GB Magazine San Diego August 2022
Discover inspiring San Diego and Baja leaders in business, philanthropy, and community in GB Magazine’s August 2022 issue.
Discover inspiring San Diego and Baja leaders in business, philanthropy, and community in GB Magazine’s August 2022 issue.
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Honorary
Chairs
BARBIE
and DAN
SPINAZZOLA
with
Officer
LANGLEY
and ACE
San Diego
Police Foundation
K9 Soirée
$5.95 US
BI-LINGUAL BI-NATIONAL MULTI-CULTURAL
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM AUGUST 2022 1
Page Tab
2 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
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AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 3
CONTENTS
6 Exhibition
Expedition Baja
8 Youth
Siblings Reconnect
10 What We Love
August 2022
Co-Publishers
12 Community
Superhero 5K
16 Benefit
Seaside Soiree
18 Gala
Moonlight Magic
22 Benefit
135th Anniversary
Celebration
26 Cooperation
San Diego Regional
Center
28 Salud
Maria San Román
29 Gala
VROOM!
32 Celebration
15 Year Anniversary
36 Defenders
Legal Aid Society
Celebrates Justice
38 Perfil
Courtney Gant
PROMISES 2 KIDS
MEMPHIS
40 Benefit
Tea Time
44 Community
Envisioning Excellence
46 Arts
Cornerstone Reception
50 SWA Community
Downtown San Diego
Partnership
52 Premiere
Top Gun
56 Education
Cal Coast Cares
Foundation
58 Concert
San Diego Blues Festival
60 Luncheon
Tales From Beyond The
Dugout
62 Benefit
Spring Soiree
66 Health
Tour De Recovery
76 Education
Knauss Center For Business
Education
78 Community
Envisioning Excellence
82 Heores
Let Them Have Freedom Dogs!
84 Health
Community Heroes
86 Science
Bryan Robinson
88 Health
Blood Donors
90 Neighbors
Father Joe’s Villages
92 Escapadita
Memphis
94 Calendar
August 2022
95 Official Program
Moonlight Masquerade
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
ESTEBAN VILLANUEVA
ESTEBAN@GBSAN.COM
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
DANITZA VILLANUEVA
DANITZA@GBSAN.COM
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
ROSARIO HEER
SANDY SPEAR, IN MEMORIAM
JOSÉ LUIS VENEGAS
EDITORIAL DESIGN
SHERDELLAH ANUNCIADO
PHOTO EDITORS
ROSARIO HEER
JOSE MARTINEZ
WEB DESIGN
JOSE MARTINEZ
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
ANGELICA GAVALDON
PAPA DOUG MANCHESTER
ALEXIS MANESS
NICHOLE NAOUM
LORI WALTON
TRANSLATIONS
CAROLINA WALLACE
CIRCULATION MANAGER
DANIELA HANI
DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER
CAMERON NICHOLS
ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT
(619) 260-8353
INFO@GBSAN.COM
DAESVI L.L.C.
7918 EL CAJON BOULEVARD
SUITE N-347
LA MESA, CALIFORNIA 91942
(619) 260-8353
WWW.GBSAN.COM
INFO@GBSAN.COM
GIVING BACK MAGAZINE IS ENVIRONMENTALLY
RESPONSIBLE. THIS MAGAZINE IS PRINTED ON 20%
RECYCLED (10% POSTCONSUMER WASTE) PAPER. ALL
INKS USED ARE SOY BASED. OUR PRINTER MEETS OR
EXCEEDS ALL FEDERAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION
RECOVERY ACT (RCRA) STANDARDS.
68 Gala
Circus Spectacular
70 Gala
A Night To Dream
72 Community
Art From The Garden
74 Outreach
United Way Of San
Diego County
ON THE COVER: BARBIE AND DAN
SPINAZZOLA WITH OFFICER LANGLEY
AND ACE
LOCATION: FAIRBANKS RANCH
PHOTOGRAPHER: ESTEBAN VILLANUEVA
4 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022 /GIVINGBACKMAGAZINE @GBMAG
@GIVINGBACKMAGAZINE
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AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 5
Exhibition
Expedition
Baja
This summer, get a glimpse
into the beautiful biodiversity
of the Baja California
Peninsula - without leaving
Balboa Park – now that the
San Diego Natural History Museum has
debuted its newest bilingual exhibition.
Expedition Baja, invites visitors to explore
the Peninsula and follow researchers
on their quest to conserve its wild
beauty. Featuring museum specimens,
immersive imagery, and stories about
binational collaboration, the exhibition
brings to life one of the most incredible
regions in the world, ours.
Jennifer Kornreich
and Christy Walton
Barbara and Heinz Hoenecke
with Carolyn and Cliff Colwell
Haley and
Hampton Dohrman
Diego Camacho, Lety
Liera and Andrea Gaume
Wendy Wilson-Gibson with
Barbara and Sharon Disney
Russ Hunt and
Carolyn Perkins
Este verano, echen un
vistazo a la hermosa
biodiversidad que posee
la península de Baja
California sin salir del
Parque Balboa a través de la nueva
exhibición bilingüe presentada
por Museo de Historia Natural de
San Diego. Expedición Baja, los
invita a explorar la península y
acompañar a los investigadores en
su lucha por conservar la belleza
de la naturaleza. Presentando
especímenes pertenecientes al
museo, imaginarios inmersivos
e historias de colaboraciones
binacionales, la exhibición revive
una de las más increíbles regiones
del mundo, la nuestra.
6 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 7
Image Courtesy of GB Magazine
Youth
Siblings Reconnect
PROMISES 2 KIDS REUNITES FAMILY MEMBERS
Eddy (11) and
his twin siblings
Eve and Erik
(15) entered
foster care in
2015 due to
severe neglect.
They have been
Padres game
living apart since
2017, so seeing
each other monthly through
Camp Connect has been
their saving grace. Each
opportunity gives them the
chance to catch up, spend
quality time together, and
create new and lasting
memories.
Promises2Kids is dedicated
to creating a brighter future
for foster children, offering
programs that ensure youth
Camp Connect youth
have the skills, opportunities,
and resources to succeed.
From the moment they enter care through adulthood,
Promises2Kids provides the necessary support system.
There are over 3,000 current and former foster youth in
San Diego County who have been removed from their
homes due to abuse and neglect. Many live apart from
their siblings. Promises2Kids’ Camp Connect reunites
brothers and sisters through monthly visits, group outings
and a summer camp.
20 youth recently
attended a
Padres baseball
game. Watching
a live game was
a first for most
of them. Siblings
were all smiles
as they enjoyed
an afternoon
of fun in the
sun, wearing
matching hats
and enjoying hot
dogs, pretzels
and more.
For Eddy, Eve
and Erik, the positive
change in their mood
was evident when they
saw each other relishing
every moment at their first
game together. As a huge
baseball and Fernando Tatis
Jr. fan, Eddy was incredibly
grateful for this experience
with his siblings.
On September 12,
Promises2Kids will host
its Dream On Concert
Gala, presented by Kevin
and Raegan Prior, at the La Jolla estate home of Joan
Waitt. Over 500 philanthropists, community and business
leaders dedicated to making a difference in the lives
of foster children will gather to enjoy an elegant dinner
followed by a private concert with a internationally
recognized recording artist.
Funds raised will benefit foster youth like Eddy, Eve, and
Erik. For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities,
please visit www.Promises2Kids.org.
8 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Dream
On CONCERT
GALA
Join Promises2Kids for an exclusive evening of
dinner and music to benefit foster youth!
HOSTED AT THE LA JOLLA ESTATE HOME OF JOAN WAITT
Private dinner, auction, and live concert with a major recording artist
2022 DREAM ON
GALA CHAIRS
Stephanie Brown
Lynne Doyle
Deborah Marengo
Merrilee Neal
Joan Waitt
HONORARY CHAIRS
Dan & Phyllis Epstein
HONORARY COMMITTEE
Renée Comeau
& Terry Gulden
HOST COMMITTEE
Cooley LLP
Ellen & Jim Moxham
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS,
TABLES AND
SPONSORSHIPS ARE
AVAILABLE NOW.
Corey@Promises2Kids.org
Promises2Kids.org
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Kevin & Raegan Prior
VOLUNTEER SPONSOR
Edward Miller
GIFT SPONSOR
INSTITUTION OF HIGHER
EDUCATION CHAMPIONS
VIP MEDIA PARTNER
HOST
Joan Waitt
BAR SPONSOR
WINE SPONSOR
OTHER SUPPORT
PROVIDED BY
RECEPTION SPONSOR
The Strauss Family
GRAND TASTING CHEF’S MENU SPONSOR
Anonymous
PHOTO BOOTH AND
CHARGING STATION HOST
TEQUILA LOUNGE
SPONSOR
MYSTERY GIFT
WALL SPONSOR
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 9
WWL
Baja Beach
Fest
For the first time,
The Reggaeton and
Latin Music Festival
is expanded to 2
separate weekends
of 3-days each! On
August 13-15 and
19-21 celebrate and
uplift Latin culture,
and the incredible
music, people, food,
and amazing
energy that comes with it. Rosarito Beach will
welcome world-renowned legends and pioneers
of Reggaeton to the newer artists who are
impressing billions of fans worldwide.
www.bajabeachfest.com
Be the Light
The 10th Anniversary Be the Light Gala,
an evening of celebration and continued
impact, features musical entertainment, small
bites and dinner, event swag bags, moving
testimonials from veteran
recipients. All proceeds from
the event will benefit Shelter to
Soldier’s programs serving military,
veterans, and homeless dogs.
www.sheltertosoldier.org
What
We Love
August 2022
Under the Stars
On August 20, the 26th
annual Symphony at Salk
is a spectacular evening
under the stars featuring
guest artist Ben Platt.
The evening is attended
by Salk supporters who
comprise San Diego’s most prominent leaders in science,
philanthropy, government, media and industry. Guests
will enjoy a gourmet dinner on the courtyard amidst Louis
Kahn’s masterwork of modern architecture.
symphony.salk.edu
Lemon Festival
There’s nothing sour about the Third
Avenue Village Association’s Lemon Festival
which transforms downtown Chula Vista into a
lemon-filled oasis. Bring the whole family for a day of
fun on Sunday, August 13 to enjoy fresh-squeezed
lemonade, lemon pie eating competitions to games,
lemonade, and cute pups in lemon outfits, this is a
free celebration you don’t want to miss.
www.thirdavenuevillage.com
Haute with Heart
Fashion Show
This year will mark the 44th year
for the St. Madeleine Sophie’s
Center’s Haute with Heart fashion
event. On August 13th, Haute
with Heart will feature a fashion
show, special up-lifting performances by their students, delicious
luncheon, live auction, silent auction, opportunity drawing, and
fabulous boutique shopping.
www.stmsc.org
Wines of Baja
Any wine connoisseur
will not want to miss
the Valle de Guadalupe
Fiestas de la Vendimia,
or Wine Harvest
Festival. Through
August 21st, you can attend an array of exclusive
parties, galas, concerts and dinners celebrating the
festival’s regional cuisine and local wine.
www.ensenada.gob.mx
10 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Join us for The Gala @ MCASD,
where guests will be the first
to see the special exhibition
Alexis Smith: The American Way.
Enjoy artist-inspired immersive
dining and entertainment
experiences throughout MCASD’s
recently expanded La Jolla
location, all while overlooking
the dramatic Pacific coastline.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 AT 5:00PM
THE AFTER PARTY
SEPT.10, 2022 AT 8:00PM
DINNER TICKETS STARTING AT $600
AFTER PARTY TICKETS STARTING AT $150
For more information, visit mcasd.org/gala
Join late-night revelers and fellow
philanthropists for a curated collection
of hosted cocktails and indulgent latenight
snacks, and experience a lineup of
live entertainment inspired by Smith.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 11
Community
Superhero 5K
The 14th Annual 2022 Superhero
5K was held at NTC Park in Liberty
Station where attendees wore
their capes and masks as reallife
superheroes. The community
support for the Superhero 5K directly impacts
the lives of over 8,000 families. The Walk raised
funds and showed support for the maternal
mental health program and home-to-hospital
transportation for Miracle Babies’ families.
Lily, Layla and
Dawn Kamali
Kylie Catilus and
Georgina Moulds
Heather Imeson and
Marianela Camarillo
Micaiah Kenney
and Sohit Gulati
Savanna and Julie
Kang with Trixie
Ava Grace and
Melissa Nichols
12 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Peter and Brooke Gresham
with Gracie and Langston
San Diego North County
Kit Carson Park | September 24, 2022
San Diego
NTC Park at Liberty Station | October 8, 2022
Imperial County
Bucklin Park | November 19, 2022
For more info, call 619.678.8322.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 13
Community
La 14° edición anual
2022 Superhero 5K tuvo
lugar en el NTC Park de
Liberty Station, donde
los participantes se
calzaron sus capas y máscaras
como verdaderos superhéroes.
El apoyo de la comunidad al
Superhero 5K, impacta de manera
directa en la vida de más de 8,000
familias. Esta caminata recauda
fondos y crea conciencia sobre
los programas de salud mental
para madres y la necesidad de
transporte de hogar a hospital para
las familias de Miracle Babies.
