Advocacy, Innovation, Motivation. Get ready for the 2026 Meals on Wheels California AIM Conference in San Diego. The stunning waterfront views and tropical charm make Kona Kai the perfect backdrop for bringing together great minds and compassionate leaders.
This new destination offers not only the ideal setting to exchange best practices and explore the latest in senior nutrition and care, but also the chance to recharge, connect, and celebrate the power of our statewide network in a true island oasis.
Conference attendees receive a special discounted room rate at the Kona Kai San Diego Resort — available exclusively when booking through our event block. Please be advised that if a guest departs prior to their confirmed departure date, a one-night room charge plus tax will be assessed. The hotel will reconfirm each guest’s departure date upon arrival.
2026 MOWCA AIM CONFERENCE SPONSORS
2026 MOWCA AIM Sponsor Expo
Monday at 5:30PM and Tuesday at 4:30PM The Sponsor Expo is your opportunity to mingle with partners who support and strengthen our work. Explore innovative products and services, ask questions, and exchange ideas with sponsors who share your commitment to serving communities. This is a space for meaningful conversations, new connections, and discovering solutions you can bring back to your organization.
KEYNOTE
Fuel for Greatness: Nutrition, Resilience, and the Power of Service
Tuesday at 3:30PM: Known for his legendary NFL career and continued commitment to community service, Andre Reed brings a powerful message of leadership, resilience, and purpose. His story and insights will inspire our network as we gather to advance advocacy, innovation, and motivation across California.
Join us for an impactful conference experience featuring an unforgettable keynote from one of football’s all-time greats.
Join us for an unforgettable evening at the Meals on Wheels California Champions Dinner a special night dedicated to celebrating the people who make our mission possible and setting the tone for a powerful week of connection, learning, and impact.
This inspiring evening will feature networking with colleagues from across the state, powerful testimony from Meals on Wheels Champions, and the presentation of MOWCA Champions Awards recognizing outstanding individuals and organizations making a meaningful impact in their communities.
The dinner also coincides with Meals on Wheels Champions Week, a national celebration honoring the volunteers, staff, partners, and advocates who go above and beyond to fight hunger and isolation among older adults. Together, we’ll lift the champions who deliver more than meals, they deliver hope, dignity, and connection.
Dinner ticket is included with conference registration.
Come celebrate, connect, and be inspired as we honor California’s Meals on Wheels Champions.
CHAMPIONS DINNER KEYNOTE
Changing the Narrative: Advancing Economic Mobility Through Equity, Policy, and Community Voice
Tuesday at 6:00PM: Michael Tubbs—former Mayor of Stockton and current Special Advisor for Economic Mobility and Opportunity to Governor Gavin Newsom—shares insights from his work at the intersection of policy, lived experience, and systems change. Presented by End Poverty in California
KEYNOTE
Power, Policy & Partnership: Turning Relationships into Results for Seniors
Wednesday at 10:00AM: Gain insight into how aligning influence, advocacy, and community collaboration can transform systems, strengthen services, and create lasting impact for seniors at the local and statewide levels. Presented by Lighthouse Public Affairs
Fast Connections. Real Impact.
Get ready for a high-energy networking experience designed to help you make meaningful connections—fast. Speed Networking gives attendees the opportunity to meet multiple peers, partners, and collaborators in a short amount of time, exchange contact information, and spark conversations that can continue long after the conference ends. With everyone gathered around shared goals and missions, this session cuts through small talk and opens the door to new ideas, partnerships, and opportunities that drive real impact.
2026 CONFIRMED ATTENDEES
Core Client Insights: Putting Your Data to Work
Monday at 10:00AM: This session will focus on translating data into meaningful action. Meals on Wheels America will share first wave results from the Core Client Insights (CCI) pilot, currently being tested by members in North Carolina and Texas. CCI offers new screening and evaluation tools that help match services to client needs, measure outcomes and support more informed program decisions. The session will also discuss upcoming opportunities for members in California to leverage these tools in their own operations.
30 Ideas in 60 Minutes: Your Hour of Creative Power
Monday at 11:00AM: Looking for fresh, actionable ideas to elevate your fundraising? This fast-paced, high-energy session delivers 30 proven strategies in just 60 minutes from leading experts in direct marketing. You’ll leave with practical tips you can implement immediately to boost revenue, increase donor retention, and reduce costs – all without sacrificing impact.
Presenter: Lautman Meals on Wheels Co-op
Community Care in the Age of AI: Strengthening the Safety Net for Medicaid Populations
Monday at 11:00AM: As technology reshapes healthcare, how can AI strengthen human-centered community care? Explore how innovative tools are being used to better identify needs, coordinate services, and support Medicaid populations while preserving trust, dignity, and connection.
