Monday Morning Good News: February 11

The 2013 Victory Fund San Diego Champagne Celebration was held on Feb. 10 at the Catamaran Hotel on Mission Bay. This year a record-breaking seven openly LGBT members were sworn in to the 113^th Congress. This year Christine Kehoe was honored for over 19 years of public service on the San Diego City Council and the California Assembly and Senate. Susan Atkins was also thanked for chairing the national Victory Fund board for the past two years. The Victory Fund Mission is to change the face and voice of America’s politics and achieve equality for LGBT Americans by increasing the number of openly LGBT officials at all levels of government.

Nick Wallace, 13, was born with Biliary Atresia liver disease and has spent his life in and out of hospitals. Last September Nick received a new liver after undergoing an 11-hour surgery. He has started a charity called Nick’s Picks, a non-profit organization to help other kids in the hospital. Nick received a Congressional Proclamation for his work with the American Liver Foundation, for his dedication and for raising $25,000 last year. He has been instrumental in growing the Liver Walk from 30 people to over 2,000, and helped raise millions for the San Diego walk. He received the Courage Award from The Del Mar Optimist Society.

On Jan. 25 NBC 7 San Diego hosted Wishes in Flight telethon for Make-A-Wish Foundation. Delta and United Airlines partnered with them to collect frequent flyer miles with 5.2 million miles being donated. 70% of all wishes for children who are battling life-threatening illnesses, involve travel and create the largest expense for the Foundation. Once donated, miles never expire. Miles can be donated at any time by going to wishessandiego.org.

A Few Good Men & Women Bachelor/Bachelorette Auction is being held on Feb. 12 at the Pacific Beach Shore Club beginning at 6:00 p.m. to benefit medical research for veterans. Veterans Research Corporation provides funding to local medical research that addresses the unique health concerns of veterans – including posttraumatic stress disorder, Gulf War Syndrome and traumatic brain injury – as well as improving health care for all U.S citizens.

San Diego Symphony Sweethearts is sponsoring a Girls Night Out on Feb. 20 beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 which includes cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. The evening offers the opportunity to get a fantastic deal on various new and as-new luxury goods including jewelry and fur, all while supporting the Symphony’s music education and outreach programs. The event is being held at the home of Lori and Bill Walton overlooking the lights of the city. For tickets, contact Caitlin at [email protected].

Malashock Dance will celebrate its 25^th anniversary on Mar. 8 and 9 at the Birch North Park Theatre.  The concert features the premiere piece created by John Malashock with pianist Gustavo Romero. Also included on the program is a restaging of “Fathom: The Body as Universe,” Malashock’s 2006 collaboration with Japanese artist Junko Chodos. Proceeds from the concert will support education  outreach programs.

Eric Topol, MD, of Scripps Health will be honored at the 2013 Scientist of the Year Dinner of the San Diego Chapter of Achievement Rewards for College Scientists, ARCS Foundation on Apr. 4 at the Hilton San Diego Resort on Mission Bay Dr. Topol is chief academic officer, Scripps Health; director, Scripps Translation genomics, The Scripps Research Institute.

Barrio Logan College Institute received $52,571 from the Major Jerry Sanders Farewell Celebration to support the programs of BLCI. Other gifts to BLCI included: $7,000 in support of their Health and Well Being Education Initiative from Aetna, Inc.; $10,000 each from Bank of America, Wells Fargo Foundation and San Diego Padres in support of the College Success Pipeline Program as well as $15,000 from the Parker Foundation; $30,000 from the Mayer & Morris Kaplan Family Foundation to support general operations; and $12,500 from San Diego Social Venture Partners in support of Capacity Building.

Please send news items to Joyce Glazer at [email protected].