Jennifer and Jordyn Bisharat
with Ava and Aeron Tasende
Layla Pourhosseini, Taylor Geiserman,
Natalie Daneshmand and Lauren Mihlaik
Miss Pacific Beach USA Marielle
L’heureux and Miss San Diego
County USA Sabrina Pajarillo
Alexis Sloustcher and Scottie
with Sean Daneshmand
San Diego Blood
Bank Team
Cate, Barry and Andrea Shillito,
Mary Grace Card with Murphy
Lucy Vasquez, Marjan Daneshmand
with Sarah and Elijah Loomis
14 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 15
Benefit
SAN DIEGO’S BEST ROOFTOP PARTY!
In honor of Diabetes Research Connection’s (DRC) 10th anniversary,
this local nonprofit’s dedicated board members, volunteers, and staff
team will host their 4th annual Dance for Diabetes, “Seaside Soiree,”
in person! They invite you to join the fun on Saturday, October 22nd,
2022, at the Del Mar Plaza to experience a curated menu hosted
by Chef Jimenez of Monarch Ocean Pub, signature cocktails, live
entertainment, a silent auction, and more. Tickets are available now,
and the party will be live-streamed for those who want to join virtually.
16 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
This event raises necessary funds to support DRC’s
mission to seek out, peer-review and provide seed
funding to the most promising Type 1 Diabetes (T1D)
research by innovative, early-career scientists across the
country - giving hope to those living with the disease.
The goal is to allow every dollar the Seaside Soiree
event raises to go towards the event’s beneficiary, DRC.
Their dedicated
sponsors, Tarson
Investments, the
County of San
Diego, Tandem
Inc., Steve and
Teresa Korniczky,
DLA Piper, LLC,
Benchmark Inc.,
AMCR Insititute,
and various
underwriters help
make this happen!
Since its inception,
Sherry and Kevin
Ahern have
been generous
supporters as Blue
Circle Leaders
of DRC and are
serving as Event
Chairs for the
party this year.
Sherry shares with
GB Magazine,
“After our son
Brendan, now 32,
was diagnosed
at age 10 with
T1D, my husband
Kevin and I got involved with funding research for the
cure. David Winkler and Dr. Alberto Hayek, local leaders
working on the cure, started DRC. After many years of
funding the most innovative T1D research, we decided
a fun party would get the word out about the critical
work DRC is doing. The party helped raise awareness
and money to fund researchers. It is the most fun
party in town with the best music, silent dancing and a
spectacular view. Please come and share in the fun! We
need your support!”
There will be plenty of healthy, low-carb options provided
by Rotisserie Affair Catering, and the dessert bar will
have low sugar options provided by Jimbo’s, various
flavors of An’s Gelato, Darshan bakery’s sweet treats
and more! The low-sugar signature cocktail is proudly
provided by Tito’s vodka. There will be several stations
where attendees can enjoy other fares, such as a wine
tasting provided
by DRC’s featured
wine sponsor
Danza del Sol
Winery, chocolate
tasting by Good
Chocolate,
Casamigos Tequila
tasting, and a “ring
for champagne”
wall.
Sherry and Kevin Ahern, Chairs
of this year’s Seaside Soiree
Encore
Entertainment,
an expert team
of music and
event production
professionals,
will deliver an
unforgettable
experience for
guests. They
will lead a silent
dance party at
the night’s end
along with other
entertainment.
While overlooking
a fantastic sight
of the Del Mar
horizon and ocean
view, guests can participate in an opportunity drawing
to win a tree of gift cards to favorite local boutiques,
restaurants and other select businesses. A silent auction
will be live online a few months in advance and open to
the public to help raise funds for T1D research. Check
out more details at the event website and Save the Date
on your calendar!
www.diabetesresearchconnection.org
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 17
Gala
Moonlight
Magic
Episcopal Community
Services held a night
of creative cuisine, live
music and fun auction
items at Humphrey’s
Half Moon Inn, to raise funds to
support ECS’s transformative
programs. The “Moonlight Magic:
Under the Flower Moon” Gala
raised funds for some of the most
vulnerable communities within San
Diego County: children and families
living on low incomes, people
with mental health and substance
use disorders, and individuals
experiencing homelessness.
Christine Antoine, Steven
Jones and Nancy Maldonado
Katie and
Duy Tran
Melinda and
Oscar Gomez
18 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Abigail and
Brandon Silvia
Anne Kellett and
Teresa Merrick
Payton and
Alfie Hobbs
SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK’S
CAMPAIGN FOR LIFE
Bloodmobiles are vital resources that help
San Diego Blood Bank supply blood to those
who need it most, like Juan (pictured right), who needed multiple blood
transfusions as part of his treatment for leukemia.
In partnership with local churches, schools, and companies, San Diego
Blood Bank hosted over 1,700 mobile blood drives last year, allowing us to
collect over 40% of our blood supply through our Mobile Blood Collection
Program. Through this program, the units collected last year impacted the
lives of as many as 129,000 patients in need!
Support our Campaign for Life with a financial donation to help us replace an aging bloodmobile
that has served our community for many years. The new modern bloodmobile will travel throughout
Southern California, enabling blood donors to help save thousands of lives of those suffering from
trauma, blood disorders, cancer, and many other conditions and life-threatening diseases.
Your gift will have a lifesaving impact in our community.
For more information on ways to give or partner
with San Diego Blood Bank, please contact
Sherry Serio, Vice President of Development, at
sserio@sandiegobloodbank.org or 619-400-8188.
sandiegobloodbank.org/give
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 19
Gala
Episcopal Community
Services llevó a cabo
una noche de cocina
creativa, música en
vivo y una subasta
de divertidos artículos en
Humphrey’s Half Moon Inn con
el objeto de recaudar fondos
y apoyar a los programas
transformadores que ofrece
ECS. La gala “Moonlight Magic:
Under the Flower Moon” recaudó
fondos para algunas de las
comunidades más vulnerables
del condado de San Diego:
familias y niños que sobreviven
con bajos ingresos, personas
con problemas mentales o de
abuso de sustancias y personas
en situación de calle.
Adam Gordon, Alicia Comber,
Sandy Gibson and Pete Quinzio
Cody Hudspeth, Shannon
Lamoureux and Angel Ibarra
Katy Ottaviano-
Leslie and Ken Leslie
Bill and
Monica Powell
Christine and David Bagley
with Mary and Tim Conroy
20 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Charles and
Anne Dick
Myles and
Zoe Huck
Jahida and
Mustafa Yonus
Paul and Edith
Sanchez
Swati Sharma
and Tierney Allen
Leta and
Rick Keyes
Eliot and Sarah Honaker, Elizabeth
Fitzsimons and Tony Manolatos
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 21
Benefit
135th
Anniversary
Celebration
San Diego Center for Children
raised nearly $475,000 at the
135th Anniversary Celebration
to support of the Center, youth
and families they serve. San
Diego Center for Children is one of San
Diego’s most trusted and vital community
resources, providing therapeutic and
educational services to youth and
families struggling with mental, emotional
or behavioral health challenges. Even
during these unprecedented times, the
Center is continuing its uninterrupted
services to respond to the needs of the
children and families.
Sue and
Amanda Kalish
Don Wells, Dale Yahnke
and John Rains
Maureen and
Peter Kane
Elizabeth Rains, Julie Yahnke
and Domonique Hensler
22 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Michaela Ene, Stephanie Cone,
Emily Thurston and Teah Caine
SATURDAY
AUGUST 13, 2022
1 0 A M - 2 P M
H i l t o n S a n D i e g o B a y f r o n t
S a p p h i r e B a l l r o o m
1 P a r k B o u l e v a r d , S a n D e i g o , C A 9 2 1 0 1
Early Bird Ticket Pricing*
$150 Preferred Ticket - Table of 10 $1,350
$250 Premier Ticket - Table of 10 $2,350
Honorary Chair
Kay Krueger
Master of Ceremonies
Chuck Dukas
*Early Bird Pricing Ends July 15
Honoring
Laurie & Carlee
McGrath
Celebrity Host
Teresa Sardina, KUSI
Theatrical Fashion Show
Kristi Brooks
Marilyn Monroe C John Agostini
T h a n k Y o u T o O u r S p o n s o r s
Presenting Sponsor
Colette Gerard
E v e l y n
F a v e r o - H e a l d
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 23
Benefit
San Diego Center for Children recaudó casi
$ 475,000 durante la celebración de su
135° aniversario, festejando su dedicación
a los jóvenes y familias a las que asisten.
San Diego Center for Children es uno de los
recursos más confiables y vitales de la comunidad,
dedicado a brindar servicios educativos y terapéutico
a jóvenes y familias que padecen problemas de salud
mental, emocional o de conducta. Inclusive durante
estos momentos tan únicos, el Centro continuó con
sus servicios respondiendo a las necesidades de los
niños y las familias.
Greg Richardson, James
McElroy and Shawn Styer
Gwynn and
Brian Thomas
Elaine Rogers and
Rick Boyce
Michael Nelson and
Elizabeth Sage
Adrienne Vargas, JoAnn Jaffe
and Simona Valanciute
Carla Kata, Myron and Doreen
Schonbrun and Sundiata Kata
24 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Itzel Verduzco and
Michelle Baron
Lisa Goodman
and Maya Lowry
Diane Cox, Dan Fallon
and Allison Bechill
Jackie and Jon Greulich with
Jason and Hale Richardson
Natasha Bliss, Sam Mandler,
Mindy Mattison and Ignatius Nip
Megan and
Vince Nowicki
Reuben
Mitchell and
Todd Edwards
Vicki and
Moises Baron
Victor and Carrie
Vilaplana with Mel Katz
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 25
Cooperation
San Diego
Regional Center
OUTREACHING TO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES
James and Season
Goodpasture with Harley
Harley is a curious and vibrant four-year-old Native American girl and the oldest
daughter of James and Season Goodpasture. Season is a member of the
Susanville Indian Rancheria and James and their children Harley, Huntley, Holley
and Hudson are members of the Pala Band of Mission Indians.
Early in Harley’s life, she began exhibiting unusual behaviors around eating
and was still unable to crawl at 11 months old or chew food. Being concerned
about Harley’s inability to crawl, Harley’s pediatrician referred them to physical
therapy. It was during one of Harley’s physical therapy appointments that
Season was first referred to the regional center. After the regional center conducted its in-home
assessment, Harley qualified for the Early Start program and began receiving early intervention services
26 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
which included behavioral
therapy and occupational
therapy. At age three, Harley
graduated from the program.
She continues to qualify for
services under the Lanterman
Developmental Disabilities Act.
Season has her Master’s in
Psychology and had worked
as a Tribal Social Services
Director for nearly four years,
but it was not until she found
herself struggling to meet the
special needs of her daughter,
that she learned about regional
centers and their programs.
Season realized there were
many service access and
equity barriers that exist for
tribal families with special
needs, primarily due to a lack
of awareness and a disconnect
between many regional centers
and tribal communities.
Season contacted the
California Department of
Health and Human Services
and the Department of
Developmental Services (DDS)
to share Harley’s story and
advocate for better outreach
efforts to tribal communities.
Harley’s story was compelling
and the departments agreed
that something needed to
be done. After researching
the data on tribal families,
a new initiative called the
“Early Start Outreach to
Tribal Communities” was
introduced. The San Diego
Regional Center is now
working closely with Acorns to
Oak Trees and others on ways
to build a bridge between the
regional centers and the tribal
families that need support.
Harley
Season’s passion has always been to serve tribal
communities and through
their journey with Harley and
navigating the regional center
system, Season launched the
non-profit, Acorns to Oak Trees.
Acorns to Oak Trees helps
families successfully navigate
the system of their regional
center and school district to
ensure access to resources and
quality services.
The non-profit was recently
awarded a grant from DDS
for Harley’s Hope Project
which utilizes storytelling by
sharing Harley’s story and
those of other tribal families to
increase awareness in tribal
communities about intellectual
and developmental disabilities
and works to build relationships
between regional centers and
tribal families.
For James, his journey with
Harley has proven to be one
of the most transformative
experiences in his life and has
redefined much of his life’s
purpose and passion. His
involvement in Acorns is an
integral part of why he and
Season are able to connect
with so many tribal families.
James talks of his journey in
working with his daughter and
learning about her disability
in a way that is extraordinarily
approachable.
Harley is just one little Native,
but her story will have a
significant impact on the
lives of thousands of Native
children across California.
To learn more about Acorns to
Oak Trees, visit www.acorns2oak.com
For information about the San Diego Regional Center, visit
www.sdrc.org
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 27
Salud
Maria San
Román
BY ANGELICA GAVALDON
Maria San Roman is a Mexican-
American bilingual pop artist
known as Maria Reign who was
born in San Diego. She was
raised in Tijuana, and by the
age of five, she moved back to
California, where she has resided
ever since. Living on both sides
of the Mexico-US border has provided Maria with a life filled
with enriching experiences that continue to develop her
artistry. Here is a day in her life:
7 am Rise & Shine
Maria wakes up and gets ready
for the day. She typically goes
to the gym in the morning two
to three times a week, but
sometimes she goes in the
afternoon. Each time she goes
to the gym, she has a specific
focus, but she will always do
30 minutes of jogging on the
treadmill. For breakfast, she
has five egg whites and a
tropical fruit bowl. After that, she
watches practices playing the
drums or does vocal warm-ups.
