The San Diego Foundation honored their donors last week with a luncheon at Liberty Station celebrating nearly 41 years of philanthropy.
“Today, we are here to celebrate the donors and the commitment they have made to their own community,” president and CEO of The San Diego Foundation Kathlyn Mead said. “Liberty Station is a great place to do this because of what the foundation has done for the location.”
The San Diego Foundation has been working since 1975 to create and maintain a healthy and safe community for San Diegans now and in the future. The foundation is always accepting donations for a variety of projects and funds accepting donations. One of these projects has been to work in coordination with the Naval Training Center Foundation on the renovation and restoration of Liberty Station. Currently, $80 million has been spent on the redesign of the former Naval Base.
“There are 10 buildings left in the project area that need to be completed and we hope with the generous help of The San Diego Foundation we can complete this new and vibrant district of San Diego,” said Lorie Martin, NTC Foundation board member.
The event began with free tours of the various museums and galleries present at Liberty Station. Board members of The San Diego Foundation attributed the progress and success of the Naval Base redesign to the generous donations from members. The afternoon continued with a luncheon where specific donors were mentioned for their generosity and commitment to the foundation.
“In all the work that we do but particularly the work here at Liberty Station, the partnership and trust from donors makes it all happen,” said Connie Matsui, The San Diego Foundation board member. “We want to honor you all and thank you for your generous gifts all of these years.”
The San Diego Foundation has been committed to growing a vibrant region in Southern California. The foundation projects to have raised $1 billion in grant money by the end of the year.
David Engel, a long-time member of The San Diego Foundation, was described by Mead as a member with an unending commitment to San Diego. Engel developed the foundation’s Climate Initiative, which focuses on saving and maintaining the San Diego environment. The Climate Initiative works locally to decrease the negative impacts of global warming for future generations. Engel is adamant that the initiative works to bring climate action plans to members of government and wants to ensure that schools accurately teach climate science to young children.
“My wife Peggy and I have always had a passion for the environment,” Engel said. “No matter where we lived we were volunteering our time to help out. This Climate Initiative not only plans action but also raises money and provides grants to local nonprofit environmental groups in the area.”
According to Engel, The San Diego Foundation has proved to be an amazing organization and group of people. The Engels are so happy with the confident staff and the positive impact, they have put the foundation in their wills.
“It is a great pleasure to be in a room with such kind and generous people,” Engel said. “Peggy and I love the foundation and we are proud of the things they have done for the San Diego community. I got lucky in my life and consider myself fortunate enough to be a donor.”
The foundation’s president pressed repeatedly that while Engel is the inventor of the Sonicare electronic toothbrush, anyone from any economic standing can help the city of San Diego.
“Not everyone here is some fancy inventor,” Mead said. “Sometimes it is the people with the least that are the most generous. We just want people to know that there is a way to help San Diego and that anything helps.”
More information and how to become a donor can be found at www.sdfoundation.org.