Presenter: Pair Team
Lunch Discussion: Building a Best Place to Work & Volunteer: Culture as a Strategic Advantage
Monday at 12:15PM: Strong culture isn’t accidental—it’s intentional. Join this interactive lunch discussion to explore how investing in workplace and volunteer culture can strengthen recruitment, retention, engagement, and performance. Learn practical strategies to create an environment where staff and volunteers feel valued, motivated, and aligned with your mission—turning culture into a powerful driver of long-term impact.
Presenters: Christine Winge Meals on Wheels Monterey Peninsula, Kaushik Roy Chief Executive Officer Vivalon
Innovation in Action: San Diego’s Ecosystem for Healthy Aging
Monday at 1:00PM: Discover how San Diego organizations are working together to create a coordinated, innovative approach to healthy aging. Leaders share how cross-sector collaboration, targeted funding, and community-based services are improving outcomes for vulnerable older adults.
Presenters: Challenge Center, ElderHelp, Gary and Mary West Foundation, MOWSDC
Representing Agencies, the Aging Network, Academia, and Industry
Monday at 2:30PM: Explore insights on aligning research, policy, and practice to support older adults more effectively—highlighting the value of partnerships that bridge knowledge, innovation, and community-based service delivery.
Blending and Braiding: Diversifying Revenue Opportunities through the Community Care Hub Model
Monday at 3:30PM: Explore the benefits of Community Care Hub membership, including access to new funding streams like CalAIM and enhanced service coordination. Learn practical frameworks for financial sustainability and informed decision-making that support both your organization and the communities you serve.
Presenter: Partners in Care Foundation
Staffing for Sustainability: Strategies for Recruiting and Retaining Talent in Aging Services
Tuesday at 10:00AM: Drawing from national executive search experience and a community-informed approach, attendees will gain practical insights on building inclusive hiring practices, strengthening leadership pipelines, and creating sustainable staffing models that support long-term organizational success.
Presenter: Blair Search Partners
Fundraising as Impact: The Future of Philanthropy and the Power of the Profession
Tuesday at 10:00AM: Fundraising is more than revenue generation, it is the impact profession. In this forward-looking session, leaders from the AFP Foundation will share how strategic investments in education, research, and professional development are strengthening nonprofits nation and statewide.
Speaking for the Mission: Communications & Media Skills to Advance Your Cause
Tuesday at 11:00AM: Explore practical communications and media strategies to help organizations clearly articulate their impact, elevate their brand, and engage key audiences. Gain tools to strengthen messaging, navigate media opportunities, and communicate with confidence across platforms—ensuring their mission is seen, heard, and remembered.
Presenter: Scatena Media Group
Lunch Discussion: Real Talk on Today’s Toughest Challenges
Tuesday at 12:15PM: Join fellow EDs and CEOs for a candid, peer-to-peer lunch discussion focused on the most pressing pain points facing leaders today—from funding uncertainty and workforce pressures to advocacy, growth, and sustainability. This confidential conversation offers a space to share challenges, exchange solutions, and gain insight from leaders navigating similar realities across the state.
Presenters: Ray Cancino Community Bridges, Charlie Deterline SOS Meals on Wheels, Veronica Dover St. Vincent Meals on Wheels, Christine Winge Meals on Wheels Monterey Peninsula
MORE Than Partnerships: Savings and Revenue You Can Unlock Today
Tuesday at 11:00AM: Discover how Meals on Wheels America’s B2B partnership program MORE (Member Offers, Rewards & Expertise) helps members cut costs, save time and generate new revenue. This breakout will spotlight the partnerships and offers with the greatest immediate impact and show you how to get started quickly. Attendees will also be invited to weigh in on the products and services that should be prioritized as MORE continues to grow.
Expanding Senior Nutrition Access through Strategic Partnerships
Tuesday at 2:30PM: Explores how collaboration has expanded access, improved coordination, and strengthened service delivery for older adults. Learn practical strategies for building effective partnerships, aligning resources, and leveraging shared goals to better serve seniors in their own communities.
Using Data, Advocacy, and Collaboration to Advance Equitable Food Access
Tuesday at 2:30PM: Explore how data-informed strategies, policy engagement, and technical assistance can strengthen food systems and expand reach. Gain practical insights you can apply to improve coordination, elevate advocacy efforts, and better serve communities facing nutrition insecurity in their own regions.
Presenter: San Diego Hunger Coalition
2026 MOWCA AIM CONFERENCE PARTNERS
Sponsor or Partner With MOWCA
Our Annual State Conference is designed to create a unified voice for nutrition providers and broaden the impact of our programs across the state.
- Sponsor Expo has a dedicated exhibition location and dedicated events to engage with participants
- Sponsors will be provided with tables, space for video screens, and display materials
- Sponsor Expo / Networking Reception with hosted bar and appetizers
If you are interested in becoming a SPONSOR, please contact
SUZAN CARABARIN | Sponsorship Liaison
scarabarin@mowmp.org • 831.200.5554
