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Charitable SD DECEMBER 10, 2019

High-Tech Fundraising

San Diego–based companies like DonationMatch, Coin Up, and Classy are modernizing the world of philanthropy

High-Tech Fundraising
Photo: Shutterstock.com

Increasingly, nonprofit organizations are rethinking their approach to fundraising. They’re using technology to help make charitable giving easier.

“Inefficiency is my pet peeve,” says Renee Zau, cofounder and CEO of DonationMatch, a San Diego company that connects organizations seeking auction items and businesses with items to donate.

“I like to say DonationMatch is like Match.com,” explains Zau, whose platform went live in 2010 after she experienced frustrations both as a volunteer fundraiser asking for in-kind donations and a business owner who frequently donated to events. “My first priority was to automate every task that was repetitive and done by hand.”

Some of her company’s features include vetting organizations and contacts, creating gift certificates, tracking where donations went, and the ability to download donation data provided by companies for auctions.

“This has significantly reduced the amount of time and effort spent on making more targeted connections,” she says. Information only needs to be entered once to request donations from DonationMatch’s network of 350 companies. DonationMatch has helped 26,000 organizations find the donations they need.

Scot Chisholm helps connect organizations and donors in a similar way as the CEO of Classy, but he mostly targets individual donors instead of businesses. He cofounded Classy, an online fundraising platform for nonprofits, in 2011 when he and his friends saw a need to improve the way nonprofits were raising money online. In the years since, Chisholm says, the world has become increasingly mobile and connected. And for nonprofits, that means they have to work harder to engage and retain their donors—because technology has shortened people’s attention spans and changed consumer expectations. “In a 2018 consumer survey we commissioned, we found that 41 percent of total respondents said that if they can’t easily donate to a nonprofit online or via a mobile device, they will have less trust in how an organization uses donated funds,” Chisholm says.

Donor experience is key, and Classy has raised $1 billion for the 4,000 nonprofits that use the platform.

Another local success story is GoFundMe, which was launched in San Diego in 2010. The for-profit is supposedly the world’s largest fundraising platform, with $5 billion raised so far. Most of its campaigns focus on medical and memorial fundraising—things like surgeries and accidents—but also charities and educational efforts.

Still, a completely digital world is dangerous for nonprofits, says Classy’s Chisholm, and makes it harder for nonprofits to stand out. But he remains optimistic about platforms like his own to “cut through the noise,” helping nonprofits engage with their supporters at a larger scale than ever before.

The cofounder of DonationMatch has a similar take on tech’s effect on philanthropy. “I think technology simplifies and enables better access to resources, but it does not replace close relationships,” Zau says. “We provide the ability for companies and causes to make a lot of beneficial connections. Whether they engage on a per-event level, or decide to do more, is up to them.”

A fourth San Diego–based digital business, Coin Up, almost completely does away with personal interaction. Users sign up their debit or credit card and designate a charity. Then while out shopping, each purchase they make is rounded up to the nearest dollar; those extra cents go to the charity of their choice. Coin Up vets the charities, issues a tax receipt, and, the Coin Up website points out, lets the charity spend more time doing good and less time fundraising. Here, the nonprofit is mostly invisible to the donor, however, it makes giving money easy, automatic, and frequent. Coin Up is a similar model to AmazonSmile in that, when you shop on the site, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5 percent of the purchase price (on eligible products) to your designated charity.

The digital world has touched everything and charitable giving is no exception. On average, nonprofits lose about 80 percent of their new donors each year, according to Classy. Therefore, the onus is on nonprofits to be in many places and reach different kinds of donors. And platforms like DonationMatch, Classy, GoFundMe, and Coin Up are eager to help.

High-Tech Fundraising

Photo: Shutterstock.com

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Charitable SD JULY 27, 2026

Where San Diego Seniors Find Support and Community

Serving Seniors provides meals and coordinated services to more than 13,000 older adults each year, aided by a dedicated volunteer network

Where San Diego Seniors Find Support and Community
Courtesy of Serving Seniors

Seniors today face challenges that were unimaginable to previous generations, and some turn to nonprofit organizations to bridge the gap. Serving Seniors helps low-income older adults with housing assistance, social services, and more. The nonprofit provides 1.5 million meals and coordinated services to 13,265 older adults each year, the majority living on less than $1,125 per month. 

Dedicated volunteers, like Fred Davis, help make this important work possible. Since roughly 2008, Davis has spent six days a week at the Serving Seniors Gary and Mary West Senior Wellness Center serves as a liaison to help clients access much-needed resources. Here, he shares what keeps him coming back day after day. 