12 pm Midday
At the age of six, she started writing lyrics and melodies.
Years later, she found her passion for wanting to share it
with the world. Maria hopes that by sharing her music,
her listeners will experience the freedom it makes her feel.
Part of her routine is attending dance classes in Tijuana.
She also sometimes works at her father’s business selling
floors and home upgrades. At other times, she will work on
writing music with her brother. Family is very important for
her and she is thankful that she is able to spend time with
them during her everyday routine.
28 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
5 pm Evening Activities
During the afternoon and evening, her activities
also vary depending on the day. Maria takes
singing classes three times a week. When
she does not have classes, she works on her
songs. She is currently working on her first
Latin urban pop album. Maria shares how it is
important to her to stay mentally and spiritual
healthy by doing what she loves. By following
her passion for music, she has been able to stay on track
and achieve her goals.
8 pm Nighttime
At night, Maria starts with a cold shower, then her skin care
routine, and ends it with reading about self-development
and writing in her journal. She even sometimes ends up
writing a song. Her routine might be stressful to meet all
the demands of her life, but she looks at stress through a
positive lens. By turning stress into a positive, it motivates
her to overcome her everyday challenges. If the situation
becomes overwhelming, she will take time to relax and
do some yoga. This allows her to properly care for and
prioritize her mental and spiritual health.
Party in thePark...
Enjoy a delicious seated dinner
with signature drinks, wine, and
entertainment under the stars in
Balboa Park with the San Diego
Automotive Museum.
The evening will feature exciting
auctions, fun surprises, and
beautiful automobiles and fast
motorcycles to enjoy.
Limited Sponsorships and VIP
tables still available.
Saturday October 8, 2022
5:30 pm
HONORING PAPA DOUG
& THE MANCHESTER FAMILY
Mark McGrath and
his SoCal rock band
Sugar Ray will
perform live!
Masters of Ceremonies
Paul Rudy and
Lauren Phinney
Live Painter & Singer
Joe Everson will wow us
with original artwork he
creates onstage while
singing the National
Anthem. Bid on his final
masterpiece during the
live auction!
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 29
Morning Anchors, KUSI TV
Page Tab
CO-CHAIRS
REENA HOROWITZ
JEANNE JONES
STEPHANIE BROWN
Jim & Eileen Bartell
Brad & Gigi Benter
Jessie Knight & Joye Blount
Peter Farrell
Bill & Susan Hoehn
Dr. Tess Mauricio & Dr. James Lee
HONORARY COMMITTEE
Dr. Perry & Judith Mansfield
Julie Cowan Novak
Kristi Pieper
Don "The Snake" & Lynn Prudhomme
Dr. Myron & Doreen Schonbrun
Dave Stall
Image Courtesy of GB Magazine
Danitza & Esteban Villanueva
Vince Heald & Clinton Walters
Bob & Pat Whalen*
Dr. Steve & Lynne Wheeler
Dr. James Veltmeyer
*of blessed memory
THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS
Michael, Hannah, and Lisa Step
Inspired
Aesthetics
Ray Brock and Judith Grobbel
Peter
Aardema
Evelyn
Favero-Heald
John and
Nataliya Miller
Brad and
Gigi Benter
The Berg
Family Trust
Robert Wong
*as of July 13, 2022
30 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
For more information contact Sharon Smith at 619-987-8020 or sharon@sdautomuseum.org
SAN DIEGO’S PREMIER TRANSPORTATION DESTINATION
As the CEO of the San Diego Automotive Museum,
I’m excited to host San Diego’s automotive enthusiasts
at our 2nd signature event, THE Party in the
Park…Vroom! on October 8th. First and foremost, I
want to thank Papa Doug Manchester and the
Manchester Family for granting us the opportunity to
honor them for their commitment to our community.
I honestly couldn’t host such a fantastic party without
the help of the Vroom! Co-Chairs: Reena Horowitz,
Jeanne Jones, and Stephanie Brown. These three are a
powerful force, and I’m thankful for their support,
friendship, and vision in transforming this event into an
extraordinary experience.
Thank you to our premier sponsors, the Manchester
Financial Group, Discount Tire, Michael Step, Hannah
Step, and Lisa Step, Dr. Perry and Judith Mansfield, Dr.
James Veltmeyer of Inspired Aesthetics and others; we
could not do this without you. I also want to thank the
Honorary Committee and especially the Vroom! Event
Committee, who works hard throughout the year to
help create a magical evening.
My favorite part of the event is celebrating the current
year’s accomplishments, and 2022 was a monumental
year for the San Diego Automotive Museum, San
Diego’s Premier Transportation Museum.
The 2,700 sqft.
Automotive Library
renovation is now entirely funded,
the Vocational Education Academy
launched six months ahead of
schedule, the expansion is breaking
ground in three years (one year
earlier than expected), and we
established our planned giving
program. The Children’s Corner will
reopen in August with hands-on
automotive education activities.
We cannot do it alone. The Manchesters, co-chairs,
sponsors, and committees understand the importance
of this event and how crucial it is to raise money for
the Museum. It helps us build a world-class destination
for community members to bring their families for an
immersive experience in the auto transportation world
while enjoying quality time together. THE Party is
essential for the stability of the Museum and the
automobile’s legacy, and I’m excited to celebrate with
our guests. Hope to see you there!
Lenny Leszczynski, CEO
San Diego Automotive Museum
THE FUTURE OF SAN DIEGO AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 31
Celebration
15 Year
Anniversary
Feeding San Diego is also celebrating
15 years this year, and in that time has
distributed more than 300 million meals
to San Diegans facing hunger. The event
started with a tour of the facilities and moved
along to a party in the warehouse with food and
amazing music- what a great band! As part of their
15-Year Anniversary, they are inviting you to join Feed
365 and make an impact all year: just $15 a month
helps feed a San Diegan every day, all year long.
Denise Wheeler and
Jordan Greenhouse
Courtney and
Delaney Macdonald
Alex Gruber and
Eric Hornsten
Jameson Burt
and Gabe Burt
Lenette, Clark and
Gabriella Howard
Shara Fisler, Kim Koch
and Jessica Walker
Michael Hotaling, Charles Theuer,
Bonne Adams and Kate Garrett
32 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
THE ART OF
FASHION 2022
Runway Fashion Show
presented by South Coast Plaza
Ralph Lauren ©2022 South Coast Plaza
FEATURING
Bally · Isabel Marant · Lafayette 148 New York
Lanvin · Max Mara · Monique Lhuillier
Oscar de la Renta · Ralph Lauren · Saks Fifth Avenue
BOUTIQUE SHOPPING
Buccellati · Camilla · Jo Malone London
Lanvin · Max Mara · Mulberry
Oscar de la Renta · Vitra Eyewear
THE INN AT RANCHO SANTA FE
Thursday, September 15
10:00am Boutiques Open
11:00am Runway Show
12:30pm Luncheon
2:00pm Boutique Shopping
@SouthCoastPlaza #SCPx55
For more information visit thecountryfriends.org
or call 858.756.1192 ext. 4
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 33
Celebration
Este año, Feeding San
Diego está celebrando
sus 15 años y la
distribución de más
de 300 millones de
comidas a las personas de San
Diego que se ven enfrentadas al
hambre. El evento comenzó con
un recorrido por las instalaciones
para luego seguir con un festejo
en el depósito donde compartieron
una increíble comida y música
tocada por una gran banda. Como
parte de del festejo de su 15°
aniversario, los están invitando a
ser parte de Feed 365 y hacer la
diferencia todo el año, con solo
$15 al mes se puede ayudar a dar
de comer a los más vulnerables de
San Diego los 365 días del año.
Alison Glader, Kevin
Coordt and Dan Shea
Jean and
David Nassif
Courtney Gant
and Dana Williams
Mark Loretta, Bob
Kamensky and Ernie Hahn
Ernie Hahn and
Hilary Loretta
Steve and Ruth Netzley, Gwendolyn
Sontheim and Anthony Romero
Mike and Diane End, Drew
Moser and Brian Hilemon
34 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 35
Defenders
Legal Aid Society
Celebrates Justice
Honorary Chairs Bill
and Dorian Sailer
Bill and Dorian Sailer are the Honorary
Gala Chairpersons for The Legal Aid
Society of San Diego’s Centennial
Gala on November 19th at the
historic US Grant Hotel. The event will
bring together 500 guests including
supporters, staff, lawyers, judges,
volunteers and friends. They will all
celebrate 100 years of promoting access to justice in
San Diego County. Dorian, an attorney and musician,
volunteers for many local charities. Bill, Senior Vice
President & Legal Counsel for Qualcomm, has served on
the The Legal Aid Society of San Diego’s (LASSD) board
for over 30 years. They are thrilled to be honorary gala
chairs for this exciting event because they share LASSD’s
passion for supporting access to justice for everyone.
LASSD improves lives by advancing justice through
effective, efficient and vigorous legal advocacy, outreach
and education. This social justice organization provides
free legal services to low-income people and families on
the margins of society, so that they can effectively address
situations impacting their rights as citizens. The LASSD
improves lives by helping its clients achieve self-sufficiency
in a challenging legal world. CEO Greg Knoll has led the
organization, the largest provider of free civil legal services
in the county, for 49 years.
36 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
The Statue of Liberty
welcomes all those
entering the United
States, its “huddled
masses yearning to
be free.” In 1876,
that sentiment was
evident when the first
Legal Aid Society
was established
in New York City.
It was a private,
charitable program,
defending the
rights of European
immigrants, unfairly
denied equality
before the law, the
right to counsel and
the right to a fair trial.
Subsequently, after
President Lyndon
Johnson’s 1964
“War on Poverty”
established the Legal
Services Program,
those rights were
pursued throughout
the United States
through legal aid
programs. By 2015,
nearly 300 such
organizations existed.
They provided a range
of legal programs
dedicated to providing
free legal assistance to
those who could not
afford to hire a lawyer.
The Legal Aid
Society of San Diego
CEO Gregory Knoll
In San Diego, LASSD
was established in 1919 as the “Office of the Public
Attorney.” It was incorporated under its current name in
1953. For over 100 years, LASSD has provided free legal
services to low-income people throughout the county.
NOVEMBER 19TH AT THE US GRANT
Its staff has grown
from one attorney
to a staff of 175,
including 75 fulltime
staff attorneys,
and 200 volunteers,
offering both a
practical and holistic
approach to helping
people achieve
justice, improving
their quality of life.
LASSD specializes
in housing issues,
consumer protection,
foreclosure
prevention, access
to healthcare,
income maintenance,
nutritional security,
disability benefits,
immigration, family
law, taxes, special
education law
and more. The
organization also
offers free legal
clinics at county
courthouses and
libraries.
Each year, LASSD
helps thousands
of individuals
and families. A
compassionate staff,
board of directors,
and volunteers
are the bridge that
connects the law
with clients’ civil and
human rights.
For more information, contact Lorena Slomanson at
(619) 913-8599.
www.lassd.org
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 37
Perfil
Courtney Gant
GIVING COMIC-CON FANS THE CHANCE TO
CELEBRATE POPULAR ART YEAR-ROUND
BY: NICHOLE NAOUM
Courtney Gant
with Spider-Man
As the world’s largest comic
exhibition, Comic-Con typically
attracts over 135,000 attendees and
brings in more than $150 million in
revenue to San Diego every summer.
Since the convention has been
consistently sold out since 2007, the
Comic-Con Museum was created
to make the Comic-Con experience accessible to a wider
audience, all year long.
Courtney Gant currently serves as the museum’s Senior
Director of Advancement and says she would not trade
her job for anything in the world. “I get to collaborate
with some of the most prominent local and global
organizations, philanthropists, foundations and non-profits
to find ways to advance the mission of the Comic-Con
Museum while using the power of the popular arts to
make a positive impact in our community” she shares
with GB Magazine. A key aspect of her role is to work
alongside those organizations and individuals to identify
and develop strategic initiatives, programs, sponsorships,
and investment opportunities that will engage the Comic-
Con audience and deliver on their mission.
Housed in the historic Federal Building in Balboa Park,
the Comic-Con Museum features a 6,000-square-foot
education center, which focuses on all areas of STEAM
(science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math),
as well as four flexible galleries on the museum’s main
level that highlight rotating exhibits, panels, art shows,
multimedia installations and experiential cinema. “Whether
students are drawing, building robots, or designing
costumes, our goal is that things will get messy here and
creativity will flourish” says Courtney.
38 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Courtney lounges in
Captain Kirk’s Chair
In addition, The Comic-Con Museum will host panels and
public programs in their theater also aiming to educate
and draw connections between the popular arts and the
real world around us. For example, the team recently
hosted a panel consisting of Star Trek writers and local
scientists from General Atomics for a discussion on the
science of nuclear fusion and how it would power the
Starship Enterprise to travel at warp speed.
According to Courtney, popular arts and culture are
truly the museum’s secret sauce. “It is our great
privilege to work every day to harness the power
of the popular arts, create an appreciation for it,
promote it, and then use it to build community,
draw connections between fantasy and reality, and
ultimately inspire future creators, storytellers, artists
and problem solvers.”
