More than 150 Outreach Impacting Lives volunteers distributed 900 Thanksgiving meals to enlisted military families in San Diego County through a collaboration with the Military Outreach Ministry or MOM San Diego. Each meal consisted of a 15-pound turkey and 10 side dishes. This was Outreach’s ninth annual Thanksgiving meal project, bringing the number of donated meals to 3,200 at a cost of more than $100,000. Volunteers distributed 400 meals in San Diego near Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, working in partnership with MOM San Diego, which identified recipient enlisted military families. At the same time, additional volunteers handed out 500 meals at the MOM offices on Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton. Founded in 2008 by John Wallace, who is the owner of San Diego-based JW Floor Covering Inc. and ReSource Floors Inc., Outreach Impacting Lives’ volunteers collaborate with more than 100 service organizations to determine where the volunteer projects will have the greatest impact for those most in need. Since its inception, Outreach has donated more than 50,000 volunteer hours impacting more than 20,000 people at a cost of more than $900,000. Visit outreachimpactinglives.org.
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Grossmont Hospital Foundation celebrated its 31st Annual Gala recently at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina. The fundraising event, dubbed “Puttin’ on the Ritz with Gatsby Glitz,” netted more than $340,000 toward Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s David and Donna Long Center for Cancer Treatment. The Gala is the hospital’s largest event of the year, benefiting its services and programs.
Sandy Jackman and Mona Pear were this year’s event chairs. The honorary chair was Connie Conard, past member of the Grossmont Hospital Foundation board of governors and East County philanthropist. Top-level presenting sponsors include the Glenn Napierskie family and Sharp Grossmont Hospital Medical Staff.
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San Diego March of Dimes held its annual Signature Chefs Gala recently at the Paddock at Del Mar racetrack. The event hosted more than 300 guests and netted more than $185,000. The annual fundraiser is a “supper by the bite” experience from San Diego’s top chefs. Guests enjoyed a variety of culinary offerings while raising funds vital to supporting the March of Dimes mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and other life-threatening illnesses.
The Sixth Annual Signature Chefs Gala was chaired by San Diego philanthropists Jen and Robert Gramins and included entertainment, live and silent auctions and the opportunity to further the critical mission of the March of Dimes.
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The Rancho Santa Fe Foundation announced that Rancho Santa Fe residents Molly and Mike Gregoire have provided a dollar-for-dollar match to the RSFF Community Impact Fund in honor of the Foundation’s 35th anniversary. The Gregoires will match funds up to $35,000 in donations through Dec. 31. The fundraiser is called “35 for 35.” The Community Impact Fund is supported by donors who want to use their collective donations to address critical challenges throughout the year. Through this fund, RSFF has already granted more than $1.6 million to 67 nonprofits. Visit rsffoundation.org.
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Students at St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center donated 50 turkeys to The Salvation Army to help less fortunate individuals this holiday season. St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center is a nonprofit that serves individuals with developmental disabilities. All students who attend SMSC are part of Self Advocacy, which is part of the state-wide program People First. People First of California envisions all people with disabilities will have the opportunity to gain empowerment through unity and respect for each other.
Debra Emerson, CEO of St. Madeleine Sophie’s Center, said the goal is to educate and empower individuals with developmental disabilities to realize their full potential. One way SMSC does this is by teaching its students to help others less fortunate in the community and advocating for others to understand and accept individuals with disabilities. Students at SMSC used the profits earned from fundraisers throughout the year to donate 50 turkeys to The Salvation Army this Thanksgiving. During the holiday season, the students will also purchase 25 bicycles for The Salvation Army’s Toys for Tots program and sponsor a family for Salvation Army’s Adopt-a-Family Program.
Send Kudos/Giving items to sglidden@sdbj.com.