Courtesy of Serving Seniors

What made you want to get involved with Serving Seniors?

I have a community outreach ministry and my grandson and I were on the streets downtown handing out sack lunches, water, hygiene products, clothes and shoes, and things like that and I noticed that most of the people I met appeared to be seniors. So the next logical step for me was to find a senior group that I could work with. I heard about Serving Seniors, and I made a few phone calls. No one really responded to me, so I showed up. They opened the door for me and now they can’t get rid of me. I found a home. I’ve met some really good people over the years. And as it turned out, I’ve been here longer than most of them. I’ve been here at the West Center ever since the doors opened. And matter of fact, I was the one who gave Gary and Mary West an award for their generous donation that made it possible to open up this center.

What do your volunteer duties entail? 

I’m in ministry, but I don’t want that to be the highlight of what I do. It’s not just a passion for serving people, it’s a calling. I like the idea of giving and serving people and trying to meet their needs. So I counsel, I oversee the serving of the lunches, and I work with the head of the volunteer group. I’m involved in different activities. Matter of fact, this coming Saturday, I’m going to take a group of seniors out sailing. I also helped start the Civic Engagement Group. It was a group of us, and there are about three members that are left from when we originally started it. Now Serving Seniors is taking it over, and my role is to work with them. I also took it a little bit further and ended up joining Aging and Independent Services and sat on that advisory board for a number of years. That led to me being elected to the California Senior Legislature. So I’ve been advocating for seniors for a very long time. They’re a vulnerable group. They worked hard and don’t always get the respect that they deserve. 

Courtesy of Serving Seniors

What do you like best about volunteering at Serving Seniors? 

The people—this is my target group right here. I don’t have to walk the streets like my grandson and I did anymore; they’re right here. I’m here every day at the West Center but Sunday. 

What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced? 

The biggest challenge is not being able to help someone who really needs the help. But we try to find a way. I reach out to different organizations, faith-based organizations or other nonprofits, sometimes with success and a lot of times without success. There are quite a few people that are in need who are hardworking people, dedicated people who still want to provide for themselves and their family, and they’re just caught in that void.

Courtesy of Serving Seniors

Can you describe your favorite or most memorable experience while volunteering?

I was handing out clothes; I usually have a sock drive and I gave a homeless person a pair of socks. As they peeled their filthy socks off their feet, this person cried. You don’t know how important these little things are that we take for granted. It was really touching. 

Any advice for someone considering volunteering as a way to give back?

A lot of people use the term giving back, but I just say giving. When you say ‘giving back,’ that means you’re trying to repay something and you’re taking credit. But giving is a passion. It’s something that you do from your heart, not out of obligation. 

Sarah Sapeda

About Sarah Sapeda

Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.

Charitable SD JULY 22, 2026

SAY San Diego Has Been Helping Families for 55 Years

What began as a small youth organization now reaches more than 45,000 San Diegans annually through community programs

SAY San Diego Has Been Helping Families for 55 Years
Courtesy of SAY San Diego

For more than five decades, SAY San Diego (Social Advocates for Youth) has been helping local kids, families, and seniors navigate challenges they can’t face alone. The nonprofit serves as a beacon for local residents by offering more than 30 programs that range from youth mentorship and crisis support to increasing access to stable housing and mental health services to substance-use prevention and workforce development.

“For 55 years, SAY’s story has been shaped by listening to the community and being willing to grow with it,” says Louie Nguyen, SAY San Diego’s president and CEO. “Our mission is to partner with youth, adults, families, and communities so they can reach their full potential. That keeps us focused on the whole person, not just one immediate need. As San Diego evolves, we listen, work alongside trusted community partners, and adjust our services so they remain accessible, relevant, and rooted in opportunity, equity, and well-being.” 

SAY San Diego started as a grassroots nonprofit with one paid employee and a budget of $1,500. The organization has since evolved from humble beginnings as a youth-focused agency into a comprehensive and far-reaching social services organization. 

Several milestones mark SAY San Diego’s success, including partnering with local schools and neighborhoods to expand its child and youth development programs, family resource centers, and school-based mental health services; the creation of the San Diego Military Family Collaborative, one of the largest of its kind in the nation; and the opening of its licensed early childhood center that introduced an employer-supported childcare model. 

What underscores SAY San Diego’s programs and opens the doors for lasting change is a willingness to listen and grow in response to emerging needs, says Nguyen. 

