Sponsored Content Provided by San Diego Foundation
Unique challenges emerged for philanthropy in 2023:
Federal pandemic relief programs for essential services like food, housing and healthcare ended, increasing demand for nonprofits.
High inflation rates continued to impact both donors and nonprofits.
Charitable giving decreased by 3.4% between 2021 and 2022, totaling $499.33 billion.
National and international donors responded to disaster relief efforts in Ukraine, Hawai’i, Israel and elsewhere.
Still, amid economic uncertainty and inflation, last fiscal year, San Diego Foundation (SDF) donors and partners granted more than $130 million to over 2,500 nonprofits, while also contributing more than $200 million to (SDF) charitable funds.
As the sobering data in the San Diego Foundation Economic Equity Report reveals, however, ongoing support is critical to address the disparities and inequalities in our region.
As we navigate these challenges together, the holiday season takes on added significance. With nearly one-third of annual giving occurring in November and December, philanthropy plays a critical role during this time of year.
In the spirit of the Season of Giving, the SDF philanthropic team shares three impactful ways to contribute and make a difference before 2023 ends.
1. Discover Local Nonprofits to Support If you lack knowledge of which nonprofit organization(s) to support, it may be hard to know where to start. The good news is, this holiday season, SDF published a new Nonprofit Year-End Giving Guide so you can discover and support nonprofits that align with your giving interests.
This guide will help you discover local organizations that may be unfamiliar but are working to address our region’s greatest needs, uplifting small, grassroots community organizations led by people of color, vetted by the SDF team, and positively impacting the lives of San Diegans.
2. Give the Gift(s) You Want Giving cash directly to a nonprofit organization, donor-advised fund (DAF), or community initiative enables you to claim a tax deduction of up to 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI) if you plan to itemize your 2023 tax deductions.
For example, direct gifts of long-term, appreciated securities, including publicly traded stock, publicly traded bonds, and mutual fund shares, offer important advantages.
The full fair market value of your gift is deductible as a charitable contribution up to 30% of your AGI each year when you itemize deductions. Also, you eliminate the capital gains tax you would incur if you sold the assets and donated the after-tax proceeds, which could increase the amount available for charity by up to 20%.
Other assets to donate include Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) from IRAs, business interests and privately-held stock, and more complex gifts like real estate. Contact the [email protected] to learn more about assets you can give this holiday season.
3. Set up a Recurring Gift Recurring gifts are a great way to go beyond making a one-time donation during the holiday season. Consider checking the box on that nonprofit donation form to make your gift recurring for 2024.
When you make a recurring gift to San Diego Foundation, you become a San Diego Sustainer. Your gift consistently supports San Diegans who need help the most for just, equitable and resilient communities in our region. Sustainers drive change across three key pillars:
To learn more about how you can increase your charitable giving this holiday season or open a donor-advised fund to maximize your impact, visit SDFoundation.org today.
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SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
Vi at La Jolla Village – Senior Living in the Heart of Everything
At Vi at La Jolla Village, residents don't have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
Today’s seniors are more connected than ever, with a renewed focus on retirement as a time of discovery and enriching experiences. The ultimate reward for a retirement well-earned is the wisdom to appreciate it all, and what better place to enjoy that unique perspective than Vi at La Jolla Village, in the heart of San Diego.
All-access pass to good living.
As a Continuing Care Retirement Community (CCRC), Vi provides access to a connected and fulfilling community while making it easy to plan for future care, should the need ever arise. With a care plan in place, residents enjoy greater financial predictability and long-term value, freeing them to focus on making the most out of retirement.
Resort-style amenities at the epicenter of a cultural hub like San Diego offer a retirement experience unlike any other. Paired with exceptional dining, spacious accommodations and dedicated staff, the best of maintenance-free living is all around. And with the introduction of Vista 360 Well-Being, Vi’s panoramic approach to wellness, there are more ways than ever for residents to access it all.
