FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Today’s Date:December 27, 2011
Contact: MaryAnne Pintar
maryanne.pintar@gmail.com

14 Non-Profits Recently Granted Funds from Las Patronas;
8 Others Picked to Get Funds from Jewel Ball 2012, Passeggiata!

San Diego, CA – Las Patronas is proud to announce the 14 non-profits who received funds from the organization’s Fall Minor Beneficiary grant cycle. These fall minor grants were funded by proceeds from the August 2011 Sapphire Jewel Ball. Las Patronas is also very pleased to announce eight new major beneficiaries selected for the 2012 Jewel Ball. These eight non-profits will receive grants of $20,000 or more from funds raised at the 66th Annual Jewel Ball, Passeggiata! to be held on August 4, 2012.

“During this season of giving, we were very happy to be able to grant additional funds from the 2011 Sapphire Jewel Ball,” said Las Patronas President Lisa Albanez.

“We are also very excited to have chosen the major beneficiaries for next year’s Ball,Ó she said. “Our grant selection process is four months long and involves site visits to every qualified applicant. It is inspiring to see the important work being done by these wonderful non-profits.Ó

The non-profits selected were chosen from 110 applicants who participated in the philanthropy’s months-long grant review and selection process.

Organizations that recently received minor fall grants of $20,000 or less are: The American Academy of Pediatrics for a program to encourage parents to read with their small children; Amigas Punto Com for A/V equipment for workshops to help families in crisis; Angel Faces for computer equipment to expand their program to help young women scarred by burns and other injuries; Boys to Men Mentoring Network for a passenger van to transport boys to their activities; Children’s Dental Health Association of San Diego for new safety windows at the Center; Elder Law & Advocacy for desktop computers for legal volunteer work stations; HeadNorth Foundation for wheelchairs for spinal cord injury survivors; Hispanic Business Student Organization for presentation equipment to encourage college enrollment; Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation to fund equipment to provide safe passage for kids walking to and from school; Montgomery Media Institute for office/studio furniture and supplies for KMMI studio/classroom; O’Farrell Community School for recorders and headsets for The Efficacy Project; St. Vincent de Paul Village for new mattresses at the Joan Kroc Center; UCSD Regional Burn Center for a telemedicine/videoconferencing system for patient care at outlying partner hospitals; and Volunteers in Medicine for an exam table and electronic scale for a free medical clinic.

Major beneficiaries, who each will receive grants of $20,000, or more from Passeggiata! are:

• The Alpha Project for the Homeless for a flat-bed truck to be used for work programs that transition homeless and high-risk people back into the workforce, while providing community assistance throughout San Diego;
• The American Red Cross – San Diego Imperial Counties for a TouchTable TT45, an electronic table/surface that will display complex information on a touch screen so emergency responders can coordinate with other agencies to make life-saving decisions more quickly during disasters;
• Greater San Diego After – School All Stars for a Sports Utility Vehicle that will be used to transport low-income children who participate in its after-school enrichment, recreation and community service programs;
• La Jolla Historical Society for a new ADA accessible elevator for the historic 1904 Wisteria Cottage to make this historic building more versatile and more available to all;
• Reuben H. Fleet Science Center for a hybrid Sports Utility Vehicle to be used for science-based, on-site outreach programs at San Diego schools where the demand has increased dramatically due to school budget cuts that make field trips less affordable;
• San Diego Hospice to fund 20 new tablet-style laptop computers staff members can use to access medical records and treatment information when they visit patients in their homes, enabling Hospice to expand its services to meet growing demands;
• Senior Community Centers for a meal delivery van for its program to bring warm, nutritious meals to homebound seniors, a need that is increasing as our senior population continues to grow; and
• Zoological Society of San Diego for a Sports Utility Vehicle to transport animals for the Zoo’s Express Animal Therapy outreach program which allows disabled, abused, or ailing children and convalescing seniors to interact with the zoo’s animal ambassadors.