As someone who is consistently surrounded by the
teachers, students, civic leaders and government
officials who are working tirelessly to make a
difference in the community each day, Courtney sees
tremendous potential in the Comic-Con Museum
and what it can do to inspire and educate visitors.
Equipped with 25 years of experience in business
development, public policy and corporate relations,
Courtney also makes it a priority to lead by example
both at work and at home. “I believe that a strong
leader empowers those around them to achieve
their goals while offering guidance when needed
and inspiring growth and development along the way.
They articulate a vision, create a path, provide the
necessary tools and then let their team do the rest.”
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 39
Benefit
Tea Time
Co-Chairs Maria Delgado, Tamara
Lafarga-Joseph and Lynne Wheeler
hosted a Tea to benefit Vision of
Children Foundation. Proceeds will
fund critical research to find cures
for genetic vision disorders, while providing
support services for children living with
blindness or visual impairment. The guests in
attendance wore beautiful dresses to welcome
the warmer weather!
Janice Daulton, Stephanie
O’Brien and Cat Abrams
Marie Green and
Rita Hannah
Alane Hennes, Jackie Fielding,
Cheryl Pioli and Cathy Dow
Margot Wallace, Ellen
Smiley and Susan Leonard
Katie
Dunahoo and
Lynne Wheeler
Mary Ruyle and
Marilyn Dronenburg
40 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Carolyn Russo and
Sherrie Napirskie
Sarah Zeitlin and
Karen Colgan
PHOTOGRAPHED BY: ROSARIO HEER
ABOVE
&
BEYOND
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simplicity and refined sophistication; a personalized
approach to private aviation that goes above and
beyond in every detail.
+1 760-929-0307 | schubachaviation.com
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 41
Benefit
Maria Delgado, Tamara
Lafarga-Joseph y
Lynne Wheeler, fueron
las anfitrionas del
Spring Tea realizado
a beneficio de Vision of Children
Foundation. Lo recaudado por el
evento se destina a la investigación
de desórdenes genéticos de la visión
y sus posibles tratamientos como
también a ofrecer servicios a niños
que conviven con la ceguera o con la
disminución de la visión. Las invitadas
al evento homenajearon la cálida tarde
vistiendo hermosos vestidos.
Jennifer Fernandez, Anita Omidi
Ghods and Barbara Huffman
Linda Howard
and Carol Cutting
Stephanie O’Brien
and Margot Wallace
Franci Free and
Lauri Buehler
Maree Chung
and Lynda Kerr
Sherrie Napirskie
and Pam Brown
Sharon Stein, Sandra
Osborn and Judy Keys
42 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Barbara Metzler
and Susan Newell
Maria Delgado and
Clarice Hokanson
San Diego's Wildest Tasting Event
Saturday, September 17, 2022 | 6:30−10:00 p.m.
at the World-famous San Diego Zoo
Sophia Alsadek, Carrie
Woodland and Kristi Pieper
Terry Mechling, Julie
Sarno and Sharrie Woods
SAN DIEGO'S WILDEST TASTING
EVENT—ALL INCLUDED!
The party is wild; the bites and sips are delicious!
At this one-of-a-kind tasting event, Southern
California’s best food, wine, and beer are mixed
with live entertainment and dancing, all served
at the world-famous San Diego Zoo. Your good
time does good for the planet, too, when you
come out to support and save wildlife. With food,
drink, and fun included, this all-inclusive night is
not to be missed. It’s the tastiest event to help
wildlife. Join us in celebrating our passion for
nature and creating a world where all life thrives!
Eat, Drink, Party—Repeat!
Buy Tickets at zoofoodandwine.com
Rosalie Gerevas, Dee
Ammon and Sherry Ahern
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 43
Community
ENVISIONING
EXCELLENCE
SHARP HEALTHCARE’S HISTORIC CAMPAIGN LAUNCHES
The Cushman Family and Sharp HealthCare leaders break ground for the
Cushman Emergency and Trauma Center at Sharp Memorial Hospital
Sharp HealthCare continues to lead
San Diego’s health care into the future.
Recently, the Foundations of Sharp
HealthCare launched ENVISION: The
Campaign for Sharp HealthCare with
two milestone events.
On May 26, on the site where Thomas
E. Sharp broke ground in 1953 for the
Donald N. Sharp Memorial Community Hospital, Sharp
broke ground on the Cushman Emergency and Trauma
Center at Sharp Memorial Hospital. This marks the first of
several initiatives that will transform health care for the San
Diego community. The Cushman Foundation’s $4 million
gift is making the new emergency medical facility a reality.
On June 8, more than 600 philanthropists, board directors,
physicians, employees and community leaders gathered for
Envisioning Excellence at the Rady Shell at Jacobs Park to
celebrate the campaign’s launch. There, it was announced
that the campaign had already raised $88 million, onethird
of its $250 million goal, including gifts from more than
10,000 donors - and 15 gifts of $1 million or more.
ENVISION, the largest philanthropy effort in Sharp’s
history, is making possible Sharp’s $2 billion, decadelong
investment in San Diego’s health care future.
44 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Honoring the Cushman Legacy
In conjunction with the groundbreaking, Sharp celebrated
the Cushman family’s legacy of philanthropy to Sharp
HealthCare. Elliott Cushman was one of the founding
donors to the original San Diego Hospital Association
(SDHA), joining the campaign for the Donald N. Sharp
Memorial Community Hospital, which opened in 1955.
Elliott later supported Sharp in several capacities,
including
serving on the
SDHA Board
and Finance
Committee,
helping dedicate
the Sharp
Memorial north
tower in 1975,
and remaining
an advisor to
Sharp leadership
for decades.
Sharp recognized
his legacy with
the naming of
the Elliott and
Helen Cushman
Wellness
Center at
Sharp Memorial
in 2003.
Elliott’s
son, Steve
Cushman,
has followed
in his father’s
footsteps,
serving Sharp
for five decades
on numerous
boards and
Bill Littlejohn, Sharp HealthCare; Gil Cabrera, Board Chair,
Sharp HealthCare; Chris Howard, President and CEO
The future Sharp Grossmont Hospital
Neurosciences Center in La Mesa
committees, including Chair of Sharp HealthCare and
Chair of Sharp Memorial. His extraordinary career of
public service has helped Sharp become one of the most
successful health care systems in the nation.
Steve’s daughter, Lori Moore, began her dedication to
the community as a candy-striper and nurse at Sharp
Memorial. Following her father’s example, Lori volunteered
for two decades to Sharp, ultimately becoming Chair of
the Board of Sharp HealthCare. Lori has been active in
several Sharp philanthropy initiatives, including Sharp
HospiceCare, Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, Sharp Chula
Vista Medical Center and Sharp Memorial.
“It is an honor to represent four generations of support
to Sharp HealthCare,” Lori shared with GB Magazine.
“Sharp is a pillar in our community and we are proud to
be a leader in ENVISION. We encourage everyone in our
community to
come together
in whatever
capacity
resonates with
you because
Sharp treats you
like family, and
family always
comes first.”
Next for the
ENVISION
campaign is the
groundbreaking
for the Sharp
Grossmont
Hospital
Neurosciences
Center, a
new facility
dedicated
to treating
diseases of
the brain and
spine.
“We are
humbled
by the
extraordinary
support for
ENVISION
from across
the Sharp HealthCare family and community,” says Bill
Littlejohn, CEO of the Foundations of Sharp HealthCare.
“We hope others will join us as we continue our mission to
improve the health of the community with a commitment
to excellence in all that we do.”
Begin your ENVISION journey by visiting
www.sharp.com/envision.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 45
Arts
Cornerstone
Reception
Jewish Federation of San Diego County
hosted a gathering of our community’s most
generous supporters and dedicated leaders
at the newly remodeled and expanded
Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego in
La Jolla. The Jewish Federation touches more
Jewish lives than any other organization on the
planet. They care for Jews in need everywhere,
strengthen Jewish identity and community, and
connect San Diego to Israel.
Rayna Karoll Druck, Simone Abelsohn, Jack Maizel,
Amanda Lowe, Kira Finkenberg and David Bramzon
PHOTOGRAPHED BY: ROSARIO HEER
Wayne and Naomi Harris
with Lisa and Jonathan Pearl
Kira Finkenberg, Larry
Katz and Jane Fantel
Howard and
Carole Robin
Debra and
David Solomon
Brett and
Deborah Rosen
46 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Lee Posnock, Silvana Christy
and Lisa Brown Glazer
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 47
Arts
Jewish Federation del Condado de San Diego
llevó a cabo una reunión con los más generosos
donantes y dedicados líderes de nuestra
comunidad en Nuevo y remodelado Museo
de Arte Contemporáneo de San Diego en
La Jolla. La Jewish Federation llega a más vidas
judías que ninguna otra organización del planeta,
cuidando de los judíos más necesitados sea donde
se encuentren, fortaleciendo los lazos y la identidad
judía y conectando a San Diego con Israel.
George and Mary Ann Scher with
Rebecca and Lawrence Newman
Lori and
Kenneth Polin
David Belenzon and
Shelle Orlansky
Jonathan Schuster, Beth Sirull
with Susan and David Kavakoff
Larry Katz, Wayne Harris, Lawrence
Sherman and Ernest Rady
Joey and Jeff
Schindler
48 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Shoshannah
and Cedric Hart
Marie Raftery and
Bob Rubenstein
Sharon and
David Wax
Mark Cammell, Marcia
Hazan and Andrea Oster
Rich Gitlin, Gabriella and Rachel
Herman and Barbara Gitlin
Jean and Gary
Shekhter
Deborah Rosen
and Marisa Polin
Heidi Gantwerk
and Mark Wilf
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 49
SWA Community
Downtown San Diego
Partnership
At Southwest Airlines,
we are focused on
helping connect
people to what’s
most important in their lives, and often, the important
moments that happen during those connections
include a special place - somewhere that has
meaning, that brings people together, that creates a
sense of belonging and a sense of community. We put
our Heart in all that we do and for that reason we are
proud to champion and highlight The Downtown San
Diego Partnership,
which is building
the kind of live,
work, play lifestyle
others can only dream of in the heart
of San Diego. We believe community
is more than a place and every great
city has a great Downtown.
Kelly Knox
Sr. Community Outreach Manager
Southwest Airlines
The Downtown San Diego Partnership
has been in the business of
championing ‘all things Downtown’
for more than 25 years. As the
leading voice and driving force
behind advancing the economic
prosperity and cultural vitality of
San Diego’s urban center, the Downtown Partnership
uses a unique combination of membership, advocacy,
public services and community investment to help
Downtown be both strong and welcoming to all.
San Diego continues to navigate the journey of
pandemic recovery for its urban center alongside
other major cities across the country. The Downtown
Partnership has been hard at work to help ensure
that that recovery is defined by a commitment to the
neighborhoods and people that make Downtown San
Diego special and a thoughtful exploration of how to
prepare for the bright future ahead.
Over the past 12 months, the organization has helped
Downtown become greener and more resilient with the
addition of more than 100 trees to the neighborhood’s
urban canopy. It has added joy, color and whimsy to
the pedestrian experience with the completion of 11
murals. And it continued to be there for Downtown’s
50 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
urban neighborhoods through the collection of 1.8 million
pounds of trash, removal of 10,000 instances of graffiti,
and completion of 30,000 hospitality visits to serve the
Downtown Property
and Business
Improvement
District. All through
the enduring care
and commitment
provided by
the Downtown
Partnership Clean &
Safe program.
Through its
advocacy work,
the Downtown
Partnership has
been a strong
voice for
compassionate,
data-driven
solutions
to address
Downtown’s
homelessness
crisis. And its
unsheltered
services team
have been
part of positive
steps forward
by reconnecting
more than 350
people with their
support systems
and making
more than 2,500
connections
with those who are living on our streets and sidewalks. The
type of connections that build the trust needed for some to
start on the path to stability and safety.
The organization has invested in new ways to tell
Downtown’s story with the launch of the Downtown
Innovation Center and the data that will fuel it in the first
Downtown San Diego Demographics Study in more than
five years. That work confirmed that Downtown is well
positioned for the future when it comes to its talent pool,
the vibrancy of the urban lifestyle, and the amenities,
experiences and character that define its neighborhoods.
This effort also provided further insight into the
opportunities available to make Downtown even better in
the years ahead.
With the support of
community partners
like Southwest
Airlines, the
organization has also
been charting new
territory in the launch
of its first economic
development
trip, Discovering
Downtowns. The
inaugural year
brought community
leaders and those
committed to
Downtown San
Diego’s success
to Denver. There
participants
learned more
about what other
cities are doing
to make their
urban centers
successful,
where San Diego
can emulate
best practices
and creative
solutions, and
to share what
Downtown San
Diego is doing
well. They toured
Denver Union Station as an example of a central mobility
hub that helped spur development, experienced a worldclass
arts district and talked to the people who turned
an idea into living art, and heard firsthand from other
community leaders how much San Diego is looked to as
an example in other parts of the country.
The Downtown Partnership knows there is a bright
future on the horizon for our urban center. You can learn
more about the organization and how to get involved at
www.downtownsandiego.org.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 51
Premiere
Top Gun
The release of “Top Gun: Maverick”
debuted here in San Diego and the
San Diego Air and Space Museum
hosted a celebration and premiere for
navy pilots, some of which were in,
and flew in, the movie! Guests enjoyed a cocktail
reception and were the first to see the new movie
alongside the real Top Guns as they all enjoyed
the need for the speed.
