Business and nonprofits announcements

Feeding San Diego, Starbucks divert food waste

Since 2016, 3,098,942 pounds of food have been rescued from local Starbucks stores, including popular items from the chain like sandwiches, wraps, protein boxes, and pastries. Feeding San Diego, the only Feeding America partner food bank in the region, was the first to join the FoodShare program back in 2016. The non-profit works with its agency partners to distribute the food directly to the community. Partners include other non-profits like Jewish Family Services and Third Avenue Charitable Association. Across San Diego County, over 200 Starbucks stores donate to Feeding San Diego.

The program has managed to crack the logistical puzzle of connecting the fresh food with Feeding San Diego thanks to a partnership with Penske, a transportation services company that picks up the food donations daily and gets them to Feeding San Diego’s distribution center in Sorrento Valley, where partners can either pick it up or it can be delivered by a Feeding San Diego driver.

Nearly 200 smaller, local agencies work with Feeding San Diego to get food free of charge for their own programs, whether it’s a client choice food pantry or a hot meals program. Eleven of those agencies are able to benefit from the Starbucks FoodShare program.

The Noble Paperie partners with CooperSurgical to support families struggling with infertility

CooperSurgical, a global leader in fertility and women’s health, announced a partnership with San Diego-based The Noble Paperie, which makes cards and paper products dedicated to supporting families along their journeys through miscarriage, infertility, and birth. This partnership will start with three cards designed specifically for friends and family to send to women and men dealing with infertility and are available for sale today in honor of National Infertility Awareness Week. CooperSurgical will match 50% of proceeds from the cards sales in a donation to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association.

Local teen, volunteers help survivors of Turkey/Syria earthquake

14-Year-old Founder of Sports4kids Arden Pala organized volunteers to put together Bags of Hope on Saturday, April 22 to help kids in Turkey that were affected by the earthquake. Just two months ago, a powerful earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, leaving 2.6million people homeless. The devastating earthquake has left millions of children in Syria and Turkey in dire need of humanitarian aid. The goal of this event to bring a smiling face to kids that lost everything by providing them with Bags and Messages of hope from kids in our community.

Arden and 100 volunteers assembled 250 bags of hope at Balboa Park filled with toys, hygiene items and activity kits. The House of Turkey will mail the bags to children who lost their homes in the earthquake.

Northwestern Mutual gives $15k grant to GiGi’s Playhouse

Celebrating the philanthropic work of its financial advisors, Northwestern Mutual recognized the individuals who have shown outstanding volunteerism and leadership through its 2023 Community Service Awards. Now in its 28th year, the awards program is distributing $270,000 to nonprofits nationwide. San Diego resident Kelci Wilner, a financial advisor at Northwestern Mutual – San Diego, has been named a 2023 Community Service Award winner, receiving a $15,000 grant for GiGi’s Playhouse.

GiGi’s Playhouse offers free educational, therapeutic, and career-building programs to individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. In 2018, Wilner began volunteering with the nonprofit, and soon after, she helped launch a literacy tutoring program. Today, Wilner serves as the board president where she has the responsibility of running monthly board meetings, recruiting volunteers and board members, and spreading awareness.

$1m grant to art conservation

Balboa Art Conservation Center (BACC), the only nonprofit regional conservation center in the western region, has received one million dollars from the Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. This funding will support BACC’s evolution into a radically inclusive nonprofit art conservation organization and its mission centered on sustainability and inclusivity.

The funding from the Mellon Foundation will support a Radical Equity approach to growth to ensure BACC’s vision for equity and transformative healing is achieved within the organization’s own structure and workplace, as well as the communities it serves. The investment will also strengthen BACC’s organizational infrastructure, maximize inclusive programming and staffing, and expand its services to include objects and preventive conservation.

Father Joe’s launches online thrift store

Father Joe’s Villages, a leading homeless service provider in San Diego, launched a new online thrift storeApril 24, expanding its retail operations from the brick-and-mortar stores. The store will sell gently used clothing, jewelry, entertainment, household goods, accessories, electronics, and other items donated by supporters, with all the revenue going towards transforming the lives of homeless individuals and families. All retail sales raise funds for the organization’s critical programs and services.

The online thrift store will feature promotions for its customers during the first four weeks of its launch. Thrift stores offer a sustainable way to raise funds for essential resources and programs at Father Joe’s Villages. Father Joe’s Villages supporters outside of the San Diego area will now have the opportunity to support the organization by shopping online. 100% of the revenue received from donated items goes toward transforming the lives of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in San Diego.

Visit the thrift store at my.neighbor.org/shop.

Large block industrial leasing sees pullback in San Diego

San Diego’s industrial market saw three leases greater than 50,000 square feet signed during the first quarter of 2023, an acute slowdown from the 10 signed in fourth quarter 2022 and the 12 signed during the first quarter 2022. That’s according to JLL’s Industrial Insight report by Logan Hood, JLL Research Analyst.

Logistics companies accounted for 46% of total leasing volume in Q1, highlighted by RL Jones’ relocation within the Otay Mesa submarket where 44% of market-wide leasing volume was concentrated.

Although large block leasing had a leisurely start to the year, the back half of 2023 is expected to pick up with 51 tenant requirements larger than 50,000 square feet actively engaged in the market, according to JLL.