Las Patronas is a philanthropic organization with a long history of giving. Since its inception in 1946, Las Patronas has donated more than $15 million to over one thousand charitable institutions in San Diego. Las Patronas is committed to providing financial assistance to non-profit organizations in San Diego County that provide valuable community services in the areas of health, education, social services, and cultural arts, and to continuing our tradition of service to enhance the quality of life in our community. The funds distributed to these organizations are generated through yearlong fundraising efforts and the annual presentation of the Jewel Ball, one of San Diego’s most enduring social, cultural and philanthropic traditions. 

Las Patronas Announces New Members, Theme for Jewel Ball 2012 Success of Sapphire Ball Also Celebrated: over $600,000 raised for nonprofits La Jolla, CA, October 12, 2011 – Las Patronas kicked off its 2011-2012 year at a luncheon this afternoon where eight energetic new women were welcomed by its active and advisory members. The group also announced the proceeds from the 2011 Jewel Ball, and revealed the new theme for 2012. The new members attended their first General Meeting and were then introduced at the luncheon. They are: Lisette Farrell; Michelle Kearney; Michelle Lanuti; Alison Lee; Corinne Lynch; Sherry Macelli; Kathryn Munoz; and Leigh Plesniak. Members of Las Patronas are invited to serve a six year term. “We are very pleased to welcome these wonderful women into our Las Patronas family,” said President Lisa Albanez. “Las Patronas is able to keep up its 65-year tradition of giving because of the hundreds of women in our community who have stepped up over the years and generously given their time and talent to support San Diego non-profits.” After the introductions, 2011 Jewel Ball Chair Sue Wagener announced that proceeds from the spectacular and successful Sapphire Ball exceeded $600,000. “We received so much wonderful feedback from those who attended Sapphire; it was a beautiful, magical night,” Wagener said of the Aug. 6 event which had a vibrant, exotic underwater theme. “I am so grateful to the hundreds of sponsors, underwriters, donors and advertisers who supported our incredibly worthy beneficiaries,” she said. “I’m also very proud of our members who worked tirelessly to create an enchanting and fantastic event.” Funds from Sapphire will fund major grants to: The Arc of San Diego to purchase a passenger van with a wheelchair lift to transport people with disabilities; the Family Health Centers of San Diego, Inc. to fund dental operatory treatment chairs for the Logan Heights Family Health Center; Friends of The Riford Center to renovate classrooms used for adult classes and other programs; La Jolla Playhouse to retrofit lighting in the Mandell Weiss Theatre; Mountain Health and Community Services, Inc. for an X-ray processing and digitizing unit for patient x-rays; REINS Therapeutic Horsemanship Program to buy a tractor and loader to maintain their property; San Diego Fire Rescue Foundation to purchase 33 VHF Radios to support field operations; San Diego Food Bank Corporation to purchase a forklift to transport food for distribution within the warehouse; San Diego Junior Theatre for a digital sound system for the Casa del Prado Theatre in Balboa Park; Scripps Mercy Hospital Chula Vista to acquire vital sign monitors with mobile stands for in-patient hospital use; UCSD Shiley Eye Center to buy a tricaster broadcasting system for use in their macular degeneration outreach program; YWCA of San Diego County to buy a telecommunications system for domestic abuse and homeless shelter residences and hotline. An additional twenty-five plus organizations will also receive smaller grants from Sapphire within the coming months. Towards the end of the luncheon, 2012 Jewel Ball Chair Elaine Murphy and her Jewel Ball Committee unveiled the 2012 Ball theme: PASSEGGIATA! Muphy said that for Italians – and the hundreds of guests who attend the 66th annual fundraiser – Passeggiata translates into an evening stroll that begins in the piazzas of an Italian town. Couples head out, strolling arm in arm, greeting others along the way, for a stylish evening with friends. It begins with cocktails and progresses on to dinner and dancing in chic restaurants and glamorous night clubs into the early morning hours. She said the Roman-inspired theme gives a nod to the sophisticated styles of the late 50s and early 60s as portrayed in films such as “Roman Holiday” and “La Dolce Vita.” “The décor will have an elegant mid-century Italian style, set against a backdrop that resembles the famous ruins of Rome,” Murphy said. The 66th Annual Jewel Ball will be held on Aug. 4, 2012, at the beautiful La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club, as is tradition. Mark your calendars! For information about sponsorship opportunities for Passeggiata!, contact Jena Joyce at jena_joyce@joycelawgroup.net. For more information about Las Patronas and the Jewel Ball, please go to www.laspatronas.com. # # # # # # Las Patronas is a philanthropic organization with a long history of giving. Since its inception in 1946, Las Patronas has donated more than $15 million to over one thousand charitable institutions in San Diego. Las Patronas is committed to providing financial assistance to non-profit organizations in San Diego County that provide valuable community services in the areas of health, education, social services, and cultural arts, and to continuing our tradition of service to enhance the quality of life in our community. The funds distributed to these organizations are generated through yearlong fundraising efforts and the annual presentation of the Jewel Ball, one of San Diego’s most enduring social, cultural and philanthropic traditions.

