The San Diego Rescue Mission received a special delivery of 300 new mattresses donated by online luxury mattress company, Leesa Sleep LLC. The mattresses will be used in the Mission’s emergency shelters, men’s recovery programs, recuperative care unit and transitional programs. The donation, with a retail value of more than $60,000, will enhance the way the Mission addresses the needs of those it serves.
The Mission provides nearly 12,500 nights of shelter every month. Its many programs support individuals at every stage of their transition out of homelessness. The emergency shelter for women and children provides a secure place to sleep and an opportunity for entry into the Mission’s long-term recovery program. The men’s center meets the critical diverse needs of homeless, poor and/or addicted men by providing support to permanently transform their lives. The recuperative care unit provides shelter and support to homeless individuals who have recently been released from the hospital, but still need proper medical attention. The transitional programs provide continued support as clients obtain housing and employment, ensuring the greatest chances for success.
“We’re truly blessed and humbled to receive this gift from Leesa,” said Herb Johnson, president and CEO of San Diego Rescue Mission. “These mattresses will make a real difference in the lives of the people who come through our doors seeking recovery, comfort and hope.” Visit sdrescue.org.
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The Fifth Annual Scripps Mercy Outreach Surgical Team Mariachi Festival raised a record $189,000 to help fund volunteer medical missions to Mexico to provide corrective surgeries to children with birth defects. The Scripps Mercy Hospital outreach program has provided life-changing surgeries to more than 12,000 people in Mexico, mainly children who were born with physical deformities and other conditions. The organization relies on philanthropy to conduct its weeklong missions in central and southern Mexico.
The event drew about 300 guests, including several physicians, nurses, nuns and volunteers who have been participating in the humanitarian missions for many years.
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The University of California, San Diego received a grant of nearly $2.5 million from the Hellman Fellows Fund to support junior faculty in launching their careers on the tenure track. The grant supports the Hellman Fellows Program that annually awards fellowships to promising young professors. The total fund investment since its establishment in 1995 is nearly $7.5 million. The UC San Diego program has served as a model to expand the fellowships to all campuses in the UC system, and it is the only privately funded program established at all 10 institutions.
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Judy Forrester has been appointed CEO and executive director of The New Children’s Museum after serving six months in an interim capacity. Forrester is a business and civic leader and is the third leader since the Museum’s reopening downtown in 2008. Forrester has more than 15 years of experience as a senior executive in nonprofit, health care, financial and civic leadership organizations. Most recently, she served as USO San Diego president and CEO.
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Champions for Health, formerly known as the San Diego County Medical Society Foundation, recognized the 2016 Health Heroes at an awards reception at Lomas Santa Fe Country Club. The Health Heroes event raised almost $100,000 for the organization’s flagship program, Project Access San Diego. The program coordinates the distribution of specialty health care services to uninsured community residents through physician volunteers. The organization’s new name and branding was announced at the event. Major sponsors included The Doctors Co. (recognized as Corporate Partner of the Year), Kaiser Permanente, Pettigrew Surgical Associates LLC, Spinal Elements Inc., UC San Diego Health, and Wealth Advisors Inc. Champions for Health was chosen as the organization’s new name to recognize the wide range of health care professionals and volunteers committed to the mission, and to highlight the agency’s expanded focus on health and wellness in addition to access to health care.
Send Kudos/Giving items to sglidden@sdbj.com.
