Must! Charities announces 2026 board officers, welcomes new executive member

By Paso Robles Press · Mon Feb 16 2026

PASO ROBLES — Must! Charities has announced its 2026 board officers and welcomed a new Executive Board member as the nonprofit marks 14 years of service in San Luis Obispo County.

Serving as 2026 officers are Chairman Lori Bickel, Vice Chairman Lynn Gray, Treasurer Andy Niner, and Secretary Doug Kruse. Additional board members include Oliver Esparham, Maeve Pesquera, and Justin Smith.

Kelly Pope joins the organization as its newest Executive Board member. Pope relocated to San Luis Obispo from Silicon Valley in 2019 and was introduced to Must! Charities while seeking ways to give back locally. She also serves on the board of SV2 (Silicon Valley Social Venture Fund), a collaborative philanthropic organization focused on equity-centered social impact.

CEO Becky Gray said Pope’s experience and understanding of trust-based philanthropy made her a natural fit for the board.

“It truly felt like a small-world moment,” said Becky Gray, CEO. “Kelly immediately understood what we were building because she had lived it. She brought tremendous knowledge to our team right away — we were literally taking turns meeting with her to learn from her. It quickly became clear she belonged on our Executive Board. She has been a true gift to our organization and our community.”

Founded in 2012, Must! Charities supports local nonprofit programs that strengthen families, improve wellbeing, and build a healthier community. The organization operates on a model in which 100% of community donations go directly to supported causes, with operational costs covered through a separate funding source.