Susie Bauer has dedicated her life to community-building through philanthropy, food, and creative entrepreneurship. She began her nonprofit journey in the 1980s as a volunteer with Share Our Strength, a national hunger relief organization, coordinating auctions and fundraising events that grew into a nationwide movement. This early experience inspired her to open SUZE, an intimate neighborhood restaurant in Dallas that quickly became a hub for the local food and art scene. SUZE wasn’t just a restaurant—it was a platform for connection, showcasing local artists and supporting community causes from hunger relief to child welfare.

Following her time at SUZE, Susie joined the Peace Corps and moved to Monterey, California, enrolling in the Peace Corps Master’s International program at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies. She later returned to Dallas and opened IRIS, another community-driven restaurant known for monthly fundraisers and artist showcases. Susie’s philanthropic model invited both staff and customers to take part in supporting local causes—from emergency artist support to justice and healing for families in crisis. One of her most meaningful projects was a cooking program she co-led at a low-income elementary school for hearing-impaired students, providing them with meals, recipes, and the skills to recreate them at home for their families.

Now based in Carmel, Susie is the founder of Mopane, a Fair Trade boutique supporting African women artisans and donating proceeds to Elephant Havens Orphanage in Botswana and a rotating list of Monterey County nonprofits, including AIM Youth Mental Health. In 2024, she served as Chair of AIM’s 10th Annual Gala, helping to raise over $500,000 to support critical youth mental health initiatives. She and her husband Richard now enjoy semi-retirement, splitting time between Carmel and Dallas to stay close to their children and grandchildren—continuing to give back wherever they are.