“Lasting change comes from consistent support, strong relationships, and services that work together,” says Nguyen. “Our school-based programs have an especially broad reach, serving more than 6,500 young people across 57 school sites each day in places families already know and trust. Our mental health programs also stand out, with 72 percent of participants reporting improved emotional well-being. But the real strength of SAY is that a family can connect with early childhood care, parenting support, youth development, mental health services, or community resources as their needs change over time.” 

Much of SAY San Diego’s impact is possible thanks to partnerships with individuals and organizations across the county. Nguyen hopes to further expand that community investment through initiatives like its Play 4 SAY fundraiser, which brings together corporate partners, foundations, and other supporters. However, challenges remain in “meeting rising demand while public funding, workforce capacity, and the broader nonprofit environment remain uncertain,” he says.

As economic instability, rising housing and childcare costs, and access to mental health services continue to affect San Diegans, SAY San Diego’s role is more important than ever. The organization hopes to build on the foundation it has built over the past 55 years and continue to help kids, families, and communities thrive. 

“Today, we reach more than 45,000 San Diegans each year, but our goal is not simply to grow larger, it is to create a deeper, more lasting impact,” says Nguyen. “Our next chapter is about strengthening what works, expanding access to mental health and family support, investing in our people, and bringing partners together to build a stronger San Diego.”

Sarah Sapeda

About Sarah Sapeda

Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.

Charitable SD JULY 22, 2026

In Photos: San Diego’s Scoop Ice Cream Festival

The beloved annual festival raised a record-breaking $60,000 for Feeding San Diego

In Photos: San Diego’s Scoop Ice Cream Festival
Photos Courtesy of Scoop Ice Cream Festival

More than 6,000 ice cream lovers devoured tasty treats at this year’s Scoop Ice Cream Festival for a great cause. The event on June 28 launched an ongoing partnership with Feeding San Diego and raised $60,000, or enough to provide 120,000 meals to San Diegans facing hunger. 

See photos from the night below.

Sarah Sapeda

About Sarah Sapeda

Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.

Studio S JULY 25, 2026

These San Diego Companies Are Driving the Region’s Next Wave of Growth

This month, the 2026 San Diego Business Impact Awards recognized local businesses making an impact in clean energy, biotech, hospitality, and beyond

These San Diego Companies Are Driving the Region’s Next Wave of Growth
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Renewable energy companies building hundreds of power plants. Biotech startups using artificial intelligence to create personalized medicine for children with rare diseases. Hospitality companies quietly powering thousands of local events. Consumer brands growing from beach-town startups into national businesses. These are the kinds of companies driving San Diego’s economy today, and the businesses recognized at this year’s San Diego Business Impact Awards offer a snapshot of where the region is headed.

Hosted July 23 by San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and JPMorganChase, the second annual awards event honored four local companies for innovation, growth, and economic impact. More than 100 nominations from San Diego’s middle-market businesses were reviewed by a 10-person judging committee, with winners selected across four categories: startup, early-stage innovator, rising star, and established heavyweight.

Two-time honoree Jimbo Someck, founder of Jimbo’s organic grocery stores, also joined the event for a fireside chat on buying local, supporting emerging brands, and giving back to the community.

“San Diego’s strength comes from its makers and builders—the resilient people who endure great risks and overcome obstacles to build and scale a company,” says Aaron Ryan, San Diego Region Manager and Middle Market Banking at JPMorganChase & Co. “These awards aren’t just recognition; they spotlight the talent, grit, and innovation shaping our region’s future. By celebrating those who create and build, we foster connections and fuel the growth that keeps San Diego thriving.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Building the Infrastructure Behind Clean Energy

Heavyweight honoree SOLV Energy has grown alongside the country’s rapid investment in renewable power. “It’s an exciting time for SOLV Energy as we are experiencing significant growth,” says CEO George Hershman. “The business has doubled over the last year and has almost double-digit growth since its inception.”

The Rancho Bernardo-based company designs, builds, operates, and maintains utility-scale solar and energy storage facilities. Since its founding in 2008, SOLV Energy has built more than 500 power plants.

Growth has translated directly into hiring. About 200 employees work from the company’s local headquarters, including roughly 20 interns. “Our intern program is a big part of the way that we grow our workforce,” Hershman says. “Last year, 43 percent of our interns became full-time employees. We believe San Diego is a great community to build and grow a high-tech infrastructure and technology company because of the incredible workforce—the ability to attract top talent and draw from world-class universities.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Developing Medicine One Patient at a Time

Startup honoree La Jolla Labs is tackling one of medicine’s biggest challenges by developing personalized RNA therapeutics for patients with rare diseases—many of them children with neurological disorders like ALS. Using proprietary artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, the biotech company develops treatments tailored to each patient’s specific genetic mutation.

