Serving Seniors served its 12-millionth meal Wednesday. The nonprofit dedicated to helping the two in five San Diego seniors who struggle to afford both rent and food served the milestone meal to client and longtime volunteer Yolanda Maldonado.
“My heart is so full of joy,” she said.
The average Serving Seniors client brings in only about $950 a month. Serving Seniors helps older San Diegans live more independently by providing nutritious meals, health education, social services, affordable supportive housing, and lifelong learning opportunities. About 5,000 seniors turn to the nonprofit for support each year.
The National Foundation for Autism Research’s $5,000 grant to the San Diego Center for Children will launch a program for kids and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder called ASD Thrive. The new initiative will cater more toward kids from low-income households and will help strengthen their family support systems through education, counseling, and skills training, as opposed to focusing primarily on behavioral therapy for the child. Autism is the fastest growing developmental disability in the country. Approximately one in 59 American children will be diagnosed with autism or a closely related disorder.
Salk Institute Board of Trustees Chair Dan Lewis and his wife Martina have gifted $2 million to support the nonprofit research institute’s new Conquering Cancer Initiative. For Lewis, Salk’s cancer-fighting efforts are personal. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia in 2006. A discovery made by Salk professor and former Cancer Center Director Tony Hunter led to the creation of cancer drug Gleevec, which allows patients to manage CML, which had previously been considered a terminal illness.
“Martina and I are very grateful to be able to support the efforts of the Salk Cancer Center,” Lewis said. “Being able to even make this gift is a direct result of discoveries made at Salk, which changed my own cancer from a death sentence into a chronic-but-manageable condition. I’m living proof of what investments into Salk can mean for cancer care.”
Serving Seniors Serves Its Milestone 12-Millionth Meal
Serving Seniors’ CEO Paul Downey and County Supervisor Ron Roberts with 12-millionth meal recipient Yolanda Maldonado (center) and other clients