La Jolla, CA, October 15, 2008 – At its annual celebration of success, Las Patronas members gathered at a luncheon at the La Jolla Country Club to introduce new active members, announce the fundraising total of the 2008 Jewel Ball, and unveil the theme of Jewel Ball 2009.

The event began with the introduction of Annette Bradbury, Missy Coleman,
Jena Joyce, Melinda Mahoney, Kathy Malaney and Dawn Maywood, who were welcomed into the ranks of dedicated volunteers who keep the organization’s
63-year-old tradition of service alive throughout San Diego.

Caroline Nierenberg, Chair of Jewel Ball 2008, called on her committee chairs to help announce the amount raised by the Ball – revealing a record-breaking total of $1,215,258. “Our password for success this year was Speakeasy,” exclaimed Nierenberg. “Prohibition or no, this bevy of flappers raised a hotsy-totsy bundle of bucks for a lot of worthy causes across San Diego. We couldn’t do it without our underwriters, advertisers, donors and guests, and of course we owe a big debt to the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club for letting us dream big every year for 62 years and counting. I thank all our friends, supporters, and members for making this a great year for our beneficiaries – you’re the bee’s knees!”

“Year after year, we’re so inspired by the generosity of San Diegans helping
San Diegans,” Las Patronas President Lydia McNeil added. “We’re thrilled with the outcome of Speakeasy because our grant applicants remind us each day of the need in our community – they’re our great motivation for putting the Ball on every year and working hard to raise funds for them. The money we’ve raised at Speakeasy will ensure that we’ll be able to assist a great number of people throughout San Diego county, and now with the unveiling of Jewel Ball 2009 we can’t wait to see how many people we’ll be able to help next year – stick with us, we’re going to show you another good time!”

In addition to fulfilling the grant requests of Las Patronas’ 2008 major beneficiaries, proceeds of Jewel Ball 2008 will be disbursed in two grant cycles this year to a significant number of deserving nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego.

The culmination of the afternoon’s proceedings was the announcement of the
theme of Jewel Ball 2009.  New Jewel Ball Chair Jennifer Greenfield, along with
her co-chairs, Laurie Allen and Sallie Warren, took the audience on a journey around the world and landed in India, proclaiming the 2009 Jewel Ball Silk & Spice.  “We are bringing the rich sights, sounds and culture of India to La Jolla,” said Greenfield, “all in the name of raising money for our beneficiaries.”

Jewel Ball 2009, Silk & Spice, will be held on Saturday, August 8 at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.

La Jolla, CA, August 3, 2008 – Las Patronas hit on all sixes last night — a swanky Speakeasy attracted dolls and daddies from near and far. Puttin’ on the Ritz seems to come easily to these gals, and they outdid themselves with their 62nd Jewel Ball.

