Fountain Valley, Books for the Barrio, Governor Gray Davis Committee, and the Discovery Science Center.

          Ms. Delfin is a member of the Asian American Journalists Association, and is currently contemplating the career in public relations and journalism. She lives in Orange County, California with her family. Her parents are both Filipino immigrants, while she and her brother were born and raised in the United States.

          Katipunan-USA web site: http://www.katipunan-usa.org