Big Hearts Play Big Part in Helping Raise Needed Funds for Kids

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego County held its 50th Annual Gourmet Dinner on Oct. 6 at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine. Lynn Swann, NFL Hall of Fame inductee, sports broadcaster and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America board member, was master of ceremonies. Frank Arrington chaired the event which raised $550,000. LPL Financial was the presenting sponsor. Linda Lang, chairman, CEO and president of Jack in the Box, was awarded Person of the Year by Bigs. The funds raised will help Bigs recover the shortfall from decreased government funding and will help serve children with crucial programs and services … Condoleezza Rice, former secretary of state, was the keynote speaker at “An Evening to Remember,” a benefit for Vista-based North County Solutions for Change on Oct. 8 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. The event raised more than $1 million. Mark King, CEO and president of TaylorMade-adidas Golf Co., is chair of the initiative Finding Our Way Home, whose goal is to lead 200 families and their 400 children out of homelessness within three years. TaylorMade-adidas was the presenting sponsor. Other supporters included ONEkind Foundation, Datron World Communications and DEI Children’s Charitable Foundation … The McAlister Institute raised $22,816 at its golf tournament held Oct. 7 at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. Sponsors included Procopio, Smart & Final, Alliant Insurance and Sycuan. The institute deals with issues of recovery from substance abuse, mental illness and homelessness … Barney & Barney Foundation issued grants to San Diego organizations with funds raised at its Sept. 22 event. Burn Institute, Neighborhood Healthcare, New Alternatives and San Diego Natural History Museum each received $10,000 and Voices for Children received $20,000. Grants were also issued to organizations in Orange County and the Bay Area. Sponsors and donors for the evening included Aetna, AIX/Hanover, Travelers, Chubb, MetLife and First Insurance Funding … The San Diego Armed Services YMCA and On Your Feet received four truckloads of food and essentials to help families sponsored by Feed The Children and Avon Products. The distribution is part of Feed The Children’s Americans Feeding America Caravan which helps families across the country … Schubach Aviation donated $7,632 to Helen Woodward Animal Center as part of the company’s yearlong “One Cent Per Mile” fundraising campaign to benefit homeless animals. Based on mileage to date, the company expects to exceed its $8,000 goal and donate a total of $10,000. Schubach has also given its customers the opportunity to match the company’s donation … On Oct. 15, the National Association of Professional Organizers conducted a shoe drive to benefit people in need, including victims of natural disasters. They collected 2,000 pair of shoes which were boxed and moved to a warehouse by Priority Moving in preparation for shipment to Soles4Souls … Dr. Doris Howell, founding member of San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine, received the first Kaye Woltman Legacy award at a dinner Oct. 14. The Institute for Palliative Medicine presented its inaugural “Transforming Healthcare” awards program at The Prado at Balboa Park restaurant. Howell was recognized as a role model.

Please send Kudos and Giving items to Joyce Glazer at jglazer@sdbj.com.