Adrian Gonzalez Fuels Youth Education and Civic Engagement

Civic engagement and education go hand-in-hand for baseball all-star Adrian Gonzalez and his wife, Betsy Gonzalez. The native San Diegans setup a scholarship fund with The Foundation and have since supported the academic growth of more than 50 students in the region. The fund supports students actively involved in the community with a desire to pursue higher education.

Creating a Region of Age Friendly Communities

Don Ambrose takes a holistic approach to philanthropy and age friendly communities. What started as a personal family experience has sparked leadership from Don and The San Diego Foundation to ensure San Diego grows and adapts with its aging population in mind. The Foundation’s Age Friendly Communities program promotes equity and opportunity for everyone, regardless of age.

North County Nonprofit Builds Path to Success for Underserved Youth

Leveraging funding from The San Diego Foundation and our Regional Affiliate Program, Encuentros Leadership is developing young Latino boys through education and leadership training. In 12 years, the organization has reached more than 9,000 Latino boys through its STEM education program, which has helped decrease the dropout rate by 5 percent among North County Latino boys.

Escondido Leads Regional Giving With $1 Million

Through the power of collective giving, Escondido residents and community leaders celebrated $1 million in grantmaking -- a major milestone for the Regional Affiliate Program. More than 35 nonprofit organizations and thousands of Escondido residents have benefitted with improved quality of life in the community.

Local Leaders Plan for Future Generations with STAY COOL

David and Peg Engel believe in philanthropy with a purpose. Long-time Foundation donors in a variety of capacities, the Engels have transitioned their individual grantmaking into something with broader impact. They champion environmental initiatives and founded the STAY COOL initiative which inspires a generation of grandparents to take action on climate change to ensure our communities continue to thrive for our children and grandchildren.

Uniting Diverse Groups and Cultures Through Collaborative Art

Thanks to a grant from The San Diego Foundation Creative Catalyst program, local sculptor and multimedia artist Noé Olivas built an interactive exhibit at The New Children’s Museum in San Diego. Olivas worked with dozens of people in San Diego and Tijuana to create an art installation that conveyed the spirit of collaboration and the value in bringing different groups of people, culture and objects together through art experiences.

Gathering Places Color Blighted Community Canvases

As a champion of The San Diego Foundation Gathering Places program, Paul Eichen leverages innovation and unique strategies to revitalize San Diego’s most underserved communities. By partnering with different organizations and community groups, Paul is turning our most blighted areas into thriving parks and gathering spaces for civic engagement.