The harmony of mind, body and community.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
The key to longevity is striking the right balance in maintaining an active lifestyle with an active mind in a fulfilling community. With newly renovated community spaces and restaurants, Vista brings a variety of opportunities for residents to elevate their well-being through Vi-exclusive “Signature Experiences.”
Vista Enrich takes an evidence-based approach to brain vitality, keeping residents at the forefront of cognitive health through exergaming (exercising + gaming), nutritional plans and informative workshops. It is also home to The Brain Vitality Studio, an innovative facility dedicated to cognitive fitness that has garnered national recognition.
Vista Discover invites residents into stimulating educational experiences, from chef-led cooking demos and guided wine tastings to lectures at local universities and intimate lectures following cultural outings.
While Vista Enrich focuses on brain health and Vista Discover engages residents intellectually, Vista Explore cultivates a sense of adventure through curated travel and local excursions. But broadening one’s horizons doesn’t always require a plane ticket. One recent event brought a taste of the world right to the community: an onsite “jazz cruise” featuring live music and global cuisine served at a series of themed “ports” all within the community’s own ballroom.
“Location, location, location”
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
One of the biggest perks of life at Vi at La Jolla Village is its proximity to just about everything. With easy access to transportation and local attractions just steps away, residents can explore and engage with their community at their own pace.
“There are trolley and bus stops within a 5-minute walk that will get you to the beach, UCSD Campus, medical appointments, downtown La Jolla or San Diego, et cetera. We rarely use our car,” said resident Tom Yager.
With the best of San Diego just steps away, residents don’t just live in the city, they live within reach of everything that makes it special.
The best of all worlds.
Courtesy of Vi at La Jolla Village
At Vi at La Jolla Village, retirement isn’t a chapter to slow down; it’s an invitation to discover more. Tailored community experiences created by Vista, paired with the vibrant pulse of San Diego just outside the door, mean that residents don’t have to choose between security and adventure, connection and independence. They get all of it.
This is what an all-access pass to good living looks like: the comforts of an elevated lifestyle, a community built for growth and a city made for discovery – all in one place.
To learn more about Vi at La Jolla Village or for details on available floor plans, visit ViatLaJollaVillage.com/SDM.
It’s fall again. You’ve done the cider tasting. You’ve done the three-legged race at the rec center down the street. You’ve done the craft fairs and candle-making class but have you pedaled down a railroad track built in the 1880s in a two-person, auto-assisted Railbike with the wind blowing through your hair as you take in the sights—citrus groves dotted with bright yellow lemons, sun-drenched mountains—and stopped at a pumpkin patch (with a petting zoo!) along the way?
Enter Sunburst Railbikes in Santa Paula, the bucket-list experience your bucket didn’t even know it was missing. Until now. “It’s the perfect escape from the city, from the hustle and bustle,” said Nicholas Martinez, who, as a manager and frequent guide for the Railbikes, has taken more than 500 rides and wants to do at least 500 more. “It’s exhilarating.”
It goes like this: You meet at the quaint historic Santa Paula Depot and hop on a bike, one specially created to perch snugly on the tracks. Because of the electric assist, you get to be as lazy or overachieving as you’d like. Kids three years old and up can do it, too. The whole journey is 10 miles and takes two hours, during which you take in fresh air and listen peacefully to the hypnotic clickety-clack while snaking in and out of lush groves. In April and August, you’ll see the avocado harvest. During fall, it’s all about the lemons. “It’s just a thrill to be gliding along,” says Martinez, explaining the uniqueness of the experience. “It’s like nothing else.”
The activity is a fit for all ages, with children under three riding in a front-facing chest carrier. Adults love the feeling of freedom. Kids love railroad crossings. They often wave at the stopped car traffic as they cruise by. “It’s such a hoot!” says Martinez.