CEO Tamar Grossman says the recognition reflects how far the company has come despite limited resources. “We’re honored to be recognized for our ability to change and save patients’ lives and turn our lean startup into a clinical company with very minimal resources,” she says.

Grossman credits San Diego’s concentration of research institutions—including UC San Diego, the Salk Institute, and Scripps Research—with creating a pipeline of talent and collaboration. “San Diego is one of the world-leading centers for technology, genomics, and RNA therapeutics,” she says. “We have over 30 RNA therapeutics companies here, and we support each other and help with anything related to drug discovery.”

She says that collaborative spirit extends beyond formal partnerships. “You can walk around Torrey Pines, go into a café, and find colleagues from the industry and have an ad hoc conversation,” Grossman says. “That’s something very unique to San Diego.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Powering San Diego’s Special Celebrations

While Snake Oil Venue Company may not be a household name, chances are many San Diegans have attended one of its events. The early-stage innovator honoree has expanded from beverage catering and mixology consulting into venue management, operating Julep Venue in Mission Hills, Bramble Bay Venue in Imperial Beach, Vesper Venue, the Chapel at Liberty Station, and five outdoor venues throughout Liberty Station—more than 500,000 square feet of event space altogether.

“We do a lot of launch parties for corporations and new products,” says CEO Mike Esposito. “I really like working on the entrepreneur side of things, where new businesses are entering the San Diego market and looking to make a splash.”

Snake Oil has executed more than 16,000 events, employed more than 1,000 people, and partnered with more than 900 local vendors, including caterers, florists, photographers, entertainers, and other hospitality businesses. The company also works with many of San Diego’s nonprofits, museums, and cultural institutions. “We get to celebrate people’s most important moments,” Esposito says. “Whether that’s a wedding, celebration of life, or quinceañera, we’re fortunate to be involved in the community in so many different ways.”

Photo Credit: Matt Furman
Photo Credit: Matt Furman

Growing a Beach-Town Brand into a National Business

Rising star honoree ALOHA Collection is proof that a simple idea can grow into a thriving company. Founded by two roommates who wanted a better way to carry wet swimsuits after a day at the beach, the lifestyle brand has grown into a business while maintaining strong year-over-year growth.

Now headquartered in Carlsbad, ALOHA Collection employs more than 100 people and operates its California flagship store in Encinitas, which is slated for a remodel. With roots in Hawaii, the company is known for its lightweight, splash-proof travel bags that have become a familiar sight on beaches in San Diego and beyond.

“‘Aloha’ is part of our name, but it’s also how we move through the world,” says CEO Lynna Barnard. “It’s how we show up for people, the way we travel, the way we give back.” Since day one, the company has maintained a 5 percent giveback to Hawaii conservation efforts, contributing millions of dollars over the years.

“I think what’s so inspiring about ALOHA Collection, and the founders in particular, is when you dream big, those dreams can come true when you work hard and trust in the universe,” Barnard says. “It’s inspiring to be a role model for other people wanting to start businesses from humble beginnings. Start small and watch it grow.”

Together, businesses like these form a cornerstone of San Diego’s economy—not only through the jobs and revenue they generate—but through the local workers they hire, vendors they support, and investments they make in the region. Their growth doesn’t happen in isolation; it ripples outward, strengthening the broader business community and the people who call San Diego home.

Photo Credit: Matt Furman

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Charitable SD JULY 21, 2026

13 Charitable Events to Attend in August

Here’s where to celebrate, connect, give back, and make a difference this month

13 Charitable Events to Attend in August
Courtesy of Las Patronas

August 1: Curebound Cancer Challenge 

Raise money for cancer research while you work out at the Curebound Cancer Challenge. Fundraisers will cycle along the San Diego coastline, run a 10K on the UC San Diego campus, and participate in group spin, yoga, and strength classes. 

August 1: No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection
The San Diego Padres, Nick Jonas’ nonprofit Beyond Type 1, and the King of the Hill Foundation will host No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection at Gallagher Square. Padres pitchers Mason Miller, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, and Michael King, whose wife, Sheila, lives with T1D, will share their stories during a panel discussion, and on-site education and screening will be available.