San Diego County restaurants can apply for $5k grants

The California Restaurant Foundation is offering $5,000 grants to San Diego County restaurants that require upgrades to kitchen appliances or their website. The Restaurant Care Resilience Fund is a partnership with the California food industry trade group and California utility companies, Southern California Gas, Pacific Gas & Electric, and San Diego Gas & Electric. The fund totals $2.1 million and will award larger grants to 366 restaurants across California. Eligible restaurants must have less than $3 million in annual revenue and be a customer of SDG&E. Priority will be given to restaurants owned by women and people of color.

To apply, visit the California Restaurant Foundation’s website at restaurantscare.org/resilience.

Eventos

Recycle paint event

Each year about 800 million gallons of architectural paint is sold in the United States. Did you know that around 10 percent of that paint goes unused and is available for recycling? It’s estimated that millions of containers of paint are stored in residential basements and garages across California. This year, it’s time to think “green” while you spring clean and start recycling your unwanted paint.

Recycled paint can be given away free to households, businesses, and non-profits such as Habitat for Humanity, keeping it out of landfills. To find a drop-off site near you, visit paintcare.org.

Ethnic Food Fair at Balboa Park

Balboa Park’s annual ethnic food fair is taking place on Sunday, May 7 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. All are welcome at the event being held inside Balboa Park’s international houses. There will also be a live performance at 2 p.m.

Popular local Lebanese eateries, including University Heights’ Mamas Bakery and Hillcrest’s Micho’z, will be catering at the House of Lebanon. Other houses are partnering with local restaurants to bring delicious ethnic food to visitors.

Native American glass artist to lecture at Mingei

Last year, Mingei International Museum launched the inaugural Joyce Axelrod Lecture series named in honor of beloved local philanthropist, film producer and arts volunteer.

This year, the series returns May 5 and 6 and features Preston Singletary (Tlingit American, b. 1963), an internationally renowned Native American glass artist. In his talk, Eagle’s Journey with Raven, he will discuss the evolution of his work in glass, pieces infused with design from his Tlingit heritage.

Singletary’s art has become synonymous with the relationship between Tlingit culture, a tribe native to southeastern Alaska, and fine art. His glass sculptures deal with themes of Tlingit mythology and traditional designs, while also using music to shape his contemporary perspective of Native culture.

Celebrate bizarre art at San Diego International Fringe Festival

The San Diego International Fringe Festival brings the beautiful, the bizarre and the unexpected to America’s Finest City. The festival focuses on fringe artists and creating community, as we encourage the development of San Diego as a destination for innovative artistic expression. The festival does not censor any of the artists.

Individual shows are typically an hour long and range from being free to costing $10. Festival passes reduce the cost of attending multiple shows and there will be outdoor shows and street theater as well.

Taking place from May 18-28 at the Marie Hitchcock Puppet Theater and Centro Cultural de la Raza.

North Park Music Festival

On May 27-28, the second annual North Park Music Festival will be hosted by North Park Main Street. The festival will feature live art, interactive experiences, craft beer, craft cocktails, and live music.

There will be various kinds of musical performances including indie, pop rock, hip hop, world music, blues, spoken word performances, jazz, and DJ music. Stilt walkers, roaming magicians, circus performers, and photo booths are also prepared for everyone who joins the festival. Moreover, the festival is going to cater to those with elevated tastes who enjoy gourmet hot dogs, gyros, Bao buns, unique snow cones with handmade ice cream, and stone-fired pizza cooked on-site.

In addition to entrance into the event, guests who purchase two-day passes will receive a commemorative festival mug and free entrance to the community concerts that will occur throughout North Park on Friday, May 26. Entry to the event is $45 for a one-day ticket or $60 for a two-day ticket. Tickets can be purchased en northparkmusicfest.org.

Government updates

FCC grant will promote internet connectivity program for low income households

The San Diego Housing Commission (SDHC) will expand its collaborative efforts to help more families with low income access affordable, quality and reliable broadband internet service with help from a new Federal Communications Commission (FCC) grant.

SDHC will receive more than $230,000. The grant supports awareness, outreach and assistance for households to apply for the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which provides eligible households with a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service and a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop computer, or tablet from participating providers if they contribute more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase price.

With the FCC grant, SDHC’s objective is to reach out to approximately 120,000 households in the City of San Diego that are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Public input sought on Alternative to Incarceration report

The County wants to hear from you on a new report with recommendations for programs and services to redirect people contacted for low level charges away from jails when there is not a threat to public safety. There are a number of other ways to comment including via comment card or through public comment on the report during the May 23 Board of Supervisors meeting when the final report will be presented to the Board.

This comes after the release of SANDAG’s “A Data-Driven Approach to Protecting Public Safety.” Several recommendations were made including:

• Consider additional booking alternatives that increase connection to services and resources for individuals who have contact with law enforcement and for those exiting detention facilities.

• Build capacity for expansion and regionalization of sobering services.

• Ensure individuals are released from custody in ways that support successful reentry.

• Work to meet the health, behavioral health, and housing needs of the most vulnerable individuals both during and after incarceration.

Read the rest of the report on the County website.