Kathleen “Kitty” Garvey Named 2025 Glendora Citizen of the Year

Glendora, CA — The Glendora Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce Kathleen “Kitty” Garvey has been selected as the 2025 Glendora Citizen of the Year, honoring her extraordinary lifetime of service, leadership, and lasting impact on the Glendora community.

For more than three decades, Garvey has been a driving force behind many of the programs, organizations, and initiatives that enrich the quality of life in Glendora. Known for her humility, generosity, and ability to bring people together, she has quietly but powerfully shaped the community through both her professional leadership and extensive volunteer work.

Garvey is a founding partner and CEO/CFO of Crestwood Communities, a family-owned homebuilding company established in 1978. Under her leadership, Crestwood has grown into a respected regional builder serving the San Gabriel Valley, Inland Empire, and Coachella Valley. Beyond business success, Garvey has used her platform to support charitable causes, community events, and educational initiatives throughout the region.

Her impact is perhaps most widely felt through her longstanding involvement with the Glendora Public Library Friends Foundation. A dedicated volunteer for more than 30 years, Garvey has served on the Board of Directors and numerous committees, helping guide the organization’s mission and growth.

For the past 25 years, she has chaired the Foundation’s signature fundraising event, Night on the Plaza, transforming it into one of the community’s most successful and beloved gatherings. Through her leadership, the event has raised more than $4 million to support critical library programs and services, including literacy initiatives, technology enhancements, educational programming, and expanded access to resources for residents of all ages.

Garvey’s ability to build partnerships has been central to that success. She has brought together hundreds of local businesses, volunteers, and community members, creating a shared sense of purpose and pride in supporting the library and the broader community. Her enthusiasm and dedication have inspired countless others to get involved and give back.

In addition to her work with the library, Garvey has served on a wide range of boards and organizations, including the Hillcrest Retirement Community, Mt. St. Mary’s University, St. Dorothy Parish Finance Council, and several local schools.

Her service extends beyond Glendora. She has played a key role in supporting organizations such as Mary’s Mercy Center and Mary’s Haven, which provide meals, shelter, and transitional housing for underserved individuals and families. Her commitment to helping others, particularly those in need, has been a defining characteristic of her life’s work.

Colleagues and community leaders consistently describe Garvey as a selfless and authentic leader whose actions are driven not by recognition but by a genuine desire to make a difference. Her ability to identify community needs, mobilize resources, and unite people around a common goal has made her one of Glendora’s most respected and influential citizens.

Despite her many accomplishments, Garvey remains deeply grounded in what matters most to her, family. She is a devoted mother and proud grandmother of seven, and often credits her family as the inspiration behind her commitment to giving back.

Please join us in congratulating Kitty Garvey as the 2025 Glendora Citizen of the Year!

Garvey will be formally honored at the 76th Annual Glendora Citizen of the Year Banquet on Thursday, April 16th, at the Glendora Country Club, where community members, business leaders, and local organizations will gather to celebrate her contributions and legacy.

Tickets can be purchased at Glendora-Chamber.org/COTY.

The Chamber’s Glendora Citizen of the Year Award is one of the community’s highest honors, recognizing individuals whose dedication and service have made a significant and lasting impact since it was first awarded in 1948.