Walden Family Services honored longtime champions Harley and Maryanne Sefton with the inaugural Fostering Hearts Legacy Award recently during the group’s Wine D’Vine, which drew 350 business and community leaders and raised more than $675,000 for the nonprofit’s foster care, adoption and parent training programs. Proceeds from Wine D’Vine account for 35 percent of the funds raised to support Walden’s programs. The award honors individuals who have made a commitment to children and youth in foster care to ensure their future success.
In honor of Walden’s 40th anniversary, the evening included a concert with John Fogerty, the former lead singer and lead guitarist of Creedence Clearwater Revival. The concert was underwritten by the Seftons and produced by Bollotta Entertainment.
The event was chaired by Marty and David Pendarvis, and emceed by Ranch & Coast editor-at-large Andrea Naversen. Other notable guests included Ron and Mary Alice Brady, Lori and Bill Walton, Olivia and Peter Farrell, Gaby and Rich Sulpizio, Stephanie and Steve Brownell, and Wendy and Greg Hunter. AJW Facilities and Construction was the Ruby Premier sponsor. Premier Cru sponsors were the event chairs, Marty and David Pendarvis, Barney & Barney, Dowling & Yahnke, the Farrell Family Foundation and Union Bank.
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After-School All-Stars San Diego is now called Inspirement Tribe and aims to be California’s first youth-impact program providing underserved and homeless children with free, comprehensive programming to create a pathway toward prosperity. The curriculum focuses on social emotional learning with the intention of giving students the opportunity to develop from the inside out.
Tyree Dillingham, CEO of Inspirement Tribe said, “We are creating a mentorship eco-system where the entire tribe benefits from being involved — donors, mentors and students.”
Inspirement Tribe’s teaching approach involves peer-to-peer instruction led by fellows in the InspireMentor Program. Fellows consist of high school and collegiate level students seeking to make an impact for underserved inner city youth. Visit inspirementtribe.org.
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The USS Midway Museum recently celebrated its 12th year and is now the sixth most popular museum of any type in America, according to Tripadvisor’s Travelers’ Choice poll. As a result of this success, the museum established a foundation and awarded its first charitable grants of $210,000 to support 10 local initiatives operated by support organizations serving veteran, law enforcement and active-duty family needs.
Approximately $130,000 will support active-duty family service organizations for child care, day camp services for the needy, liaison services to community resources, transition programs, family financial crisis support, and for a program that enables active-duty personnel stationed overseas to read books to family members back home.
Several veterans’ organizations will receive a share of $50,000 for child care and health care services for homeless veterans. The grants range from $10,000 to $30,000.
An additional $30,000 will be awarded to provide mass-casualty trauma kits in San Diego police vehicles.
Sara Napoli, president and CEO of the San Diego Police Foundation, said the funding of the mass trauma kits will better equip officers to save lives in the event of a crisis, including the lives of the officers. “San Diego is safer because of the Midway Foundation’s support.”
Other recipients include: Armed Services YMCA San Diego, Armed Services YMCA Camp Pendleton, Interfaith Community Services, Reboot, Support the Enlisted Project, United Through Reading, USO San Diego, Zero8Hundred and Veterans Village San Diego.
Malin Burnham, Midway Foundation Board chairman, said the foundation will match contributions made by others to the Midway Foundation dollar for dollar, up to $500,000.
“Freedom isn’t free,” Burnham said. “The Midway Foundation is here to help ensure that those who protect our liberties receive the support they need.”
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Oggi’s Sports|Brewhouse|Pizza donated $6,000 to 25 charities last month in honor of its 25th anniversary. Oggi’s gave back to organizations within San Diego County, Orange County, Los Angeles County, Inland Empire and Glendale, Ariz. The San Diego donations include: San Diego Veterans for Peace, San Diego Center for Children, Home of Guiding Hands, Miracle Babies, St. Paul’s Senior Services, El Cajon Valley Host Lions Club, Binational Emergency Medical Care Committee, Veterinary Specialty Hospital, ElderHelp and USS Midway’s Toys for Tots.
Send Kudos/Giving items to sglidden@sdbj.com.
