GREENFIELD — An Arroyo Seco resident with more than 15 years of experience in Kiwanis leadership has been elected to serve a three-year term as a trustee for Kiwanis International, a global service organization focused on improving the lives of children and communities.
Valarie Brown-Klingelhoefer, who lives in the Arroyo Seco area near Greenfield, was elected during the 2026 Kiwanis International Convention in Manila, Philippines. Her term began Oct. 1.
Brown-Klingelhoefer became a Kiwanis member in 2010 and currently belongs to the Kiwanis Club of Marina, the Kiwanis Eye of the Tiger eClub and the Kiwanis Centennial Internet Club.
Over the years, she has served six nonconsecutive terms as lieutenant governor and as governor of the California-Nevada-Hawaii District. Her other leadership roles have included serving as the district’s Club Leadership Education Master Trainer, Possibility Project chair, Marketing Committee chair, Children’s Fund Ambassador chair and director, Formula for Membership chair and Strategic Planning chair. In those positions, she helped establish new clubs throughout the district.
Her involvement also extends to Kiwanis youth programs, including Builders Club for middle school students, Key Club for high school students and Circle K International for college and university students. She serves as an adviser and supporter of the programs and has made significant contributions to the Kiwanis Children’s Fund.
Those contributions have earned her recognition as a George F. Hixon, Walter Zeller and Dr. Wil Blechman fellow. Other honors include Kiwanis International Lifetime Membership and Distinguished Service Award, Distinguished Lieutenant Governor recognitions and the California-Nevada-Hawaii Children’s Fund Tablet of Honor.
“I believe every child deserves to have a Kiwanian and a Kiwanis club in their community,” said Brown-Klingelhoefer, who goes by “Doc Val.” “My goal is to help clubs become stronger, more innovative and more connected so they can serve their communities one child at a time. Kiwanis is about people helping people — and there is no limit to what we can accomplish when we work together.”
In addition to her district leadership, Brown-Klingelhoefer has worked to expand awareness of Kiwanis and community service beyond the organization’s traditional membership.
In May 2022, she developed the “Kiwanis Connects Show with Doc Val,” a weekly program created in collaboration with broadcaster Aaron “The Voice” Phillips. The show introduces audiences to Kiwanis, community service and nonprofit initiatives. According to the organization, the program has helped generate more than $1 million in cash and in-kind support for Kiwanis clubs, service projects and community partners.
Outside of Kiwanis, Brown-Klingelhoefer has built a career in organizational development and public policy, working with organizations and universities including UC Berkeley, UCLA, New York University, Cogswell Polytechnical College, California State University Monterey Bay, Duke University and California State University Stanislaus.
She was also part of the administrative team that helped launch the Tyler Heart Institute in Monterey.
Her nonprofit experience includes serving as executive director of Gathering for Women, a Monterey County organization supporting women experiencing homelessness, and as the inaugural founding executive director of the Coelho Ranch Foundation, which provides educational, recreational and motivational opportunities for children and adults who have experienced hardship.
Her latest endeavor is launching Late Bloomers LLC, a global company focused on second chances in life.
When she isn’t working or volunteering, Brown-Klingelhoefer enjoys traveling with her husband, Andy Klingelhoefer, to visit family and friends, including her son, Brent, daughter-in-law Erin, grandsons Miles and Evan, and her 12 godchildren.
