The Gary and Mary West Foundation donated $3 million to Senior Community Centers to help fund the opening of a center at Fourth Avenue and Beach Street. The nonprofit has seen a dramatic increase in the number of low-income seniors seeking its help recently The local Hilton family of hotels presented a $140,000 check to the San Diego Food Bank. The La Jolla Hilton hosted a gala dinner in November for the food bank and the Network for Healthy California with 26 chefs and 100 staff members volunteering to organize the tasting gala and auction. Funds raised will be used to shore up the bank’s food supply recently depleted by the huge surge in demand from families affected by the economic crisis Matt D’Arrigo, executive director and founder of A Reason to Survive was honored with the Safeco Insurance Foundation’s 2008 community hero award, which recognizes citizens who make positive impacts on their community and empower others to do the same. D’Arrigo was nominated by Safeco independent agency partner Ed Johnson of Johnson & Wood Insurance Services in Carlsbad The Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Foundation donated $1,000 to Partnership with Industry, an organization providing job training for those with disabilities The Downtown Rotary Club donated $1,500 to the Monarch School, a downtown school for the homeless San Marcos Mayor Jim Desmond received the an award for leadership at the San Diego North Economic Development Council’s annual awards presentation on Dec. 1 Employees of Cavignac & Associates donated $11,000 to several San Diego nonprofits as part of the company’s gift-giving efforts. Recipients included Toussaint Academy, the San Diego Junior Theater’s scholarship program and the San Diego Senior Community Centers Defense contractor SGIS was presented National University’s 2008 Peak Performance Award at a luncheon held Nov. 19. “SGIS is growing at a rapid pace, and this award further validates the efforts of our team and our ability to sustain this growth,” said CEO Hany Girgis Jewish Family Service received a $19,000 grant from Las Patronas to purchase a pickup truck. Jill Borg Spitzer, CEO of the nonprofit, said the truck will be used to set up apartments, collect donations and distribute food for its refugee resettlement and youth food pantry programs Good Feet Worldwide in Carlsbad, donated 100 pairs of shoes and socks valued at over $8,000 to the Bread of Life Rescue Mission in Oceanside. The organization operates a shelter during the winter months and provides food, supplies and clothing for the homeless. The shoes will be used to meet the increased demand for new footware this winter Mintz Levin’s holiday drive provided support for foster kids of La Cuna, patients at Poway Health Care and toys for Toys for Tots. In addition, attorneys from the firm volunteered at the La Cuna holiday party and visited patients at Poway Health Care The ARCS Foundation, a national volunteer women’s organization, donated $212,500 in fellowships and graduate scholarships to 23 UC San Diego students studying in the natural sciences, medicine and engineering. “As the foundation celebrates its 50th anniversary, we extend our appreciation for the organization’s continued commitment to future scientific leaders,” said Chancellor Marye Anne Fox The board of Day for Change, a nonprofit started by the CFO Roundtable, raised $60,000 to benefit eight local nonprofits. Recipients included Casa de Amparo, Compass Family Center, Voices for Children and Walden Family Services. Sponsors of the CFO Roundtable’s annual holiday party and fundraiser included Barney & Barney, California Bank & Trust and RSM McGladrey Union Bank, N.A. donated $5,000 to Feeding America San Diego to help those in need during the holidays. “No one in San Diego should go hungry at any time during the year, and especially not during the holidays,” said Joseph Benoit, market president at the bank.
Please send Kudos and Giving items to contributing writer Joyce Glazer at jglazer@sdbj.com.