August 1: No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection

The San Diego Padres, Nick Jonas’ nonprofit Beyond Type 1, and the King of the Hill Foundation will host No Curveballs: Rally for Type 1 Diabetes Early Detection at Gallagher Square. Padres pitchers Mason Miller, who lives with Type 1 diabetes, and Michael King, whose wife, Sheila, lives with T1D, will share their stories during a panel discussion, and on-site education and screening will be available.

August 1: Club Masterpiece: One Haute Havana Night

Patrons of the Prado will channel 1950s Havana at this year’s Masterpiece Gala. Club Masterpiece: One Haute Havana Night will raise money for Balboa Park cultural institutions and will include a special honor for philanthropists Joan and Irwin Jacobs. 

August 3: CaddyHack Golf Festival 

Golfers will tee off to support Boys to Men Mentoring at the CaddyHack Golf Festival. Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the charity golf tournament will include golf, music, food, and fun at Fairbanks Ranch Country Club. 

August 7: Music By Eras Fundraiser for TERI Campus of Life

Acclaimed San Diego musicians will join together to support TERI’s programs and services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The Music By Eras performance at TERI’s Bornemann Theatre will feature artists Whitney Shay, Jesse Ray Smith, Lauren Leigh, and Will Stucky. 

August 8: 80th Annual Jewel Ball 

Las Patronas will recreate the magic of Venice at its 80th annual Jewel Ball. Las Patronas has spent the entire year preparing for the event, as well as raising money to support nonprofit organizations across San Diego County. 

August 14: Shelter to Soldier Be the Light Gala

Help Shelter to Soldier train rescue dogs to be psychiatric service animals for local veterans at the 14th annual Be the Light Gala aboard the USS Midway Museum. The gala will include silent and live auctions, dinner, dessert, and appearances by canine ambassadors and veteran recipients. 

August 15: Haute with Heart Fashion Show 

St. Madeline Sophie’s Center will celebrate its “hidden diamonds” at its 48th annual Haute with Heart Fashion Show. The lively event at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront will include a pre-luncheon reception, live music, a live auction, a stunning fashion show, and surprise entertainment to benefit the nonprofit’s programs for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

August 15: Symphony at Salk’s Concert Under the Stars

The Bacon Brothers will perform with the San Diego Symphony at this year’s Concert Under the Stars. Now in its 30th year, Symphony at Salk supports research in areas such as cancer, Alzheimer’s, wellness, and agriculture. 

August 22: SummerFest Gala 2026

La Jolla Music Society supporters will enjoy an evening of exclusive performances at its SummerFest Gala 2026. The event at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego will raise money for La Jolla Music Society’s artistic, learning, and engagement programs. 

August 28: 2026 Alpha Project Golf Tournament 

Tee off to help San Diegans facing homelessness at Alpha Project’s 16th Annual Charity Golf Classic. The four-person scramble at the Rancho Bernardo Inn Golf Resort and Spa will support the Alpha Project’s housing, employment, recovery, and support services. 

August 29: Relay for Life of San Diego

Walkers will join forces to celebrate cancer survivors and remember those who lost their fight at the annual Relay for Life of San Diego. The 24-hour relay at Liberty Station NTC Park is part of a global network of similar events that raise money for the American Cancer Society. 

August 29: A Night United: Illuminating the Way

United Way of San Diego County will host its A Night United: Illuminating the Way gala at Eve, an event destination on San Diego Bay. The elegant evening will benefit UWSD’s mission to improve lives and strengthen communities across the region. 

Sarah Sapeda

About Sarah Sapeda

Sarah Sapeda is San Diego Magazine’s Custom Content Editor. In her 15 years in San Diego journalism, she has covered charitable events, health care, education, crime, current events, and more.

Guides JULY 6, 2026

6 Perfect Days in North County

We found a handful of inspiring people who live in, and truly know, these 'hoods and asked them how they’d spend their time out and about

6 Perfect Days in North County
Courtesy of Oceanside Museum of Art

Growing up in Carlsbad, I never quite understood why people vacationed there. What, so you want to check out the field where I have soccer practice? Pay my orthodontist a visit? Carlsbad just felt like a town by the beach, no better or worse than any other in the country. It took going to college out of state for me to actually understand just how rare a place like Carlsbad is.

Thanksgiving break my freshman year, my first time coming home after three months in the Midwest, my shoulders dropped. I rolled down the windows and drove to lifeguard tower 37—the hangout magnet for Carlsbad’s youths (and, in the summer, tourists)—and the smells of the ocean woke me right up like smelling salts do. I finally got it.