Dan “Yank” Pedersen
and Jim “Slug” Kidrick
Monali Patel and
Ian Purcell
Hudson Drake and
Howard Young
Erika and Tyson
Mcdowell
Pete Pettigrew, California Tom
Cruise and Aaron Vernallis
Bob Rutherford, Cathy Wallace
with Carol and Gil Rud
52 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
RESERVA HOY EN SYCUAN.COM
HAY QUE SER MAYOR DE 21 PARA ENTRAR AL CASINO. JUEGA RESPONSABLEMENTE.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 53
Premiere
El lanzamiento de “Top
Gun: Maverick” se
realizó aquí mismo en
San Diego y el Museo
del Aire y del Espacio
de San Diego llevó adelante una
especial celebración para el estreno
en honor de los pilotos navales,
¡algunos de los cuales inclusive
volaron en la película! Los invitados
disfrutaron de una recepción con
cócteles y fueron los primeros
en ver la película junto a los
verdaderos Top Guns compartiendo
la necesidad de adrenalina de esa
verdadera velocidad.
Bill and Rick
Ludwig
Fred Galloway and
Peter De Silva
Christina Jakob
and Patrick Corr
Norm and Grace Walker
with Steve Hamerslag
Josie Holguin and
Jaslin Rubalcava
Darrell Gary, Christina Mellinger with
Jacqueline and Robert Nishnic
Judith and Perry Mansfield with
Patti and Jim Patranoff
54 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Opening doors to a new era
of local public media.
Learn more by visiting
kpbs.org/thefuture
KPBS is a public service of San Diego State University.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 55
Education
Cal Coast Cares
Foundation
TEEING OFF FOR STUDENT AND TEACHER SUCCESS
The Cal Coast Cares
Foundation, established by
California Coast Credit Union
as a separate 501(c)(3) nonprofit
in 2015, provides grants
for teachers and scholarships
for college-bound high school
seniors, including a special
program for current or former
foster youth, in San Diego and Riverside Counties.
To support this important mission, the Foundation will
host the 5th Annual Cal Coast Cares Foundation
Charity Golf Tournament on Monday, August 15,
2022, at the beautiful Fairbanks Ranch Country Club
located in Rancho Santa Fe. This is an opportunity
for the public to play on a private golf course - that
they may not otherwise have a chance to experience.
Participants will enjoy terrific views and challenging
play for golfers at every skill level. This will truly be a
special event!
The tournament will feature twosome and foursome
options as well as a variety of sponsorship
opportunities. Golfers will enjoy breakfast and lunch,
fun on-course contests, an opportunity to bid on
silent auction items, and a post-event banquet. To
further their reach, the silent auction will be available
online for those who may not be a golfer but would
like to support the cause.
56 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
“We know this year’s charity golf tournament
will be a terrific experience for a meaningful
cause. Now more than ever with rising costs
of transportation, supplies, and tuition - the
Foundation’s work is much needed. Proceeds
from this event and the silent auction will
benefit local students and teachers through
the Cal Coast Cares Foundation. We want
to do our part to positively impact the lives
of students and teachers across the region,”
Todd Lane, President and CEO of Cal Coast
Credit Union shared with GB Magazine.
Sade Burrell, a doctoral student at UCSD
who received a student scholarship from
the Cal Coast Cares Foundation shared of
its impact on her academic endeavors; “As
a person who experienced foster care and
a professional who wants to better support
foster youth, I decided to further pursue my
education. With less than 1% of foster youth
finishing school with a graduate degree, I am
honored to have been chosen as a recipient
of the Cal Coast Scholarship.”
President and CEO of Cal Coast Credit
Union Todd Lane and Rudolph Johnson
The Foundation has also directly impacted countless classrooms
through educator grants geared towards projects in STREAM (Science,
Technology, Reading, Arts and Math). Topics have included hydroponic
greenhouse projects to robotics, chemistry kits and much more.
Brittany Perro, a middle school teacher from High Tech Middle North
County received an educator grant and expressed her appreciation,
“I am absolutely honored and grateful to receive an Educator’s Grant
from Cal Coast Cares Foundation! My students and I will now be able
to engage in incredibly meaningful projects that we otherwise would
not be able to afford materials and books for. Thanks to the generosity
and support of this grant, my 8th graders will have the opportunity to
create projects that will not only inspire deeper learning but will make a
difference at our school and in our community for years to come!”
To learn more about the charity golf tournament and how you can join
or ways you can support the Cal Coast Cares Foundation, please visit
www.calcoastcu.org/community/cal-coast-cares-foundation.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 57
Concert
San Diego
Blues Festival
Billy F Gibbons
Three-time Grammy nominee Billy
F Gibbons & Friends will return
to headline the 12th annual
AimLoan.com San Diego Blues
Festival, to be held Saturday,
September 10th as a benefit
for the Jacobs & Cushman San
Diego Food Bank. Through its
first 11 years, the festival has generated more than
$1.3 million and 20 tons of food to fight hunger in San
Diego. All proceeds from the event benefit the San
Diego Food Bank’s hunger-relief programs.
Gibbons, one of the most music world’s recognizable
people and best known for his work with ZZ Top, is
making his second appearance at the festival. His band
headlined the event in 2018. Other bands scheduled
58 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
to play the
festival are
Grammynominated
Southern
Avenue, the
Phantom
Blues Band
with Special
Guest Curtis
Salgado, Lil’
Ed & the Blues
Imperials,
Eddie 9v,
Memphissippi
Sounds and
local favorites
the Taryn
Donath Duo and
Ben Powell.
The festival will
be held from 11
a.m. to 7 p.m.
at Embarcadero
Marina Park
North on the
downtown San
Diego waterfront
near Seaport
Village. Food
Bank officials
anticipate about
4,000 attendees at this year’s blues fest. General
admission tickets and VIP tickets are available on the
festival website. This year’s sponsors include AimLoan.com,
Baker Electric Home Energy, Delta Dental, Wells Fargo,
ShopCore, and the San Diego Unified Port District.
Gibbons, who continues to front ZZ Top, started
performing on his own several years ago, returning to
the blues that initially inspired him and drawing upon
other musical influences that captured his interest. In
recent years, he has released three highly acclaimed solo
albums, including his latest, Hardware.
During ZZ Top’s five-decade history, Gibbons has won
praise for his
inventive and
distinctive
guitar playing
and is widely
recognized
as one of the
finest guitarists
in the bluesrock
genre.
In addition
to ZZ Top
and his solo
recordings,
Gibbons has
played on
records with
B.B. King, Les
Paul, Queens
of the Stone
Age, Shemekia
Copeland, Kid
Rock, Alice
Cooper, Johnny
Winter and John
Mayall among
others.
The San Diego
Blues Festival
enjoys a growing
reputation for
attracting some
of the best musical artists in the genre. It has hosted
performers such as Mavis Staples, Los Lobos, Eric
Burdon & the Animals, Charlie Musselwhite, Booker T
Jones and numerous Blues Hall of Fame members since it
started in 2011.
The Food Bank is encouraging the community to attend
with family and friends for a fun-filled weekend of music
that will help the Food Bank give hunger the blues. The
Food Bank is encouraging all eventgoers to bring two
cans of food to donate.
For tickets and information visit www.SDBluesFest.org.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 59
Luncheon
Tales from
Beyond
the Dugout
Bill Perkins, Darshon
Patel and Steve Sefton
Jewish Family Service hosted their signature
luncheon with special guests Dwight “Doc”
Gooden and Darryl Strawberry, two of Major
League Baseball’s most legendary players.
Both athletes had an illustrious baseball
career that were also marked by highly public
battles with addiction. Turning those challenges
into inspiration, they now help others struggling
with addiction while spreading a message of
hope, recovery and healing. While many of
our neighbors are struggling with behavioral
health issues that have only been magnified by
the pandemic, Jewish Family Service remains
committed to serving our community every step
of the way, from Response to Recovery.
Dwight “Doc” Gooden, Kira Finkenberg, Adam
Jacobs, Mimi Lee and Darryl Strawberry
David Greenfield, Adam
Welland and Scott Levin
Amy Jacobs, Erin
Scheriff and Beth Sirull
60 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Jewish Family Services llevó a cabo
su icónico almuerzo con Dwight
“Doc” Gooden y Darryl Strawberry
como invitados especiales, dos de
las leyendas de la Mayor League
Baseball. Ambos deportistas cuentan
con una ilustre carrera en el béisbol y
también padecieron muy públicas luchas
contra las adicciones. Transformando sus
luchas en inspiradoras historias, hoy en
día ayudan a otros que padecen el flagelo
de las adicciones y a la vez, envían un
mensaje de esperanza, capacidad de
Daniel Coden and Liz
Nederlander-Coder
recuperación y sanación. Con muchos
de nuestros vecinos luchando contra
problemas de salud emocional y de
conductas que, lamentablemente la pandemia ha potenciado, la Jewish
Family Services optó por mantenerse completamente comprometida
con el servicio a la comunidad a través de su Response to Recovery.
Josh Finkenberg, Robert
Hudson and Dan Chavario
Patricia Mogul
and Karin Toranto
Marie Raftery and
Bob Rubenstein
Roger and Ben Kasendorf
with Diana Morris
Loren and
Abby Polger
Ines Irawati and
Phyllis Perlroth
THREADS
We want to be part of your outdoor experience.
(858) 274-8484
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 61
Benefit
Spring
Soiree
Walden Family Services
presented a special
event to benefit children
in foster care. For 45
years, Walden Family
Services has pioneered specialized foster
care and adoption services for children, youth,
and families through Southern California. Guests
enjoyed the intimate settings with a lovely view
of the North County Lagoons and sunset.
Hal and Debby Jacobs, Marty
Pendarvis and Dana Mahoney
Javier Metoyer, Andrea da
Rosa and Deborah Llewellyn
Christopher Weston
and Mary Jones
Joyce Glazer
and Ray Riley
Vicky and
Chris Eddy
Mary Alice Brady, Sue
Evans and Rene Hitt
62 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Terri Gainor and
Jim Buchanan
Join us in
celebrating
34 beautiful years
of charitable partnerships
with the San Diego
community.
model
We Proudly Support:
Las Patronas
Promises2Kids
Humble Design San Diego
Call: (858) 452-1981
Text: (858) 203-2944
Hablamos español
Where Dreams Become Real
Learn more about
our charitable support
and awards at ljcsc.com
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 63
Benefit
Walden Family
Services brindó
un muy especial
evento a beneficio
de los niños en
situación de guarda. Durante 45
años, Walden Family Services ha sido
pionera en la asistencia a los niños en
situación de guarda y en los servicios
de adopciones de niños y jóvenes
en el sur de California. Los invitados
al evento disfrutaron de una cálida
ambientación con increíbles vistas
a las lagunas de North County y el
atardecer como telón de fondo.
Chris Matranga and
Dawn Maywood
Kathryn Stephens
and Anya Gorban
Matt Adams, Savannah
Guy and John Peters
Joe and Renata
da Rosa
Hanna Monica and
Ricardo da Rosa
Delorine Jackson, Amy and Cory
Fairbanks with Jeanette Friedman
Teresa Stivers with Dale
and Julie Yahnke
64 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Third Annual All Girls’ OLP Hackathon 2022
Life On Mars
Saturday, September 10, 2022
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
A Hackathon is a meeting of the minds to
challenge current notions, problem solve,
create, and collaborate. OLP’s Engineering
Projects in Community Service (EPICS) club,
the hosts of the annual Hackathon, focuses
on how STEM can solve global issues.
AWARD WINNING
OLP Hackathon
This is a friendly competition and the teams
will be presenting their solutions to a panel of
judges. Teams in first, second, and third place
will receive prizes.
OUR MISSION
Founded and rooted in the Gospel values
of the Catholic church and the charism of
the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, the
Academy of Our Lady of Peace empowers
young women in an innovative learning
environment that honors the individual while
fostering community, and develops faithfilled
leaders dedicated to the “love of God
and the dear neighbor without distinction.”
NON-DIScRIMNatION StateMeNt
The Academy of Our Lady of Peace admits
students of any color, race, ethnic origin or
faith to all the rights, privileges, programs,
and activities generally accorded or made
available to students at the school. The
school does not discriminate on the basis
of color, race, ethnic origin or faith in the
administration of its educational policies,
scholarships, financial aid programs, athletic
and other school-administered programs.
Open House
Join us to discover the OLP way!
Educating women of heart, faith,
courage, and excellence since 1882
and nuturing the next generation of
women leaders and innovators.
Open to prospective students from all grades.
Save the date
Sunday, November 6 th
from 2-4pm
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 65
Health
MENTAL HEALTH SYSTEMS
Tour De Recovery
BY DR. WENDY BROUGHTON
Mental Health Systems
CEO Jim Callaghan
While the last few years have been a minefield of social challenges
in an unrelenting pandemic, the Tour de Recovery (TDR) was a
harbinger of hope! The TDR was developed with great excitement to
raise awareness and celebrate recovery as an innovative fundraising
event. In partnership with the idea curator Cork Snider, Mental
Health Systems (MHS) embarked on a multi-day 600-mile bike ride
beginning in San Jose and ending at the MHS Family Recovery
Center (FRC) in Oceanside.
