Voices for Children’s 2018 Starry Starry Night gala, held at the Sahm Estate at Del Rios Ranch, grossed $1.5 million to support VFC and its volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) program. VFC will now be able to provide hundreds of San Diego children with a CASA volunteer.
Guests dined on an exquisite menu by Chef Jeffrey Strauss of Pamplemousse Grille and enjoyed libations courtesy of Snake Oil Cocktail Co. There was a live auction as well as the premiere of the short film, Dear CASA, in which a foster youth thanks his mentor for changing his life.
“The 16th annual Starry Starry Night was an unforgettable evening,” says Voices for Children President & CEO John Valencia. “We are so grateful to our Starry Starry Night co-chairs, Becca and Jason Craig, Cambra and Randy Finch, and Zoe and Eric Kleinbub, and to all the supporters who will help to make it possible for Voices for Children to provide a CASA to every child in San Diego County who needs one this year.”
L’Auberge Del Mar was the site of the 9th Annual River Valley Fest, benefiting the San Dieguito River Valley Conservancy. Approximately 200 guests contributed more than $100,000 for conservation, education, and recreation programs.
The special night featured a live auction and music—and a beautiful sunset, of course. Joan Griffin and her late husband, Monty, were presented with the “Heart of the Conservancy” award for their part in making the Coast to Crest Trail happen. REI received the “Corporate Partner of the Year” award.
Voices for Children Raises $1.5 Million for the Kids
Trish Boaz with Joan Griffin, winner of the Heart of the Conservancy award
City Heights and Little Saigon the next popular cultural destination? It’s possible, thanks to LISC (Local Initiatives Support Commission) San Diego being named Bank of America’s 2018 Neighborhood Builders award. A $200,000 gift over two years will help LISC revitalize Little Saigon, which in 2013 was designated a community cultural district by the City of San Diego. Residents represent various Asian, African and Latino cultures.
Mark Your Calendars!
Experience science and music at Salk
This season’s first Salk Science & Music Series performance will be Sunday, October 21, starring pianist Wei Luo playing Mozart, Chopin, Schubert and Prokofiev. A brief talk on the latest in Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis will follow intermission.
Also at Salk…is a free open house for all ages (October 27). The public is invited to dive into hands-on experiments, tour the campus, and screen the doc The Shot Felt ‘Round the World followed by a Q&A with Salk Professor Emeritus Walter Eckhart and Jonathan Salk. There will also be presentations on various topics (from plants to the science of architecture) by Salk faculty, and trick-or-treating for the kiddos
Bring a toy to donate
Spend your Friday with the USO! On November 9 (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.), USO San Diego will light a 35-foot tree at Seaport Village’s open-air courtyard. Bring toy donations to help surprise more than 1,000 active-duty military families served through USO San Diego, and enjoy photos with Santa, a presentation of Colors, and a performance by The All American Boys Chorus, plus free hot cocoa, candy canes. (If you can’t make the event, you can drop off gifts for kids up to 18 years old, or monetary donations, November 9 through December 18 at Seaport Village’s “Giving Tree.” Many people do not know that while USO San Diego is chartered by Congress, it does not receive any federal or state funding.)
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Voices for Children Raises $1.5 Million for the Kids
Becca and Jason Craig, Jenny Craig, Michelle Weinger, and Stuart Frederick at Starry Starry Night
