Strategic Marketing & Communications

Allison Glader brings more than 25 years of communications, media, and storytelling experience to Feeding San Diego. As a strategic marketing & communications expert, she leads efforts to expand the organization’s visibility, strengthen its brand, and drive awareness of hunger-relief resources throughout San Diego County. 

Throughout her career, Allison says she’s been guided by an adage once shared by former U.S. president Ronald Reagan: “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he does not mind who gets the credit.” 

Before joining Feeding San Diego, Allison spent 16 years at CNN, where she served as supervising producer for Larry King Live. She booked high-profile guests, produced documentary specials, and led nationally televised fundraising efforts supporting communities impacted by Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti earthquake. 

Motivated by a passion for helping her local community, Allison joined Feeding San Diego’s Board of Directors in 2013 and transitioned into her consulting role in 2019.  

A creative strategist and relentless advocate, Allison has helped launch and grow some of Feeding San Diego’s most impactful initiatives and partnerships. She helped launch the Starbucks’ FoodShare program in partnership with Feeding America, helping establish a decade-long partnership that rescues surplus food and delivers it to neighbors facing hunger. 

During the COVID pandemic, Allison conceptualized the “We’re in This Together” public awareness campaign, which connected thousands of families with pop-up emergency food distributions, beginning in the Pechanga Arena parking lot before expanding to multiple locations throughout the county.  

Allison has also been the driving force behind signature events including the BroAm with Switchfoot, Del Mar Wine and Food Festival, and Pacific Building Group’s annual charity golf tournament. Allison has also leveraged her relationships to bring numerous celebrities, and collegiate and professional sports teams and players to support the cause over the years. Among the most notable: Blink 182’s Tom DeLonge, musician Jason Mraz, professional surfer Rob Machado, former NBA great Bill Walton, the San Diego Padres and the former San Diego Chargers.  

In 2016 recognizing that the culinary community in San Diego would also be a good champion for hunger relief, Allison conceptualized “Pairings with a Purpose,” bringing together chefs and culinary influencers from across the county to raise funds for the cause. What began as an annual event has since grown into a bi-annual dinner series, leveraging acclaimed chefs like Brian Malarkey, Travis Skwirad, Claudia Sandoval and more.  

In 2023, Allison also co-created the Hunger Action Heroes to make Feeding San Diego’s mission more accessible to youth. The comic book, which later expanded into a school curriculum, empowers school-age children to take action against hunger and food waste in their communities. 

Allison holds a Bachelor of Art in business administration from the University of San Diego. She is a longtime member of the Association of Women in Communications and previously served on the board of the San Diego International Film Festival. 

A proud sports mom to two teenage boys, Allison also enjoys playing tennis and pickleball, and volunteering for organizations dedicated to the well-being of children and animals.