A strange thing happened to Poway Mayor Steve Vaus as he waited in the green room of a local TV station to promote the 25th year of his charity Carols by Candlelight — he fell in love. Also there that day from the Helen Woodward Animal Center for his television appearance was 2-month-old Sleigh, a border collie/Labrador retriever mix.
The Animal Center staffers were surprised when Vaus was waiting outside after Sleigh’s segment and adopted the lucky pup. Vaus, who is a huge rescue advocate, currently provides a home to an adopted horse, cat and chicken, but had no intention of adopting another pet that day. Known to some as “Buck Howdy,” Vaus is a 2010 Grammy winner who invites his music connections to participate in the annual fundraising concert for Rady Children’s Hospital.
The adoption of Sleigh marked the 3,000th for the Animal Center in 2015. Carols by Candlelight was created in 1990 by Vaus and Wayne Nelson, a member of the Australian music group the Little River Band. All net proceeds from ticket sales, silent and live auctions, benefit charity. Past recipients have included Cox for Kids and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Rady Children’s Hospital has been the recipient for the past six years. The concerts raised more than $1 million during the past 25 years.
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The North County Philanthropy Council recognized Christine Klement as North County Lifeline’s volunteer of the year at its annual volunteer awards luncheon. Klement has been volunteering with Lifeline for 10 years as a core member of its youth development team. She provides significant program support every week and volunteered for years doing tax preparation for Lifeline.
Founded in the mid-1980s, the North County Philanthropy Council is a regional membership association of nonprofit professionals, board members and volunteers along with corporate philanthropists serving North San Diego County communities. Congratulations to Christine Klement.
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For the 16th year in a row, the 45 employees of Cavignac & Associates pooled their funds and donated a combined $16,000 to 13 San Diego nonprofits as part of the company’s annual employee gift-giving program. This year, the employees directed monies toward: Just in Time, Doors of Change, Monarch School, American Red Cross, Veterans Village of San Diego, Alpha Project, Fresh Start Surgical Gifts, Senior Community Center, Voices for Children, Wounded Warrior Freedom Station, Challenged Athletes Foundation 2015 Surf Clinic/Triathlon and SAY San Diego’s “Backpack Back to School Drive” and its “Adopt A Family” Christmas fundraiser.
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Serge Dedina, the mayor of Imperial Beach and executive director of Wildcoast, a nonprofit coastal and marine conservation group in Imperial Beach, accepted a check for $3,200 from Ken Irvine, partner/executive chef of Sea 180 Coastal Tavern of the Cohn Restaurant Group family of restaurants, and Jesse Fanning, co-founder of Henebery Spirits Inc. Since its inception 15 years ago, Wildcoast has worked to defend the coast and endangered ocean creatures and has made significant contributions to local environmental efforts.
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More than 500 friends and supporters of Vista Community Clinic attended the Health and Hope for Our Youth Gala at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad. The event raised $200,000 in support of the clinic’s pediatric services and the Project REACH youth development program that provides afterschool supervision, mentoring and academic support to low-income teens in San Diego North County. Clint Bell, a well known San Diego-area auctioneer, conducted the live auction and served as master of ceremonies.
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The Anza-Borrego Foundation, official partner of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, announced the final elements in the conservation of the Lucky 5 Ranch in the Laguna Mountains, northeast of San Diego. The foundation purchased just less than 1,130 acres and obtained a conservation easement on 433 acres to fulfill a decades-long effort by California State Parks, ABF, The Nature Conservancy, and others to connect the 4,245-acre ranch to adjacent pieces of federal and state conservation land, creating a major parcel of exceptional natural beauty and biological importance. The acreage will eventually become part of Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Send Kudos/Giving items to sglidden@sdbj.com.