The ride hosted speakers and moving stories of personal heartbreak and the road to recovery.
From family testimony shouldering the pain of watching a loved one suffer to the courage it takes
for those in the grips of addiction to finally accept help. Endurance riders CEO Jim Callaghan, Cork
Snider and Rick Burns were not alone as there was a kids Mini Tour de Recovery to help kick it off.
A beautiful, heartwarming reflection of enthusiasm and how a difference can be made at any age.
66 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
The team had a
raucous sendoff
at each stop that
carried them for
miles! They flew
through back
roads passing
gorgeous
landscape and
while conditions
were challenging,
there were many
heartfelt moments
that kept the team
pedaling. Cork
with contagious
positivity, Rick
big and stealthy,
and Jim in his
element. At
one point the
riders ran out
of paved road
in the rural hills
of Tehachapi.
Luckily, the
team and their
bikes fit in the
Sag Wagon and
as they drove
off, at least one
rider was heard
sighing loudly to
the cool A/C.
A Mojave Desert
section started
at a breezy 79 degrees and quickly rose to a sweltering
110 degrees. It was touch and go when cell service
dropped and GPS rider tracking was lost but eventually,
they were found! The team hammered out 5000 feet
of climbing in the sweltering heat and the headwinds
really put the riders to the test. They faced fatigue from
hundreds of miles behind them although you would never
know it by their easy laughter, expressed gratitude and
enduring commitment to the cause.
The final stretch to Oceanside, the place where it all
began, the inspiration that sparked the idea for the Tour
de Recovery evoked such emotion as the culmination of
Cork Snider and Rick Burns receiving
plaques from Jim Callaghan
The Tour De Recovery
Endurance Ride Team
this 10-day
epic journey
reached its final
destination.
As the riders
approached
the finish line,
the throngs
of people
broke into
a deafening
chorus of
cheers that not
only welcomed
the riders
home, but
enveloped
them in
undeniable
outpouring
of love and
appreciation.
CEO Jim
Callaghan
shared how
special FRC
is, and his
privilege
and honor
to proudly
stand with
his fellow
riders Cork
Snider and
Rick Burns
recognizing
the strength and fortitude it takes to embark on the road
to recovery. He acknowledged how they struggled on their
cycling journey to get to this final stage over many miles,
long hot days and hills that seemed to go on forever, but
that was nothing compared to what those in recovery
must face.
As the Tour de Recovery came to an end there were
promises to stay in touch with newfound friends. In the
bittersweet conclusion the riders expressed profound
gratitude for all the support and encouragement along
the way and their unshakable resolve for next year’s Tour
de Recovery!
www.turnbhs.org
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 67
Gala
THE NEW CHILDREN’S MUSEUM GALA
WILL BE THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH
New Children’s Museum Gala
The New Children’s Museum will host its annual fundraising gala on Saturday,
November 5, 2022. The downtown museum has earned a reputation for engaging
and interactive galas, and Circus Spectacular is shaping up to be their most
creative yet. This year’s event is chaired by community philanthropists and longtime
museum supporters Dr. Laurie Mitchell, Jennifer Luce and Dr. Ellen Moxham.
Along with the volunteer gala committee, the Chairs hope to raise funds to support
a wide range of programs that provide access to the Museum at little to no cost.
68 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
“The New
Children’s
Museum is a
vitally important
institution in
San Diego,
introducing our
community to
the power of art
in engaging and
approachable
ways,” shared
Dr. Laurie
Mitchell, Co-
Chair and one
of the Museum’s
founding Board
Members. “We
are raising
funds to enable
children and
families from all
over San Diego
to access our
educational
and creative
programming,
regardless
of their life
circumstances.”
Each year
the Museum
transforms its
Gala Chairs Laurie Mitchell,
Ellen Moxham and Jennifer Luce
multi-level contemporary building into a vibrant, club-like
atmosphere, while showcasing their immersive art and
playscapes. Gala guests will have free rein inside the
50,000-square-foot Museum and be encouraged to play
in the installations, including sliding down the 40-foot slide
of El Más Allá (Panca), climbing up into the room-sized
crocheted Whammock! (Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam) and
engaging in a magical theater experience in Teatro Piñata
(David Reynoso).
To build on the “greatest show on earth” theme, Island
Avenue in front of the Museum will serve as the colorful
and experience exclusive performances.
“big top” with
a fair-inspired
midway
complete
with Ferris
wheel, food,
cocktails,
engaging
games and
booths.
Guests will be
dazzled and
delighted by
performances
both inside
and outside
the Museum,
including feats
of strength
and fortune
tellers. There
will be a
pre-event
reception
for the Gala
Honorary
Committee
and VIP ticket
holders,
including the
opportunity to
be among the
first to ride the
Ferris wheel
“Playful costumes have long been a hallmark of The
New Children’s Museum galas and part of what makes
our events so much fun,” added Dr. Laurie Mitchell.
“While dressing up is always optional, we anticipate
our guests will express their creativity with circus and
carnival-inspired attire.”
Forgoing a live or silent auction, the Museum will have
multiple opportunities for gala guests to “fund a need” via
an art show, games and onsite donations.
www.thinkplaycreate.org/circus-spectacular
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 69
Gala
A Night
to Dream
San Diego Opera’s A Night To Dream
celebrated opera, art and San Diego
Opera’s education programs in the
community. Chaired by Rebecca
and Mitch Mitchell, the evening
celebrated the leadership and contributions to
San Diego Opera and the greater San Diego
community by Kevin and Sherry Ahern. The
elegant and festive affair was inspired by the
colors of the new opera, El Último Sueño
De Frida y Diego, which will receive its world
premiere in October of this year.
Martha and Edward Dennis with
Susan and Richard Ulevitch
Kevin, Brianna
and Sherry Ahern
Nancy Laturno, Richard
Whitney and Joann Clark
70 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Michelle Parker and
Michelle Conway
Robert Kaplan
and Marina Baroff
Carol Lazier and
James Merritt
Bernadette
Belleci and
Wallace Brithinee
La gala A Night to
Dream de la Ópera
de San Diego, es
un homenaje a la
ópera, el arte y
los programas educativos
que brinda la Ópera de San
Diego. Con Rebecca y Mitch
Mitchell como anfitriones, la
velada celebra el liderazgo y
las contribuciones de Kevin
y Sherry Ahern a la Opera
de San Diego y a la gran
comunidad de San Diego.
Este elegante y festivo
encuentro se inspiró en los
colores de la nueva opera, El
último sueño de Frida y Diego,
a estrenarse mundialmente en
octubre de este año.
Steve Gildred, Rachel
Fuerst and Brendan Ahern
Gloria and Joe Sherman
with Evelyn Lamden
Mitch and
Rebecca Mitchell
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 71
Community
Art from
the Garden
The Secret Garden Tour extends a rare
invitation to the public to stroll behind
the gates of some of La Jolla’s loveliest
secluded gardens, often concealed
from view by mature trees, vines or
foliage. The La Jolla Secret Garden Tour was
created to benefit the La Jolla Historical Society &
Library and is looked forward to every year.
Pamela Nathan, Candi Martinez, Sharon
Hinckley, Liz Klapmeier and Robin Rivera
PHOTOGRAPHED BY: ROSARIO HEER
Lee Leibenson and
Pamela Nathan
Michelle Gonzalez, Barbara
Doren and Leah Higgins
Laura Garvez, Luca,
Beth Longley and Eric
Penny and
Skip Cox
Christine and
David Chenoweth
The Secret Garden Tour
hizo una excepción e
invitó al público a pasear
por alguno de los jardines
privados más lindos
de La Jolla, muchos de los cuales
se encuentran alejados de la vista
del público protegidos por añosos
árboles, enredaderas o cercos vivos.
La Jolla Secret Garden Tour fue
creada para colaborar con La Jolla
Historical Society & Library y es un
evento muy esperado cada año.
72 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Linda and
Phillip Dowley
TICKETS ON SALE NOW!
YOU'RE INVITED
SATURDAY,
SEPTEMBER 10, 2022
4–8 PM
Benefiting San Diego Botanic Garden
Estel Binder, Kathryn
Stephens and Chris Andrews
Join us on September 10th for an intimate evening of
botanical beauty, fabulous food, and bubbly beverages
as we gather to support our Garden’s growing science,
conservation, and education programs.
For more information go to:
sdbgarden.org/GardenParty.htm
Sharilyn Gallison, Elaine
Marlow and Carol Mosley
PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS TODAY!
Visit sdbgarden.org/GardenParty.htm
or call us at (760) 436-3036.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 73
Outreach
United Way Of
San Diego County
‘BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE’ PREPARES LOCAL STUDENTS
AND FAMILIES FOR THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR
Over the last two years, communities across San Diego County
have faced increasing hardships. The COVID-19 pandemic placed
an unprecedented burden on many families already experiencing
financial instability. The challenges that come with living in a postpandemic
world continue to affect those in need.
As inflation takes center stage, gas and grocery prices continue
to rise, making it difficult for families everywhere to make ends
meet, especially for those still facing challenges brought on by
the pandemic. To help those most vulnerable to these inequities, United Way of San Diego
County (UWSD) is collecting new school supplies, including pens, pencils, erasers, books,
notebooks, backpacks, and much more. Essential tools like these will allow students to start
the school year off on the right track and help ensure they will not fall even further behind.
74 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
According to a
recent study,
the impact of
the pandemic
on students in
grades K-12
was significant,
leaving students
on average five
months behind
in math and four
months behind
in reading by the
end of the 2020-
2021 academic
year. Additionally,
“summer slide”
can cause a
loss of learning,
especially for
students in
low-income
communities. It is
more important
than ever that
students begin
their academic
year prepared
and confident to
help guarantee
success.
For over 100
years, UWSD
has aligned
with partners to
Alicia Quinn Kitagawa
and Nancy L. Sasaki
address inequities in the region and help underserved
communities. The nonprofit’s specialty lies in identifying
sustainable, long-term goals and achieving them
through leveraging data and partners’ expertise to
better understand root causes and implement impactful
solutions.
“Inflation is at an all-time high and, on top of that, families
in our community are still trying to recover from the
effects of the pandemic, including loss of wages, adverse
housing conditions, and many more challenges,” United
Way of San Diego County President and CEO, Nancy L.
Sasaki shares with GB Magazine. “If we can provide a
little relief to these families through new supplies, not only
will we be giving
their students an
equal start to the
school year, but
also bridging the
disparity gap in
our region. We
are grateful for
the support of
our corporate
sponsors, Blue
Shield California
Promise Health
Plan, Higgs
Fletcher & Mack,
and Navy Federal
Credit Union, as
well as individual
community
members
who have
contributed.”
UNITED WE
CAN! Let’s help
students in need
better prepare
for a successful
school year.
In turn, we will
reduce inequities
in education
throughout San
Diego County.
With this goal in
mind, UWSD is
hosting its annual “Back to School Drive” through August
15 to gather new supplies to support local students and
families in need as they head back to school this fall. We
encourage you to take part in the positive transformation
of students’ lives by donating new school supplies
through its online gift registry or by making a monetary
donation directly to the nonprofit to support its ongoing
efforts to ensure that students have the tools and stability
they need at home to succeed in school.
All school supplies will be delivered and distributed to
local students. For more ways to get involved, visit
www.uwsd.org/school.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 75
Education
Knauss Center for
Business Education
WHERE BUSINESS MEETS PURPOSE
What does the future of
business education look
like? Look no further
than the campus of
the University of San
Diego (USD), where the
brand new, state-of-theart
Knauss Center for
Business Education opens its doors this month.
Every space within the 120,000-square-foot facility
is intentionally designed to foster collaboration and
innovation at USD’s Knauss School of Business. It
features more than 20 active-learning classrooms, two
advanced data analytics labs, a maker space for nurturing
entrepreneurs, a media production studio and much more.
“The Knauss Center for Business Education will first
benefit our students, who will receive an outstanding
education infused with a higher purpose of innovating
business for the good of society,” Tim Keane, Ph.D.,
76 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Dean of the Knauss School of Business shares with GB
Magazine. “It will also serve as a true connection point
for the collaborative work we do with the San Diego
community.”
Every semester, San Diego businesses of all sizes
partner with USD on wide-ranging projects that impact
the San Diego regional economy, while giving students
hands-on learning opportunities. At The Brink Small
Business Development Center, for example, faculty and
graduate students mentor hundreds of San Diego’s
small businesses. And companies who work with the
Ahlers Center for International Business receive cost-free
consulting to expand into global markets.
Collaboration fostered at the Knauss Center for Business
Education will undoubtedly send ripples into San Diego
and beyond, ensuring that the Knauss School of Business
delivers on its promise - to educate new waves of ethical
business leaders for generations to come.
To learn more, visit www.sandiego.edu/knauss.
¿A
qué
este mismo mes
abre sus puertas.
Cada espacio,
dentro de los
120,000 pies
cuadrados de
instalaciones, fue
cuidadosamente
diseñado para
promover la
cooperación e
innovación dentro
del Knauss School
of Business de la
USD, que cuenta
con más de 20
aulas activas
de aprendizaje,
dos avanzados
laboratorios
de análisis de
datos, un espacio
donde construir y
propiciar ideas de
emprendedores,
estudio de
producción de
medios y mucho
más.
se parece el futuro de
la educación en negocios?
