Tag: fundraising

Enjoy a Gulls hockey game and support literacy!

Would you like to go to the San Diego Gulls hockey team’s home opener game at Pechanga Arena . . . and promote literacy at the same time? Easy!

Simply purchase a game ticket via the Char Car #ReadingOnFire FUNraiser and you’ll get to go watch an exciting game and support literacy in San Diego!

All the information you need is in the above graphic. If you don’t have the Venmo app or have trouble using it, see the contact information for Ron Valles and give him a call.

You might remember how the good people of Char Car supported kids at Ronald McDonald House during Star Wars Book Night. See those fun photographs by clicking here! Dr. Elizabeth and Ron Valles have dedicated themselves to promoting literacy and spreading happiness by distributing and reading books to kids!

The home opener for the San Diego Gulls is Saturday, October 10, 2026. Get your tickets now using the information in the above graphic. You’ll benefit local youth. You’ll help ignite their love for reading!

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Become a superhero and fight hunger!

You can become a real life superhero! Join other superheroes fighting hunger by educating kids with a fun comic book!

I saw the Hunger Action Heroes Unite comic book today on sale in the gift shop of the Comic-Con Museum. The comic book was created by Feeding San Diego to educate young readers about the impacts of hunger and food waste…and to inspire them to be part of the solution!

By purchasing just one comic book (at the museum gift shop or online), you can help provide 14 nutritious meals to people facing hunger. You can also download teacher and parent resources by visiting this website.

People who love the Comic-Con Museum might remember the origin of these Hunger Action Hero characters: Hunger Halter and Demeter were created by students through the Hunger Action Heroes Art Contest. The contest, hosted by Feeding San Diego in collaboration with the Comic-Con Museum, invited students from across San Diego in kindergarten through 12th grade, to submit their vision of a hunger action hero, who helps to end hunger through food rescue. Nearly 300 students submitted their vision of a Hunger Action Hero.

How awesome that a cool idea and contest has grown to become something that truly assists those in need!

As the hunger heroes say, The World Needs You!

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Help support the San Diego Museum of Art!

This group wanted to see fine art so they headed into the San Diego Museum of Art.

The San Diego Museum of Art could use your support!

I just read an article this morning concerning layoffs at one of San Diego’s most beloved and important cultural institutions. They’re stressed financially due to the loss of critical grant money.

If you love the San Diego Museum of Art, you can help them out by visiting this museum webpage, and perhaps think about making a donation!

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Preserving a world treasure in San Diego.

San Diego is home of a world treasure. Star of India is one of the most important historic ships in the entire world.

The Maritime Museum of San Diego maintains 1863 tall ship Star of India, which is not only the oldest active ship in the world, but a United States National Historic Landmark. The beautiful sailing ship, an iconic sight on the Embarcadero, is one of our city’s brightest crown jewels.

Local museums are facing a future of difficult funding. Now imagine a maritime museum that must care for and preserve historic ships that are outdoors in the weather and on the water, including Star of India. Ships are expensive to maintain. To preserve a world treasure like Star of India takes a lot of funds, volunteer work, and love.

A few days ago I noticed one volunteer working on the wood deck, repairing the inevitable cracks that come from exposure to sun, rain and changing temperatures. He explained that he was sealing cracks with a special marine sealant and adhesive. I also learned the expansive main deck of the Star will have to be replaced in the future. No small or inexpensive task!

If you take pride in Star of India, why not help her by becoming a member of the Maritime Museum of San Diego like myself? Or you can become a volunteer, or make a donation!

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Live glassblowing and beer in Escondido!

A cool event is being held today and tomorrow at the California Center for the Arts, Escondido. Hot Glass, Cold Beer: A Fundraiser for the Arts features lots of amazing glass art created by local artists! Beer, too!

By sheer coincidence I ran into the event today while walking to the nearby museum. It’s very similar to the glassblowing event I experienced last year in the same Cal Club Courtyard.

If you want to check out an amazing variety of glass art and colorful glassware, head over tomorrow, April 4, 2026, between noon and 5 pm. The event is free. The glassblowing demonstration is led by renowned glass artist James Stone of Stone & Glass.

Sit down, watch, and enjoy a beer. Here’s the event website listing some of the participating artists and organizations.

James Stone and participating artists will generously donate hand-blown glass cups, which will be given away with a complimentary drink ticket in exchange for a $25 donation.

My next photo shows some of the hand-crafted fused glass created by Parris Toyzan (@parrisorginals). Here’s the website.

