William S. Cowling II, chairman of Dixieline Lumber Co., will be honored during the Parkinson’s Disease Association of San Diego’s annual Spirit of Life Award Dinner, slated for Oct. 7 at the San Diego Marriott Del Mar. Cowling, a fellow Parkinsonian, gave $550,000 to establish the William S. Cowling II Parkinson’s Resource Center. He has also donated $300,000 to support ongoing research by Dr. Shirley Otis, clinical director of the Brain Research and Treatment Center at Scripps Clinic.
– – –
Jay Jeffcoat is the 2007 honoree receiving the Robert Breitbard Award from the San Diego International Sports Council. Jeffcoat has been active in SDISC since 1996, serving as chairman of the board in 1998. He has also worked on numerous other local projects and boards. “Jay has been a leader in our San Diego’s sports community over the years. He has embraced the importance of integrating sports and business to enhance our local economy,” said Dick Semerdjian, chairman of the San Diego International Sports Council.
– – –
Elizabeth Morris, president and chief executive officer of the San Diego Housing Commission, has been inducted into the California Housing Hall of Fame by the California Housing Consortium. To be inducted, one must demonstrate visionary leadership, innovation, effectiveness, inclusiveness, collaborative spirit and substantial contributions toward advancing affordable housing issues and causes in California. Morris is recognized for her 35 years of service and leadership in the affordable housing field.
– – –
Eric Northbrook, founder of the HeadNorth Foundation, received the Hope and Freedom Award from the Ability Center of San Diego. This award is presented to individuals dedicated to improving the quality of life of others by providing mobility equipment to those in need. Northbrook and his family started the foundation to help individuals with spinal cord injuries after a motorcycle accident left him paralyzed. The foundation has raised $700,000.
– – –
Western Gardens Landscaping Inc. of Carlsbad received two Beautification Awards from the San Diego chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association. The water conservation irrigation category award was for the Woodridge Homeowners Association in Carlsbad. Western Gardens also received the achievement award in the medium commercial maintenance category for La Serena Apartments in San Diego.
– – –
Jessica Long and Alanna Berman were recently announced as winners of awards from the San Diego Press Club. They will each receive $2,000 from the Joe Lipper Memorial Scholarship Fund for completing their education. The scholarship is named after a longtime Press Club member whose friends and family made a donation to the club in his memory. In the past 10 years, more than $25,000 has been awarded to students who have shown the most talent and promise in pursuing a career in journalism.
– – –
For the fourth consecutive year, Souplantation was named Best Buffet in the “Consumers Choice in Chains” survey by Restaurants & Institutions magazine. The winners are chosen by consumer rankings of customer satisfaction for food quality, menu variety, value, service, atmosphere, cleanliness, reputation and convenience. “This award is especially significant because it comes from our guests,” said Michael Mack, chief executive officer of San Diego-based Garden Fresh Restaurant Corp., which owns the Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes eateries.
– – –
RSI Roofing received the GAF Master Select Training Excellence Award, recognizing its dedication to continuous education and training through the Center for Advancement of Roofing Excellence to help consumers make educated roofing decisions.
– – –
Janice Farian was recognized by the American Red Cross as San Diego’s Woman of Spirit at a dinner at Morton’s Steakhouse held Aug. 21. Farian has served the Red Cross since 2003, averaging 200 hours per month as a disaster response and health and safety volunteer. “Her actions embody the mission of the Red Cross and her genuine spirit of service is an example to us all,” said Vincent Mudd, chairman of the board of the nonprofit’s San Diego/Imperial Counties chapter.
– – –
UC San Diego professor and East Asian affairs expert Susan Shirk was appointed as the inaugural chair holder of the newly established Ho Miu Lam Endowed Faculty Chair at UCSD’s Graduate School of International Relations and Pacific Studies. The chair was established as part of real estate investors Kwan and Marion So’s ongoing commitment to give back in appreciation for the success they have had in this country. This is the second endowed faculty chair funded by the Sos.
– – –
The San Diego Housing Commission won five Awards of Merit from the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. The awards recognize outstanding and innovative achievements in affordable housing and community development.
Please send Kudos items to San Diego philanthropist and contributing writer Joyce Glazer at
jglazer@sdbj.com
.