Courtesy of Sunburst Railbikes
Toward the end of the journey, there’s a stop at Prancer’s Farm, a local business which is pretty much the holy grail of October activities. You can buy local produce like avocados, strawberries and honey, but also zipline, pet animals, pick a pumpkin or fresh produce, and go on hayrides or horse rides, get lost in a corn maze, pose in a marigold field or a sunflower field, ride a barrel train or…or…or maybe all of the above.
You’ll also experience a bit of history along the way. The tracks, laid down in 1887, used to shuttle passengers between Los Angeles and San Francisco. You can envision it as you go—travelers embarking on big trips before air travel. Later, in the 1940s and ’50s, freight trains used the tracks to haul fresh citrus.
It’s still a working railroad today, but it’s also a bit of a celebrity. The very tracks used by the Railbikes have been in more than 500 television and movie productions, everything from a Dr. Pepper commercial to the feature film Seabiscuit. So yeah, riding those tracks is Hollywood adjacent, kind of like meeting a well-known prop like the sofa from Central Perk.
While driving up from San Diego and back in one day is possible, you can easily turn the occasion into a fun weekend getaway. The cute-as-heck town of Ojai is a short car ride away. Think idyllic meanderings through nature, picturesque historic downtown and top-notch food choices. Ventura, equally close, is a chock-full of craft breweries and beach walks. Book a night somewhere and indulge.
Fall has plenty of traditions. So yes, you could spend another autumn afternoon at another craft fair. You could make some soup or play pin the stem on the pumpkin, but you also might want to climb aboard a Sunburst Railbike, pedal down a 139-year-old railroad track, wave at confused motorists and make an entirely unique core memory for you and your people.
Come experience the Sunburst Railbikes for yourself during their year-round trips through the citrus groves – sunset, extended, and other themed rides available seasonally.
Though shock waves may sound like something more likely to cause pain than relieve it, physicians have been using the technology to treat musculoskeletal conditions for decades. Shockwave therapy is a non-invasive treatment used in sports medicine for a variety of tendon, muscle and ligament injuries. By delivering acoustic energy via targeted sound waves, it activates the body’s natural healing processes. Scripps officially launched its shockwave therapy program earlier this year, making it one of the first major healthcare organizations in the region to offer the innovative service. Click here to read more about shockwave therapy and the doctor who advocated to bring the treatment to Scripps.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
It’s estimated that one in four adults in the U.S. have high cholesterol. It’s a condition that’s preventable and treatable; however, it often has no symptoms, so many people are unaware they have it. That puts them at higher risk for heart attack or stroke. A recent update to national guidelines for preventive cholesterol screenings, the first since 2018, aims to change that by screening and intervening earlier, and calculating long-term risk differently. Click here to find out more.
For more nutrition, wellness and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
Atrial fibrillation (AFib) is the most common cardiac dysrhythmia, affecting more than 10 million people in the U.S. The condition, characterized by an irregular and often rapid heartbeat, raises the risk of stroke, heart failure and death. Advances in electrophysiology, a subspecialty of cardiology focused on the heart’s electrical system, are transforming how AFib and other dysrhythmias are diagnosed and treated. Scripps electrophysiologists use state-of-the-art therapies—some of which they helped develop. They were instrumental in the pre-FDA approval research for an effective new treatment, pulsed field ablation, and are on the forefront of other innovative treatments. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
A relatively new therapy called basivertebral nerve ablation (BVN) that uses radiofrequency to effectively burn the nerve pain away gave marathon runner and single dad Kenny Lopez his life back. Kenny suffered a debilitating injury in April 2024, while lifting his toddler out of his car seat. He described the pain as nothing he’d experienced before. While looking for an effective treatment option, Kenny met Scripps Clinic physiatrist and interventional pain specialist Kevin “Buzz” Barrette, MD, who recommended BVN. After some hesitation and pushing through the pain during two marathons, Kenny was ready to give it a try. He underwent the BVN procedure in October and relief was nearly instantaneous. Click here to read more about the procedure and how it helped Kenny hit the ground running.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