Parris was nice enough to describe how he carefully makes these amazing creations with a kiln and colored glass!

By purchasing a beautiful glass on one table you support kids learning glassblowing at schools in Escondido and North San Diego County!

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Rotary Club of Coronado celebrates 100 years.

The Coronado Historical Association museum has a new exhibit. It celebrates the Rotary Club of Coronado’s 100 year anniversary in 2026.

With historical photographs and artifacts, A Century of Service: 100 Years of the Rotary Club of Coronado covers the history of the club, from its founding in 1926 by 21 members to the present day. More importantly, it details how club members have improved the local community, and have worked to help people all around the world.

I was stunned to learn about the sheer amount of charitable work these Rotarians have done!

The Rotary Club of Coronado has worked to train community members in emergency preparedness. During COVID they created a Neighbor to Neighbor program to help keep people informed and connected. They support the Coronado Hospital Foundation. They offer scholarships, mentorship and leadership opportunities to local youth. They support the Rotary Youth Exchange, Model United Nations, Music Scholarship Competitions, Speech Contests, Athlete Awards and more!

Helping people around the world, the Rotary Club of Coronado fundraises to eradicate polio. They support grants for organizations like Tanzania Hospital and Orphanage, Project Mercy Baja, and the Pan American Institute school in Tijuana, Mexico. They support Limbs of Freedom which provide prosthetics in Mexico. They also support Thousand Smiles, providing cleft lip and other care in Mexico, too.

So much good work!

Go check out the exhibit and prepare to be impressed!

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Help preserve history, education in Chula Vista!

The historic tall ship Bill of Rights makes its home in Chula Vista Marina. Launched in 1971, today it offers charters, tours and, perhaps most importantly, it is an asset used for training youth interested in careers at sea. Bill of Rights is used by the U.S. Navy Sea Cadets, Navy Junior ROTC, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and others.

The all-volunteer South Bayfront Sailing Association owns and operates Bill of Rights. An over half-century-old wooden schooner needs a lot of maintenance. Right now the original decking is being replaced. Captain Don Johnson is an expert carpenter, fortunately, but to redeck the beautiful, historic yacht in the most economical way practical still takes significant money.

Lately, the youth organizations that train on Bill of Rights have seen a significant reduction in their own funds. That has placed the South Bayfront Sailing Association in a position of needing donations from local businesses and generous individuals to continue the programs.

Would you like to help preserve both history and education in Chula Vista?

Please visit the South Bayfront Sailing Association website by clicking here. Consider volunteering or making a donation. Simply visiting the tall ship and its nearby gift shop kiosk makes for a fun excursion. They’ll gladly give you a tour, too!

Everything you do helps a lot!

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Have a blind date with a book in Oceanside!

In Oceanside, it’s easy to arrange for a blind date . . . with a book!

For your blind date, simply head over to Jane & Evie’s Used Books at 323 North Coast Highway and choose one of the plainly wrapped packages pictured above.

Beneath the mysterious wrappings you’ll discover a book!

Will you fall in love with it?

You can’t judge a book by its cover. Particularly in this instance. Fortunately, there are written clues on the wrappings that provide an idea of what you might find inside. (You get a beautiful bookmark, too!)

Every five dollar purchase helps to fund the Oceanside Public Library. What’s not to love?

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Gulls hockey fundraiser keeps kids reading!

Char Car (@charcar04) supports literacy by providing books to children in hospitals and schools, including Rady Children’s Hospital. The San Diego Gulls ice hockey team is a big supporter of literacy, too, with programs like Reading is the Goal.

My own short stories, including One Thousand Likes, are read by students around the world, so naturally I’m in favor of these efforts.

I’ve learned that Char Car is holding a Gulls Hockey Fundraiser that keeps kids reading. Game tickets purchased through the fundraiser will benefit summer reading programs. For $20, you get to watch a great game on Saturday, April 18, 2026, and you benefit local families! Sounds like a great deal to me!

For more information, see the above graphic!

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Love a historic ship for Valentine’s Day!

We in San Diego are so fortunate. Our city is home to one of the world’s most famous tall ships, Star of India, and one of our nation’s top maritime museums. Why not show your love for these San Diego jewels with a Valentine’s Day gift?

The historic ships of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, like all ships exposed to time and outdoor weather, need continuing maintenance and repair. With love in your heart, you can help out!

Here’s a wish list that supports the museum’s fleet, including Star of India, H.M.S. Surprise, Californian, Pilot boat and San Salvador.

To learn more, or perhaps make a loving donation, send an email to membership@sdmaritime.org.

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