The 1920s roared once more at the La Jolla Beach and Tennis Club. The club’s “Old Black Goose,” a 1915 Packard, was one of several vintage cars setting the stage out front. The Hotel Del Coronado’s original 1927 Cadillac limousine provided a touch of elegance. Lance Hayes brought both his 1927 Star and 1929 Durant. Ralph and Connie McNeil lent their 1927 Packard, and Ralph McQuoid provided his 1930 Pierce Arrow. Dick Kurtz didn’t want to miss the fun; he brought his 1936 Ford convertible sedan. A strategically placed, genuine paddy wagon let everyone know the coppers were on the scene keeping order in case anyone had a beef.

Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin showed up, as did a variety of character actors from Christian Community Theater, who played their parts to perfection. Studio m/michael spengler photography’s flashbulbs popped as couples canoodled for the cameras in front of the cars.

Inside, guests could indulge nearly any whim. A glittering nightclub (rivaling Europe’s most luxurious and Manhattan’s most deco) pulsated with seemingly illicit excitement. Young mafia torpedoes rubbed shoulders with high society in an ornate room of rich red velvet, where marble columns supported a ceiling of stars. Dazzling chandeliers enhanced the stars’ twinkle. From terrace seating, the “smart set” overlooked a spectacular view of New York’s cityscape.

Fat Cats in high hats sipped fruity concoctions in one of two exotic zebra lounges while enjoying appetizers from Roppongi and sushi from Café Japengo; the well-heeled enjoyed a beautiful silent move theater in rich, burled wood, adorned with gilded silver. That stage, with its requisite red velvet drapery, was flanked by two swings with two swingers swinging. At the end of the pool, on an elevated stage, surrounded by an art deco marquee, a quintet of musicians and a singer played traditional 1920’s American jazz melodies during the cocktail hour.

Dinner, provided by Hyatt Regency La Jolla, delighted all diners. The meal began with exotic microgreen and butter lettuce in a radicchio cup and orange segments, with asparagus lemongrass vinaigrette; followed by filet mignon with traditional Périgueux reduction, Boursin mashed potatoes, carrots and green beans ending with a dessert of Tres Leches with strawberry sauce and blueberries, and assorted truffles. As the meal was served, everyone enjoyed a floorshow featuring dancers in authentic costumes performing the elegant tango, Charleston, swing, and tap dances.

The flappers loved music and marathon dancing — Speakeasy featured plenty of both. A 26 piece band from NRG set the mood with Gershwin hits such as Rhapsody in Blue and other flapper era favorites, including Five Foot Two, Charleston, and Kitty from Kansas City. As the evening progressed, NRG expanded the evening’s time warp to delight fans of the Big Band Swing Era, early Rock and Roll and ever popular, easy-to-dance-to disco hits.

The 50 members of Las Patronas who worked tirelessly for nearly a year to resurrect the Speakeasy spirit enjoyed every minute of the party they planned and produced. “Everyone comes together to do what they can to ensure this event succeeds,” said Jewel Ball Chair Caroline Nierenberg. “Leading this team of dedicated women has been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. However, this night really celebrates our beneficiaries – those dedicated to helping San Diego’s most deserving.”

This Speakeasy was more than a gin joint: the Las Patronas dames host their annual soirees to raise funds for the betterment of San Diegans. Each of the past five Jewel Balls has raised more than $1 million. Of the nearly 80 non-profit organizations receiving Las Patronas funds, fourteen will receive major grants (more than $20,000) from proceeds raised this year. Major beneficiaries include: A Reason to Survive, Burnham Institute for Medical Research, Christian Community Theater, Diversionary Theatre, Friends of Vista Hill, La Jolla Historical Society, La Jolla Music Society, Moores UCSD Cancer Center, Salvation Army – Senior Dining and Social Centers, San Diego Habitat for Humanity, San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care, San Diego Opera Association, Scripps La Jolla Heart Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla, and UCSD Shiley Eye Center.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Sneak Peek at Speakeasy – Jewel Ball 2008

LA JOLLA, CA, April 23, 2008 – Jazz will flow from a cranked-up victrola and knees may show on August 2nd when Las Patronas channels the irrepressible energy of the 1920’s with its 62nd annual Jewel Ball –Speakeasy.  Today, Las Patronas active members proudly set the stage for the press, vendor partners, underwriters and advisory members so they’ll know what to expect in less than four months time.

