City Ballet of San Diego celebrated its 26th anniversary with a Creating Legends Gala at the Hotel del Coronado on October 13. The glamorous event, emceed by Extra host Mario Lopez, raised more than $235,000 to support the ballet’s education and outreach programs. The gala’s more than 250 guests were treated to a performance by Geoff Gonzalez and Jessie Leigh Olson to Claude Debussy’s Rêverie, and got to pose for photos with costumed dancers. The evening also included a live auction with some unique items, such as a Crown Room brunch with Lopez, a behind-the-scenes tour of the Extra set, and a beach barbecue for 30 at Hotel Del. City Ballet’s 26thanniversary season begins with Tchaikovsky Spectacular November 2-4.
City Ballet Celebrates its 26th Anniversary
A ResMed Foundation grant will help the San Diego Center for Children Academy expand its math improvement program
The ResMed Foundation, a longtime supporter of San Diego Center for Children, has pledged $10,000 to bolster the nonprofit’s accredited academy’s math improvement program. The San Diego Center for Children Academy, which serves K-12 students with behavior issues that affect their academic performance, launched its math improvement program in 2012. Last year, 40 students were able to participate, up from 25 the year before.
“Currently, our program is on target to provide more than 1,500 hours of instruction by the end of this academic year. However, we anticipate seeing an increase in the number of students served and hours provided given our ability to better assess and help students who are struggling in this subject area that is critical to academic success and beyond,” said Moisés Barón, president and CEO of the San Diego Center for Children.
Junior League of San Diego has donated a total of $20,000 to seven local organizations that support foster youth aging out of the system and students affected by domestic violence. The organizations are Break the Silence Against Domestic Violence, Just in Time for Foster Youth, Monarch School, Promises2Kids, TAY Academy, Urban Street Angels, and Voices for Children.
“The League empowers women to promote philanthropy and voluntarism in our community, and this is the perfect example of our mission in action,” said Brandi Cropper, the local Junior League chapter’s community council vice president. “We’re especially proud of this contribution to support transition-age youth because this is the largest donation in the League’s 90-year history in San Diego.”
The Monarch School, which educates students affected by homelessness, received a $5,000 grant from the Barona Band of Mission Indians to upgrade technology. The Barrio Logan-area school plans to purchase four new laptops, four graphing calculators, and a Nasco math supplies kit.
“The homeless crisis continues to grow and we often forget that this impacts children, too,” said Barona Tribal Chairman Edwin “Thorpe” Romero. “The Monarch School is doing amazing work providing these children and young adults with an education and hope for the future.”
City Ballet Celebrates its 26th Anniversary
Steven and Elizabeth Wistrich, directors of City Ballet, Hotel del Coronado Director of Membership Services and Special Events Wayne Harth, and Mario and Anna Scipione, the gala’s honorary chairs