No hace falta ir más allá del
campus de la Universidad
de San Diego (USD) para
encontrar el nuevo e
innovador Knauss Center
for Business Education que,
“En primer lugar,
El Knauss Center
for Business
Education beneficia a nuestros estudiantes, quienes
recibirán una destacada educación con el propósito de
lograr negocios innovadores para el bien de la sociedad”
le comenta a la revista GB el Dr. Tim Keane, decano
del Knauss School of Business. “y también va a cumplir
la función de conector de trabajos colaborativos que
hacemos con la comunidad de San Diego”
Cada semestre, empresas de distintas envergaduras de
San Diego, se asocian con USD para trabajar en diversos
proyectos que impactan en la economía regional de San
Diego y al mismo tiempo se les brinda a los estudiantes
la oportunidad
de aprendizajes
activos. Por
ejemplo, en
The Brink
Small Business
Development
Center, docentes
y estudiantes
de grado son
mentores de
cientos de
pequeñas
empresas de
San Diego,
como también
empresas que
trabajan con el
Ahlers Center
for International
Business,
acceden a
consultas
gratuitas sobre
las posibilidades
de expandirse al
mercado global.
Las
cooperaciones
promovidas por
el Knauss Center
for Business
Education
seguramente tendrán su influencia, tanto en San Diego
como más allá, asegurando que el Knauss Center of
Business cumpla con su compromiso, el de educar en
negocios éticos a las nuevas generaciones de líderes.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 77
Community
Envisioning
Excellence
The Foundations of Sharp Healthcare
presented an evening of celebration
and philanthropy. Supporters and Board
Members enjoyed a special performance
by Mainly Mozart All-Star Orchestra as the
evening highlighted the vision of healthcare of tomorrow
and the goals of ENVISION, the visionary campaign for
Sharp Healthcare that will raise $250 million to provide
San Diegans with ever-greater levels of quality care.
Christina and Sergio Flores with
Judith and Perry Mansfield
The Cushman
Family
Sheri and Dave Barker
with Linda Spuck
Kenneth and
Susan Johnson
Nancy Laturna and Patricia
Alvarez de los Cobos
Andrew and
Jillian Kratky
Judi and Dick
Freeman
78 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Joel Tubao, Helga Leonhardt
and Pablo Velez
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 79
Community
Las fundaciones del Sharp
Healthcare ofrecieron una
velada de festejos y filantropía
donde se pudo disfrutar de una
presentación especial a cargo
de la orquesta Mainly Mozart All-Star. El
evento hizo hincapié en la importancia de
la atención en salud con miras al futuro
y los objetivos de ENVISION, visionaria
campaña para el Sharp Healthcare que
recaudará $ 250 millones para ofrecerles
a las personas de San Diego, mayores
niveles de calidad en salud.
Bill Littlejohn, Gil Cabrera
and Chris Howard
Dee Ammon, Joyce Glazer, Mary
Alice Brady and Rene Hitt
Alison Fleury and
Mitch Mitchell
Joseph Leonard, Marilyn
Brown and Kenneth Roth
Liz Bialecki and
Shirin Sabbah
Beverly Codallos
and Beth Morgante
Tracy and
Ken Justo
80 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Katie McBride- Muzquiz
and Jo Ann Kilty
Lyn, Philip and Elizabeth Gildred
with Stephen Macvean
Kristy and Steve Gregg
with Maggie Watkins
Kem Graham and
Denny Sanford
Samira and
John Jahan
Ava, Lisa, Ben and
Aaron Arnold
Sabrina Lopez and
Linda Gasparini
Connie and
Phil Conard
Stephen and
Claire Craig
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 81
Heroes
Let Them Have
Freedom Dogs!
Freedom Dogs,
the San Diegobased
non-profit
organization
dedicated to
training service
dogs for wounded
military heroes, is
expanding its reach.
The organization
has been providing
service dogs and
their trainers to U.S.
Marines based at
Camp Pendleton
since 2009. As
word spreads of the
effectiveness of these
dogs in providing
wounded warriors
with the physical and
emotional support
needed to transition
back into civilian life,
demand is pouring in
from all branches of
the military. “These
requests have been coming in for a long time,” Board
Member Lori Walton shared with GB Magazine. Now,
Freedom Dogs is stepping up to meet that demand!
Freedom Dogs was
founded by former
critical care nurse
Beth Russell after
she witnessed firsthand
the effects
of Post-Traumatic
Stress Disorder
(PTSD) suffered by
U.S. military heroes,
and realized that,
along with the dogs,
she could help. For
veterans suffering
from this terrifying
and debilitating
psychological
disorder - which
includes a staggering
83% of military who
have served post
9/11 - a loud noise or
a sudden movement
can be traumatizing,
sending them into
a trigger response
and making even
something as simple
as grocery shopping,
or leaving the house,
seem impossible.
Mostly Labrador
Our Heroes
Retrievers, chosen
for their mellow
temperaments and
loving nature, the dogs undergo two years of training
where, among other things, they learn to recognize these
trigger responses and how to guide their person back into
82 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
been in are for a set amount of time,” says
Russell. “When the time is up, they are left
to fend for themselves.” Freedom Dogs, by
contrast, understands the long-term effects of
PTSD, and thus, the long-term needs of these
heroes. “They have never been in a program that
invests in them the way Freedom Dogs does,”
Russell says, recounting a recent interaction with
a vet. “He asked me if he was almost out of time
in our program. I reassured him, ‘Freedom Dogs
are forever.’”
With an expanded market and a lifelong
commitment, there is only one thing needed: more
trained dogs. Freedom Dogs does not receive any
government assistance, so they are dependent
on the generosity of donors to fulfill their mission.
The formula is simple: The more funding, the more
training, the more dogs available to heroes in need.
And the more lives will be changed.
To donate, become a trainer, or get involved in Freedom
Dogs, please visit www.freedomdogs.org.
Beth Russell
the present moment. What’s more, the
signature blend of loyalty, comfort and
love that the dogs offer, is a proven
remedy, recognized by the American
Psychological Association to speed the
recovery of those suffering from PTSD.
“There is a look of hope, and even a
smile, on their faces as they work with
these dogs. They are willing to give life a
chance again,” shared Russell.
What makes Freedom Dogs different from
other veteran assistance programs is the
length of the organization’s commitment.
“Many of the programs these vets have
Freedom Dog
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 83
Health
Community
Heroes
San Ysidro Health and
the Alpine Chamber
of Commerce hosted
a Community Heroes
Reception at the San
Ysidro Health Alpine Family
Medicine. The community
stakeholder event celebrated
several community leaders from
rural East County. San Ysidro
Health is committed to ensuring
all communities have access to
the care they deserve, without
exception and this facility in
East County serves residents
of our mountain and rural
communities.
Commander Brian Nevins,
Agent Guadalupe Mendez
and Lieutenant Ruben Medina
Barbie Bates and
Shauna Davis
Teen Miss Mountain Empire Lily
Manning, Miss Alpine Taylor Wansley
and Teen Miss Alpine Serenity Kennel
Fire Captain John Sengebusch
and Firefighter Kyle Post
Brian Woods and
Adrianna O’Donnell
San Ysidro Health junto
a la Alpine Chamber
of Commerce llevaron
adelante la recepción
Community Heroes
en el San Ysidro Health Alpine
Family Medicine. Este evento
comunitario rinde homenaje
a líderes de la comunidad de
la zona rural de East County.
San Ysidro Health se dedica a
asegurar que las comunidades
tengan acceso a la atención que
merecen, sin excepciones, y en
el caso de East County, atienden
a personas de nuestras zonas
montañosas y rurales.
84 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Fire Captain Nicholas Johnson,
Veronica De La Rosa, Battalion
Chief Jakub Jagielinski
Sara King, Brett Phillips
and Valorie Sharp
Judith Shaplin
and Barry Jantz
Mariko Nakawatase, Victoria
Floyd and Michelle Surakhanova
Gloria Chadwick
and Christian Wallis
Ana Melgoza and Maria
Carriedo-Ceniceros
Carol and
Bill Lewis
Rich and Shaylene
Newman
Chris Wiley, Rose Signore
and Kevin Mattson
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 85
Science
Bryan Robinson
MEET SALK’S NEW PHILANTHROPY LEADER
Bryan Robinson
is the Salk
Institute’s newest
vice president of
external relations.
He will oversee
the Institute’s
philanthropic
efforts,
communications,
public programs
and events.
Robinson
joined Salk from
The Jackson
Laboratory, an
independent,
nonprofit
biomedical
research
institution
headquartered
in Bar Harbor,
Maine, which includes a National Cancer Institutedesignated
Cancer Center, a genomic medicine institute
in Connecticut and additional facilities located around the
world. There he
served as the
vice president
for advancement
and a senior
member of
the president’s
executive
committee,
leading and
assisting with
the institution’s
day-to-day
governance,
including
academic
and business
partnerships,
public and
internal relations
and capital
projects, as well
as oversight of
the full spectrum
of major and
principal gifts
fundraising and
stewardship.
“We are very
fortunate to welcome Bryan to the Institute,” Salk
President Rusty Gage shared with GB Magazine. “Not
only does he have a reputation for breaking fundraising
86 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Salk Institute
records, but he also has deep experience with and
appreciation for the power of basic science. I look forward
to working with him as we develop plans to ensure the
Institute’s continued success as a research powerhouse.”
Robinson grew up in Kentucky and was the first in his
family to attend college. He earned his undergraduate
degree in pre-law studies and his master’s degree in
education administration at the University of Louisville.
He earned a PhD in education and social change at
Bellarmine University, during which time he completed
field research on the impact of poverty on child and youth
development at the University of Roehampton in London.
Robinson and his teams have successfully completed
multiple campaigns and met annual fundraising goals for
health sciences-related institutes in Indiana, Kentucky,
North Carolina, Connecticut, Maine and California.
In his new role, Robinson will be responsible for
Salk’s Campaign for the Future: Building a More
Resilient World, a five-year, $500 million scientific and
philanthropic effort to attract the people and acquire
the technology and space necessary to expand and
accelerate critical research.
“I feel honored and privileged to join this elite research
institute,” Robinson shared. “I have seen how important
education and science are, how transformative they
can be to people’s lives, and so I have spent my career
working to support these efforts through philanthropy.
There is so much opportunity here at Salk, with our strong
leadership, Board of Trustees and external relations team,
as well as our new campaign, to leverage all that has
already been accomplished and build upon the Institute’s
outstanding history and reputation.”
Robinson is an avid boater and reader. He enjoys playing
tennis and traveling. He says he is drawn to San Diego’s
beauty and food, but most of all he’s looking forward
to joining the energy of the local life science research
community.
Learn more about the Salk Institute at www.salk.edu.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 87
Health
Blood
Donors
The community joined forces to
celebrate the grand opening
of the newest donation center
for the San Diego Blood Bank
at Chula Vista’s Terra Nova
Mall. CEO Doug Morton kicked off the
ceremony with excitement as he reflected
on the blood bank’s journey to this day
and how, through research and expanding
the blood collection programs, the patients
in Southern California benefit. Dedicated
staff, board members, blood donors,
volunteers, members of the community,
and generous financial supporters joined
together for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Judy Mantle, Cherryl Castro-
Lector and Diane Hazard
John Howard and
Sherry Serio
Robert Simpson and
Gabriel Gutierrez
Adama Dyoniziak and
Gabriela Stichler
Daniel del Rio and
Edward Legaspi
La comunidad se dio cita
para compartir la gran
inauguración del nuevo
Centro de donaciones
para el Banco de Sangre
en el Chula Vista Terra Nova
Mall. El CEO Doug Morton, dio
inicio a la ceremonia con gran
entusiasmo, reflexionando sobre
el camino recorrido por el banco
y sobre cómo las investigaciones
y los mayores programas de
recolección de donaciones
de sangre benefician a los
pacientes del sur de California.
El comprometido personal,
miembros de la comisión directiva,
donantes de sangre, voluntarios,
personas de la comunidad y
generosos donantes financieros
se reunieron para participar de
esta ceremonia inaugural.
88 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
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AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 89
Neighbors
Father Joe’s Villages
BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES
Glenn’s time serving in the Vietnam
War left him with mental health
struggles that made maintaining
steady employment challenging, and
eventually led to his homelessness.
The trauma that comes with trying to survive on the
streets can be overwhelming, leading to a manifestation
of unhealthy coping mechanisms. For those already
enduring mental health conditions, the complications of
homelessness can intensify their symptoms.
No matter what circumstances bring them to Father Joe’s
Villages, people experiencing homelessness and mental
health challenges in San Diego deserve dignity and access
to care. That is why the comprehensive Behavioral Health
Services offered through Father Joe’s Villages’ Village
Health Clinic are so crucial. Through these services, struggling neighbors can gain
the tools they need to manage their mental health symptoms.