Las Patronas President Barbara Mulligan welcomed guests and thanked the La Jolla Historical Society for hosting the event.  Speakeasy Ball Chair Caroline Nierenberg, along with her Co-Chairs, Jennifer Greenfield and Tracy Lyon, introduced the theme and design for the ball.

How does a bustling beach club transform into a rollicking, ritzy Speakeasy?  The 50 active members of Las Patronas (bee’s knees dolls, all) sneak away to a secret spot every week for months to paint, saw and glue.  In late July, with husbands’ and children’s help, they transport and assemble the sets the week before the party.  By noon the day after, peace is restored to the club and beachgoers return to play tennis and soak in the sun.

San Diego Archaeological Center
Contact: Cindy Stankowski, Director
16666 San Pasqual Valley Road
Escondido, CA 92027-7001

Phone:  (760) 291-0370
Fax:      (760) 291-0371
cstankowski@sandiegoarchaeology.org
www.sandiegoarchaeology.org

Las Patronas Awards the San Diego Archaeological Center with Capital Grant

Escondido, CA – The San Diego Archaeological Center is honored to announce receipt of a $7,100 grant from Las Patronas to fund capital purchases for the facility.

The grant will fund the acquisition of a mounted LCD Projector with electric wall screen and podium with sound system for the Center’s newly renovated Culture Classroom and access code security locks for the Center’s curatorial vaults that contain artifacts representing over 10,000 years of history.

According to Center Director, Cindy Stankowski “This grant will dramatically increase our ability to improve and expand our school and public presentations that focus on the field of archaeology. Our newly installed state of the art curatorial vaults will benefit from the added security that Las Patronas has so generously funded.  The volunteers from Las Patronas, Lise Wilson and Claudia Johnson, who conducted the site visit, were enthusiastic and impressed with the scope of the Center’s work and advocated on our behalf to secure the grant. We are grateful for their understanding of the needs of the Center and the great impact that these capital purchases will have on our programming and security.”

Las Patronas is an all-volunteer philanthropic organization with a long history of giving. Since its inception in 1946, Las Patronas has donated more than $12 million to over a thousand charitable institutions in San Diego. The funds distributed to these organizations are generated through year-long fundraising efforts and the annual presentation of the Jewel Ball, one of San Diego’s most enduring social, cultural, and philanthropic traditions. Las Patronas is committed to providing financial assistance to nonprofit organizations in San Diego County that provide valuable community services in the areas of health, education, social service an cultural arts, and to continuing a tradition of service to enhance the quality of life in our community.

The San Diego Archaeological Center was created in 1993 to provide an archaeological curation facility for the San Diego Region.  The Center was the first nonprofit organization in the nation dedicated solely to curating and sharing archaeological collections with the public. The Center provides internships and research opportunities for the advancement of knowledge in the fields of anthropology and archaeology.  The Center’s Capital Campaign is underway to create a state of the art facility with a spacious and light-filled lobby, enhanced exhibition space, classroom, library and research areas. A new entryway will feature native plant landscaping designed to promote conservation, outdoor exhibit and seating areas, water elements and improved signage to promote the Center as a regional tourist destination.

The Mission of The San Diego Archaeological Center is “to preserve archaeological collections and promote their educational, scientific and cultural use to benefit a diverse public.”

Become a member and enjoy discounts on workshops, lectures, and other programs at the Center.  For more information visit the Center website at www.sandiegoarchaeology.org, e-mail cstankowski@sandiegoarchaeology.org, or telephone (760) 291-0370.    Admission to the Center and Museum is free to the public during regular operating hours Monday-Friday 9 AM to 4 PM, and Saturdays 10 AM to 2 PM.   The Center is located in the historic San Pasqual Valley, adjacent to the Wild Animal Park and Battlefield State Park.