Carlsbad isn’t just a stopover town on your way to something better. It is the destination. Travel + Leisure named Carlsbad one of the top 50 places around the world to travel in 2026. From the whole globe, the travel magazine picked my home. Sure, we’ve got the Flower Fields and Legoland—but now it’s the smaller ships and indier dreams that are giving it street-level character.

It’s not just Carlsbad, either. People have talked about the “North County bubble” for decades—a force field that prevents its residents from traveling south of the 56. It’s often used derogatorily, and it’s a fairly accurate burn.

For decades, living up in North County meant giving up on culture, or at least culture within close proximity. But now, the main expansion of San Diego culture is happening up north. Central San Diego restaurants have started taking notice and are expanding into the area—spurred no doubt by Oceanside’s food boom and the Jeune et Jolie–Campfire–Wildland–Lilo constellation in Carlsbad. City Heights burger joint Key & Cleaver opened a new spot in Oceanside; the owners of Parc Bistro-Brasserie in Bankers Hill opened Parc Lounge in Rancho Santa Fe. Possibly the strongest market indicator is that Sam Fox—one of the most successful restaurateurs west of the Rockies—has started focusing on North County for his concepts. In 2025, he opened both The Henry in Carlsbad and Culinary Dropout in Del Mar.

For the ultimate insider guide, we found a handful of inspiring people who live and create and truly know six North County neighborhoods—San Marcos, Escondido, Oceanside, Leucadia, Rancho Santa Fe, and Vista—and asked them how they’d spend a dream day out and about in their town.

Courtesy of North City Farmers Market

San Marcos

San Marcos is in full renaissance mode. The biggest story is that the grand North City vision is starting to peek through the scaffolding. It’s essentially the North County Downtown that’s been written in the tea leaves and discussed whenever someone gets stuck in traffic at the 5/805 merge: a 200-acre, pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use face-changer that’s slated for 2,600 homes, 350,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 250 hotel rooms, and about a million square feet of offices and labs. Its most recent manifestation is 222 North City—a 12-story residential tower with over 450 residences, rooftop garden, pool cabanas, art installations, and almost 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail (Necessity Coffee, Buona Forchetta, Draft Republic, Milonga Empanadas, and a grocery store anchor on its way).

Which means Restaurant Row is no longer burdened with being the primary caregiver for the hungry or the socially inclined. Patricia Prado-Olmos has watched the city morph during her nearly three-decade tenure at CSUSM, having spent the past six years as the school’s chief community engagement officer. She also just announced her forthcoming retirement at the end of the 2026–2027 school year, so she’ll have even more time to haunt local haunts.

Meet the Local: Patricia Prado-Olmos

Those in the know call the university “Cal State StairMaster” from the Sisyphean amount of stairs on the hillside campus. So, any day at or around CSUSM should start with a homestyle carbo-load (biscuits and gravy) from Mama Kat’s.

“There’s something about this breakfast spot that immediately puts me in a good mood,” she says. Mama Kat’s is also known for its pie (strawberry-rhubarb), which is breakfast if you change your perspective.

After a few hours on campus—with a break to pet the university’s official therapy goldendoodle, Frank, who helps ease finals tremors or apprehension of on-campus stairs—Prado-Olmos will wander into North City, just steps away. She says the almond croissant and coffee at Christophe Rull Patisserie rival Parisian cafés: “It feels like the kind of place you’d stumble across in a much bigger city.”

Rull, a Michelin-trained pastry chef who’s done stints on Netflix (Bake Squad) and Food Network (Super Mega Cakes, Halloween Wars), opened his patisserie last fall. The hype hasn’t cooled off yet: Get there early because the crowds do.

Emma Veidt

About Emma Veidt

Emma Veidt is an editor at San Diego Magazine. She earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Missouri School of Journalism. She loves running, hiking, and rock climbing, but really, she mostly loves encounters with the street cats around North Park.

Partner Content JULY 31, 2026

Blood Pressure Basics

Hypertension is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease and premature death in women

Blood Pressure Basics
Courtesy of Scripps Health

It’s estimated that 44% of women in the U.S. have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, but many don’t know it. The disease often has no symptoms, and when symptoms do present, they can appear similar to many other conditions. High blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease and stroke, so it’s critical that it’s detected and treated early. And for women at risk of developing high blood pressure, prevention is key. Click here for the basics of high blood pressure and how Scripps physicians at Scripps use screenings not just as a diagnostic tool, but as part of routine preventive care.

For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.

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