90 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Neighbors like Glenn, an Army veteran who
served in the Vietnam War. Glenn’s time working
in the Chemical Warfare Unit during the Vietnam
War left him with post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD) and severe mental health issues that
caused hallucinations and dissociation. For
long periods of time, Glenn would be unable
to process the reality around him. His mental
health struggles made maintaining steady
employment challenging, and eventually led to
his homelessness. “Living out on the streets
can be overwhelming,” Glenn explained. “When
all the people walk by you, you never know if
they are going to give you a dollar, some food
or if they are going to kick you in the teeth.”
After months of living on the streets, Glenn
was referred to Father Joe’s Villages where he
entered into emergency shelter and received
help from the Village Health Center for his
mental health and substance use challenges.
Through individual therapy, group counseling
and medication assisted treatment, Glenn
received the stability and professional care
he needed to get back on his feet. “Father
Joe’s Villages helped me realize that I am not
helpless, hopeless and worthless,” said Glenn.
“The help I got there changed my whole life - I
can function in society again.”
Glenn is now living in one of Father Joe’s
Villages’ supportive housing complexes and
credits the services he received at Father Joe’s
Villages for providing him the tools he needed
to regain control over his mental health. The
Behavioral Health Services provided through
Father Joe’s Villages’ Village Health Center
helps lighten the load for those who already
may have too much to carry. With the right
support, neighbors experiencing homelessness
can find their way home and move from despair
into hope. Learn more at my.neighbor.org.
Glenn credits the Behavioral
Health Services he received at
Father Joe’s Villages for providing
him the tools he needed to regain
control over his mental health.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 91
Escapadita
Memphis
HOME OF THE BLUES, SOUL & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL
Esteban and Danitza
Villanueva at Graceland
Looking where to travel next on
Southwest Airlines, a must is
Memphis, Tennessee. Any trip to
Memphis should start with a visit to
Beale Street and Sun Studios, where
artists including Elvis, Johnny Cash,
B.B. King Carl Perkins and more got
their start. Nearby you will find the
Lorraine Motel where Dr. Martin Luther
King Jr. was assassinated, now immortalized as the
National Civil Rights Museum. In the outskirts of town,
the 120 acres of Graceland are dedicated to the life and
career of an American legend, Elvis Presley, the King of
Rock ‘n’ Roll complete with his home, museum featuring
his gold records, jeweled jumpsuits, classic cars and
airplanes lets you experience Elvis like never before.
92 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Also known as the Barbecue Capital of the
World, arrive hungry, as there are over 100
barbecue joints in town, the most famous
of which is Central BBQ. Known for the
Smoke in their Sauce, they use a blend of
locally grown hickory and pecan woods to
create the unique aromas and flavors.
Central BBQ
In the heart of downtown, you will
find “The South’s Grand Hotel,” The
Peabody Memphis is legendary for
its gracious hospitality, and rich history
including their world-famous ducks who
march through the lobby at daily 11
a.m. and 5 p.m. The Peabody Memphis
also houses the famous Lansky Bros
clothier to Elvis and B.B. King.
Beale Street
You can move your soul, enjoy
barbeque, and discover the beauty
and history of the South in Memphis,
making it a perfect ESCAPADITA.
www.memphistravel.com
The Peabody Memphis
Sun Studios
National Civil
Rights Museum
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 93
CALENDAR
7-8 th
ARTWALK AT LIBERTY
STATION
The show celebrates the creativity of
artists from both sides of the border. Enjoy
booths, food and artists.
www.artwalksandiego.org/libertystation
5th
THE AUSTRALIAN PINK FLOYD SHOW
Rightfully hailed as one of the most in
demand touring entities will perform with the
beautiful backdrop of San Diego Bay.
www.aussiefloyd.com
AUG
13th-14th
POP CATS
A fun-packed festival fueled by
the spirit of cats, pop, and art!
www.popcats.org
27th
BOWTIES & SANDALS GALA
Options For All Bow Ties and Sandals Gala at
the Hotel del Coronado to benefit Film & Media program.
optionsforall.org/gala2022
20th
MT. HELIX WINE & FOOD
FESTIVAL
The festival benefitting Mt. Helix Park with
an amazing 360 Degree view of San Diego
www.mthelixpark.org/heart-of-mt-helix
94 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
on
t
as -e e
a night in 'Venice
♦
"'
S ♦ ,.
01ree
ER z9, ZOZZ
SUPPORTING AMERICA'S FINEST POLICE DOGS
Festivities begin at 5:30 pm
Hilton Torrey Pines
HONORARY CHAIRS
!Barbie & Wan Spinazz2),a
For tables, tickets, and donations, visit SupportK9.org
PRESENTED BY
THREE-STAR SPONSORS
-SAN
DIIGO-
POL(CE FOUNDATION
arian&'IQ,n
C(osser
Qualco/VW\
!Barbie & 3)an,
Spinazz2),a
For sponsorship opportunities, contact Rosa Valenzuela at rosa@sdpolicefoundation.org.
AUGUST 2022 | GBSAN.COM 95
Page Tab
The
Harrowing
Stories
of
Heroes
Officer Mitch Tani
and Hondo
Did You
Know?
36
Dogs Serving at SDPD
K9 Unit Now
32 police service dogs; 4
mobile odor detection dogs
38
Age of SDPD K9 Unit
Founded in 1984
96 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
On the morning of
December 17, 2021,
while San Diegans
were preparing for
family holiday gatherings, a
two-year-old Belgian Malinois
named Hondo, was on duty with
his human partner, Officer Mitch
Tani.
A woman called police to report
that a man had threatened her
with a knife near Kurtz Street in
San Diego’s Midway District. As
is the case in many potentially
violent incidents, the SDPD K9
Unit responded and confronted
the suspect.
In many ways, this seemed like a
flashback. On January 26, 2021,
police service dog Titan and his
handler, Officer Javier Morales,
were called to an incident in the
Midway District. A man armed
with a knife, perched atop a
huge shipping container, was in
a confrontation with police. After
resisting four hours of attempts
to get him to come down and
disarm, the suspect descended
and ran, still holding the knife.
Fearing for the officers guarding
the perimeter, and for the safety
of the community members
behind them, Officer Morales
released Titan. The suspect was
apprehended but not before he
stabbed Titan, puncturing his
colon in three places.
Officer Morales rushed to his
vehicle, carrying Titan, and sped
to the VCA Animal Hospital.
Fortunately, a surgeon was on
duty, and Titan’s life was saved.
After a full recovery, he was
awarded the first Purple Heart for
an SDPD canine. He continues to
protect and serve San Diego.
Fast forward to December 2021,
and the same man who had
been arrested for stabbing
Titan, is out of jail and again
confronting police with a knife.
“Hearing the radio traffic
from those officers, and the
description of what he was
doing, made me feel at any
moment it could become a
lethal encounter,” shared Officer
Mitch Tani.
"I had hoped that when I arrived
and he saw my police dog,
Hondo, he would give up, but
unfortunately, he did not. When
I ultimately had to send Hondo,
it was because the suspect was
moving towards officers still
armed with a knife.“
In order to avoid the use of lethal
force when the man swung the
knife at officers, Hondo was
released and took down the
suspect, who was then arrested
without further incident. But
Hondo was stabbed twice during
the confrontation.
“It was difficult to watch Hondo
get stabbed,” shared Officer Tani.
“He was extremely lucky that
both stab wounds missed major
arteries and his respiratory
system, so his recovery only took
a few weeks.“ Amazingly, Hondo
is now back on the case at K9
and as active as ever.
“Lt. Chris Tivanian, the
commanding officer of the K9
Unit, invited us to the training
facility to see Hondo after he
returned to duty," shared Marcia
and Rich Leake, the donors who
funded Hondo. “Funding a dog
for America's Finest K9 Unit
has added a new dimension to
our lives. The day we first met
Hondo and Mitch, we were able
to observe them as they trained.
It has been very rewarding to
have a personal connection to
SDPD handler, Officer Mitch Tani,
and his canine.”
To support the K9 Unit,
community members can
attend the Police Foundation’s
K9 Soirée on October 29. The
heroic Hondo and his dedicated
handler, Officer Tani, will be
featured and are expected to
make a live cameo appearance.
For information about this
special evening or to make a
donation to honor our beloved
police dogs, visit SuppportK9.org.
19,335
Calls for Service handled by K9 in 2021
Averages 2 or 3 calls per hour
De-escalation
Top Service of K9
Saving lives by defusing violent situations
Belgian Malinois
Most Common SDPD Police Dog Breed
K9 also has Dutch, Czech, and German Shepherds;
Labradors and Retrievers serve as MOD dogs
Mobile Odor Detection
What MOD Stands For
These specialized dogs can find bombs
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Become a
K9 Champion
Police canines safeguard public events,
find missing persons, detect bombs, locate
evidence, and de-escalate very dangerous
situations, preventing shootings and preserving
life.
For the past 19 years, every police service dog at
SDPD has been purchased with funds donated
by community members through the San Diego
Police Foundation.
You can become a K9 Champion with a
donation to purchase a new dog that will follow
in the paw prints of one of our soon-to-be
retiring K9 Crimefighters.
New dogs typically come to the K9 Unit at age
two or three and usually work with one officer,
their handler, until they're about eight years old.
When they retire, they live in comfort with the
handler with whom they have long served.
The K9 Unit is mobilized when a dangerous call
is in progress, such as a burglary, robbery, or
vehicle pursuit, often de-escalating potentially
violent confrontations.
The dogs are able to clear areas before officers
approach on foot, and they can perform
searches for fleeing and hidden suspects in
urban areas, canyons, or buildings. Because the
canines can cover up to four-times the distance
as their human partners, they save SDPD nearly
700 service hours annually.
The specially bred dogs that make great police
canines are in huge demand world-wide,
elevating their price. The current cost to the
Police Foundation is $14,223 per dog.
Last year SDPD’s K9 Unit responded to
approximately 21,000 calls, working 24 hours a
day, seven days a week throughout the entire
city, benefiting all our communities.
Will you help us keep our K9 Crimefighters on
the case?
Creating a Safer
San Diego for All
“Safety is something so basic to life that every
human craves it,” states Sara Napoli, President
and CEO of the San Diego Police Foundation.
“Yet, our safety is often something we take
for granted – until it is threatened. Safe
neighborhoods are the underpinning of all
that we hold dear: our families and friends, our
businesses, and the way we live our lives. This is
something we should all care about.”
The goal of the Police Foundation is simple, yet
essential: to create a safer San Diego. That
means safety for ALL who live, work, and play in
San Diego. Through community donations, the
Police Foundation funds equipment, training,
and outreach programs vital to creating safer
communities. The Police Foundation does not
fund weapons or anything already allocated in
the City budget.
By providing programs that enhance policecommunity
relations and supplying vital
equipment needed to do their jobs safely
and with excellence, the Police Foundation
builds trust between peace officers and the
neighborhoods they serve, as well as increasing
officer safety and community wellbeing. Crime
prevention benefits those most at risk, such as
victims of domestic violence and violent crimes,
children, and the elderly. Yet, the interests of
everyone in San Diego are served by a region
that is safe, peaceful, and secure.
Funded by community contributions since its
founding in 1998, the Police Foundation has
provided a wide range of programs, equipment,
and services including SafetyNet: Smart Cyber
Choices® safety education to keep kids safe
online, outreach to enhance police-community
relations, programs to divert youth from gang
recruitment, scholarships for aspiring female
police officers, conferences to elevate the
professional development of SDPD personnel,
police service dogs, lifesaving devices, and
officer safety equipment.
A gift of any size is warmly welcomed at sdpolicefoundation.org or by calling Sara Napoli at (619) 232-2130.
Your generosity will propel our mission to create a safer San Diego for ALL.
98 GBSAN.COM | AUGUST 2022
Meet Some of Our
K9 Trainer Teams
OFFICER JASON LANGLEY & ACE
PARTNERS FOR............ 2 years and 3 months
K9 BREED & AGE......... Belgian Malinois, 4 years old
DOG DONATED BY..... Barbie & Dan Spinazzola
Ace also has collateral duty of article detection, meaning he is
capable of locating discarded items that may have been thrown
out of a vehicle window during a pursuit, firearms, and other
contraband related items.
OFFICER MATT COBB & BADY
PARTNERS FOR............ 2 years and 9 months
K9 BREED & AGE......... Black Belgian Malinois, 5 years old
DOG DONATED BY..... Susan Drescher-Mulzet & Mark Mulzet
Bady has deployed on numerous high-risk missions with the SRC
team, which is a collateral assignment that is integrated within
SDPD SWAT Team.
OFFICER MITCH TANI & HONDO
PARTNERS FOR............ 1 year and 10 months
K9 BREED & AGE......... Belgian Malinois, 3 years old
DOG DONATED BY..... Marcia & Rich Leake
Hondo has been involved in numerous interventions where the
suspect surrendered due to Hondo’s presence. He enjoys laying
in the shade during his off time.
SERGEANT ZACH PFANNENSTIEL & AJAX
PARTNERS FOR............ 2 years and 9 months
K9 BREED & AGE......... Belgian Malinois, 3 and half years old
DOG DONATED BY..... Ellen & Barry Scott
Ajax was the youngest police dog bought at eight months old.
He has since developed as a police dog and is also cross-trained
as an explosive detection handler.
To learn about the San Diego Police Foundation's K9 Campaign, visit SuppportK9.org.
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