Spreading Holiday Cheer: Foundation for Developmental Disabilities’ Season of Sharing
The demand for support is skyrocketing. In the past year alone, SDRC welcomed more than 4,000 new clients, adding to the thousands of families already navigating financial strain while caring for loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs). The holiday season is meant to be a time of family, joy, and togetherness. Yet for […]
The demand for support is skyrocketing. In the past year alone, SDRC welcomed more than 4,000 new clients, adding to the thousands of families already navigating financial strain while caring for loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs).
The holiday season is meant to be a time of family, joy, and togetherness. Yet for many families served by the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC), this season brings more worry than wonder. Rising costs of rent, utilities, and necessities often force heartbreaking choices; keeping the lights on or having a holiday celebration with family, leaving little room for traditions that should bring comfort and joy.
The Foundation for Developmental Disabilities (FDD) created the Season of Sharing program to change that reality. Each year, FDD raises funds to provide holiday gift cards to SDRC families in San Diego and Imperial Counties who are experiencing financial hardship. For many, these gift cards mean a holiday meal, warm clothing for a child, or the chance to exchange gifts that make the season memorable.
Meeting a Growing Need
The demand for support is skyrocketing. In the past year alone, SDRC welcomed more than 4,000 new clients, adding to the thousands of families already navigating financial strain while caring for loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs).
For these families, Season of Sharing is more than financial aid; it is a lifeline of stability and hope. One parent shared: “Because of the Foundation’s gift cards, I was able to buy my son a warm coat and a small toy. It may seem simple, but for us, it meant everything. We celebrated without worry, and he felt the magic of the holiday.”
Moments like these remind us why Season of Sharing matters: it allows families to replace stress with joy, and hardship with connection.
A Celebration with Purpose
Season of Sharing returns on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Stone Brewing in Liberty Station, where giving back meets holiday cheer. This family-friendly gathering invites the community to enjoy crafts, games, and plenty of festive fun, as well as the opportunity to connect with others who share a passion for making the holidays brighter for SDRC families.
Most importantly, proceeds from the event go directly toward purchasing holiday gift cards for local families, ensuring they can celebrate the season with dignity, warmth, and joy. Attending Season of Sharing means more than enjoying a festive afternoon; it means standing with families who too often must choose between paying bills and creating holiday memories.
How Local Businesses Can Make an Impact
Sponsorship is at the heart of Season of Sharing’s success. By sponsoring, businesses and organizations provide critical holiday relief while demonstrating their commitment to inclusion, compassion, and strengthening the I/DD community in San Diego and Imperial Counties.
To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, contact Jill Weber at [email protected].
Celebrating 40 Years of Impact
As FDD prepares to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2026, Season of Sharing serves as a powerful reminder of its enduring commitment to the I/DD community. Over the past five years, FDD has generated more than $1.9 million to fund over 100 innovative programs that enhance the quality of life for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DDs) across San Diego and Imperial Counties. Additionally, the Foundation has invested over $800,000 in affordable housing initiatives and provided more than $1.2 million in emergency assistance to SDRC families.
Guided by its vision of equitable access and opportunity, FDD continues to create lasting impact through programs like Season of Sharing—building a community where inclusion and potential thrive.
A Call to Action
This holiday season, you can help transform difficult choices into moments of joy—bringing hope to local families. Your support ensures no family is left behind during the holidays.
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.
NewBridge School is San Diego’s only school dedicated to the education of students with dyslexia and related learning profiles. For 30 years we have successfully served students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, receptive/expressive language disorders, ADHD, executive functioning and memory deficits. Students transition successfully into academically rigorous high schools and colleges across the country. Why NewBridge? Training, training, training (plus intensive individualization, and comprehensive program design). All teachers are trained and retrained biennially in Orton-Gillingham, the only approach proven to remediate dyslexia based on Science of Reading research, and complete a year-long training program. Every aspect of our program is designed around our students’ learning styles and needs. Every class is taught by a highly-trained expert, and our Speech/Language and Occupational Therapy teams embed throughout the day. Our multisensory, multi-tiered math program has been developed in conjunction with sister schools and experts across the country. Don’t wait—early intervention is magic!
The Children’s School (TCS) is an independent school in La Jolla working with students from toddler through eighth grade. Rooted in the belief that every child has unique strengths and limitless potential, TCS provides a joyful, challenging education that inspires curiosity, confidence, and a lifelong love of learning. Experienced teachers know each student well and create meaningful opportunities for academic, social, and emotional growth through personalized instruction and hands-on, interdisciplinary learning. A culture of respect, inclusion, and collaboration encourages students to ask questions, take thoughtful risks, and develop a strong sense of responsibility to one another and the world around them. At TCS, learning extends beyond the classroom through meaningful connections with the local community and natural environment. Graduates leave TCS with a strong academic foundation, a sense of purpose, and the character to thrive in high school and beyond as engaged learners, compassionate leaders, and thoughtful citizens.
Enrollment: 240
Grades: Toddler – Grade 8
Tuition: $10,800 – $34,000
Deadline: Priority Application & Tuition Assistance for new students: Feb. 1, 2027
Gender: All-inclusive
Details Progressive, independent school. No religious affiliation
Growing up, Laika Nur, MD, Scripps Clinic sports medicine specialist, loved watching beach volleyball when the Association of Volleyball Professionals tour came to her hometown of Chicago. A talented volleyball player herself, she remembers sitting in the stands all day, and once, even got a couple autographs. Years later, Dr. Nur was attending a professional event focused on women’s sports, and the discussion turned to a new professional women’s volleyball league. The general manager and coaching staff for San Diego’s team, the Mojo, happened to be in attendance, and Dr. Nur took the opportunity to ask them if they needed a team doctor. Flash forward to the Mojo’s inaugural 2024 season, when Dr. Nur officially became the team physician. Click here to read more about Dr. Nur and how she incorporates lessons she learned on the court into her practice.
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Your feet and ankles probably aren’t something you give much thought to—until something goes wrong. Orthopedic surgeons at Scripps Clinic are on the leading edge of foot and ankle reconstruction, treating patients with sports injuries, deformities, traumatic injuries and other conditions. That includes repairing torn Achilles tendons with a minimally invasive procedure that shrinks the incision site to less than a centimeter, and performing advanced ankle replacement on some patients with ankle arthritis. Read more about Scripps’ innovations in foot and ankle care here.
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Mai Vue was just 34 weeks pregnant when she delivered her baby. Her pregnancy had been complicated, and she’d had a recent second trimester pregnancy loss, which led to her receiving specialized care from Sean Daneshmand, MD, a Scripps Clinic perinatologist who oversees high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Daneshmand and his team took care of Mai during her pregnancy, through the birth of her healthy baby girl and beyond. Mai was part of a program Scripps launched to provide support to new moms in the weeks and months after delivery. The postpartum program, known as Scripps Health’s Fourth Trimester Continuum of Care, provides care for women with high-risk pregnancies to optimize their health after childbirth and reduce the risk of complications in future pregnancies. Click here to learn more.
For more nutrition, wellness, and healthy living tips, sign up for the San Diego Health newsletter here.
