On a crisp night in the San Bernardino Mountains, a teenage Doug Freeman spent some quiet time alone after a long day wrangling 10 energetic boys as a YMCA camp counselor. Above him, the sky stretched wide, every star bright against the darkness.
In that moment, Freeman felt a rush of gratitude for his parents, his three brothers and the life he’d been given. Right then, he made himself a promise: “I’ve got to do something important with my life.”
That promise would become his compass.
Freeman’s sense of gratitude was no accident; it was the foundation his parents, Jack and Elaine Freeman, built for their four boys. Growing up, the four Freeman boys were a tight-knit crew, inventive enough to draw “homes of the stars” maps and sell them to tourists for a dollar.
“We just had a wonderful family,” Freeman told the Business Journal.
Finding Purpose
Freeman, executive chair and CEO of the Irvine-based non-profit OC Music & Dance, learned about charity at an early age by working at the Westchester YMCA where he met kids from low-income families whose lives looked nothing like his own.
Neil Peterson, the YMCA’s board chair and an insurance executive, taught Freeman, “It’s our responsibility to better the lives of others.”
After graduating from Stanford, Freeman attended UCLA School of Law; he also married his high school sweetheart Lynn; the couple have been married for 58 years.
A Legal Career Guided by Integrity
Fresh out of law school, Freeman joined an independent firm before serving as a lawyer in the Air Force from 1971–74, remaining a reserve officer until 1981.
“I had a great time,” he says. “Those were some of the best years of my life.”
When he sought a loan to start his own firm, Union Bank almost declined him until one manager, Matt Solomon, overheard the Freeman name. Solomon knew Jack Freeman as “the most ethical businessman I know” and approved the $20,000 loan.
“That loan came entirely because of my dad,” Freeman said. “My dad was always my north star when it came to business and integrity.”
A few months after setting up his firm, Freeman faced an early test. When his one paying client asked him to do something he felt was unethical, Freeman refused, losing the account.
“The good news is that my integrity is still intact,” he told Lynn. “The bad news is, we don’t have any clients.”
Lynn calmly replied, “Don’t worry. We’ll get another one.”
Not long after, Freeman’s brother Richard joined the firm, followed by a young real estate lawyer named Bruce Smiley, whom Freeman had met at the independent firm. The firm became Freeman, Freeman & Smiley.
By the time Freeman retired four decades later, Freeman, Freeman & Smiley had 65 lawyers and 150 employees. Through the years, Freeman never lost sight of the promise he’d made in the mountains. He gravitated toward nonprofit clients, blending law with service.
Creating National Philanthropy Day
Freeman was inspired to create National Philanthropy Day in 1981 after thanking a group of donors. In that moment, he realized that words of gratitude, while heartfelt, weren’t enough.
“We celebrate so many things in this country. Why not the people who give their time, talent and treasure to make life better for others,” he thought.
What these generous individuals truly deserved was a national celebration. That insight became the foundation for National Philanthropy Day, envisioned to honor the many forms of giving— donations, board service, or volunteer time. Each year, millions of dollars and thousands of volunteer hours fuel nonprofits, enabling them to deliver vital programs and services to those in need.
As he worked to bring the idea to the highest levels of government, Freeman quickly discovered the scale of the challenge. Launching National Philanthropy Day would cost about $250,000 annually—covering travel, publicity, consultants, and lobby groups in every state—long before it could even reach President Ronald Reagan’s desk.
Convincing donors to support a cause benefiting people they had never met, in places they had never been, became what Freeman called the hardest sales job of his life. But he succeeded.
“I explained to them, ‘We have been blessed with generosity unheard of for people in humanity,’” Freeman said. “We’ve got to recognize people.’ I never met Dr. Mayo (Mayo Clinic) but darn if he didn’t build an incredible hospital institution. At the end of the day, these people have changed the quality of life, not just for their family or their community but for the entire country and around the world.”
It took about a few years to win the correct approvals.
In 1986, President Reagan proclaimed Nov. 15 as National Philanthropy Day.
This year, Freeman plans to mark the 40th anniversary of NPD on Nov. 13, which happens to be his 80th birthday. For four decades, this day has honored the spirit of giving that strengthens communities and inspires positive change. Now celebrated worldwide, it honors generosity and inspires others to give.
NPD isn’t the only award event Freeman has founded. He also created the Vision in Philanthropy Awards to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the philanthropic community. The annual awards include grants to support the winners’ initiatives. Celebration of Heroes, also founded by Freeman, recognizes scientists who developed vaccines that saved 14 million lives during the recent pandemic and the first responders.
“It’s really about saying thank you. Because when we thank people for giving, we encourage more giving.”
The Legacy
Freeman’s friendship with Charlie Zhang, a Chinese immigrant who founded locally based Pick Up Stix, led to the creation of the OC Music & Dance, which provides music and dance training to youngsters. Later this year, they will celebrate the groundbreaking of a new $50 million performing arts center at the Great Park. Freeman said the 110,000-square-foot campus is expected to open in 2027.
“Doug has so much personal integrity and honesty,” said Zhang. “He is a role model for younger generations. An honorable husband, father, and grandpa.”
Zhang adds that Freeman is “the father of OCMD.”
The list of nonprofits Freeman has served — as a board member, former chair, founder, or volunteer — is long, including Pacific Symphony, UCLA Foundation, California Institute of the Arts, UCI Foundation and The Literacy Project. His commitment to service has spanned 65 years.
Through it all, Freeman has stayed true to that promise he made under the stars so many decades ago:
“I’ve got to do something important with my life.”
