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The Art of Giving 2007 Awards

RECOGNIZING THE DEDICATION AND GENEROSITY OF SOME OF SAN DIEGO’S FINEST IN PHILANTHROPY

While San Diego Magazine acknowledges the outstanding efforts of all charities, cultural institutions, social service groups and individual philanthropists featured throughout the Charitable Events Registry, it is our honor to recognize in particular those organizations and individuals whose outstanding work continues to benefit the San Diego community.

SENIOR COMMUNITY CENTERS
NONPROFIT ORGANIZATON OF THE YEAR
Senior Community Centers provides a safety net to the forgotten: impoverished seniors who have nowhere to go and no one to turn to for help. The centers provide access to nutrition, affordable housing, healthcare and other social services to nearly 5,000 people a year. Many who receive services are over 60 and live on about $800 a month. Most have chronic health or mental health issues and are at risk of losing their independence. This is the only organization in San Diego and one of the few in the country that provides such a broad base of vital services to this vulnerable senior population.

The nonprofit was originally launched in 1970 as Cedar Community Center, which started simply as a nutrition site. Within a few years, the center began serving lunches five days a week, added referral services and began the Home Delivered Meals program. With an eventual name change to Senior Community Centers of San Diego, services continued to expand to the wide array of programs now offered. By 2006, Senior Community Centers served more than 300,000 people. And in 2007, the organization received its first endowment gift and opened its second residential facility for San Diego’s elders.

LADEKI RESTAURANT GROUP
PHILANTHROPIC BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
(MORE THAN 100 EMPLOYEES)
The Ladeki Restaurant Group, best known for serving delicious food to San Diegans, is not as well known for its core philosophy of generosity and involvement. The restaurant group, which owns Sammy’s Woodfired Pizzas, Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar and Mosaic Catering, features a number of philanthropic campaigns and events—always with the intent of “paying it forward.”

In addition to many in-store fund-raisers in which the servers donate all of their tips, Ladeki Restaurant Group also hosts events, food donations and fundraising efforts. In 2007, the group raised donations totaling $69,400, which benefited a number of groups, including UNICEF, the American Red Cross and the UCSD Foundation.

The group’s unique approach to community involvement is also displayed through a wide array of events. During the Send a Kid to Camp Messy Sundae Campaign, diners donate $5 to receive a free sundae. All proceeds go to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater San Diego, sending approximately 500 at-risk youths to camp. Another annual event, the Memorial Day Weekend campaign, works in conjunction with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. For this event, patrons sign a pledge card at any Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza and receive a free pizza. Another program offers free pizza and sundaes to students within the San Diego City School District who read at least eight books. Because of such extensive and inspired commitment to philanthropic support, thousands of San Diegans benefit each year.

PAMPLEMOUSSE GRILLE
PHILANTHROPIC BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
(FEWER THAN 100 EMPLOYEES)
Pamplemousse Grille and its chef, Jeffrey Strauss, have been serving meals to San Diegans from the restaurant’s Solana Beach location for more than 11 years. In just the past year, Pamplemousse Grille has donated time, resources and meals to more than 60 organizations, ranging from Voices for Children to San Pasqual Academy, Jewish Family Service and The Bishop’s School.

As part of its philanthropic spirit, Pamplemousse Grille caters many fund-raising events, often donating some or all of the meal. In addition, many donations are meals that are auctioned off at fund-raising events. These meals are offered in the restaurant, in the restaurant’s private room, in Strauss’ home or in other people’s homes. In one instance, a dinner for 10, which took place at the winner’s home and included the restaurant’s servers, raised $61,000 for UCSD’s Cardiovascular Center.

According to Strauss, one of the more exciting events is the annual Don MacBeth Memorial Jockey Fund dinner, which occurs during horse-racing season. The dinner takes place at the restaurant with jockeys serving the meals, and it raises money for disabled jockeys—most of whom can’t cover costs in the event of a disability. Inspired by that event, Pamplemousse Grille now also hosts the annual Jump for Life Foundation dinner. With San Diego Chargers serving these meals, more than $500,000 has been raised to help combat childhood obesity and diabetes in the last three years.

SUE KALISH
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR
Sue Kalish’s philanthropic resume is so comprehensive it’s hard to believe that only one person is responsible for so many accomplishments. Over the course of her volunteer career, Kalish has been one of San Diego’s most prolific volunteers. A true caregiver, she gives with her head, heart and hands. She has touched countless people, both with practical help and as a leader—acting as a recruiter and offering motivation. Known not only for her magnetic personality, she is also recognized for her gift to make everyone feel extraordinarily special.

Presently, Kalish serves in integral roles for at least six organizations, including the National Conflict Resolution Center, UCSD Moores Cancer Center, Women Together and Boy Scouts of America. She has also played central roles for dozens more, including the Foundation of La Jolla High School, Kids Aid Auxiliary, San Diego Historical Society and the San Diego Women’s Foundation. For such extensive dedication, it’s no wonder Kalish was also named a Salvation Army Women’s Auxiliary 2006 Woman of Dedication.

THE SAN DIEGO FOUNDATION
SOCIAL CONSCIOUSNESS AWARD
The San Diego Foundation, San Diego’s leading resource for information about charitable giving and community needs, is a true role model of social consciousness. While promoting a healthy lifestyle and a sense of personal and organizational responsibility, the foundation focuses philanthropic support on protecting the region’s natural environment and embodies environmental values in the organization’s facility and daily operations.

As part of that, the foundation’s Environment Working Group catalyzed the preservation of more than 15,000 acres of open space and wilderness in places such as the San Diego and San Dieguito rivers. The foundation is also the largest grant maker in the San Diego region and has awarded more than $16 million to critical environmental programs.

Additionally, The San Diego Foundation’s new offices embody respect for the environment through initiatives such as energy conservation, use of recycled materials and emphasis on natural lighting. The facility was even awarded a Silver LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, a program of the U.S. Green Building Council and the worldwide standard for sustainable, high-performance, low-energy-use buildings.