With the scenic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean, St. Germaine Children’s Charity members came together on June 4 at a charming location in La Jolla for our Annual Grant Awards and Membership Luncheon. With over 120 attendees, this year’s June Luncheon Chair Lisa Rhoads selected a stunning tropical theme with a ruby-throated hummingbird for the event. Graphic Designer Pamela Cabanilias and the June Luncheon’s team of volunteers turned Lisa’s vision into a beautiful program with a delectable lunch menu and an atmosphere of celebration. Our community partner, Bridget’s Blooms designed and helped underwrite the coordinating centerpieces.
Guests were greeted by lovely smiles from our volunteer Board Members Barbara Giammona and Jeanette Wright (off-screen) as they check-in.
The event started-off with a warm welcome from President Janice Farnow, followed by a beautifully delivered invocation from Past President Wendy Neri.
Lisa Rhoads, June Luncheon Chair, introduced our keynote speaker San Diego County District Attorney, Summer Stephan, who devoted her lifelong career of over 30 years to protecting children against human trafficking.
Keynote Speaker: District Attorney Summer Stephan
San Diego County DA Summer Stephan, expressed her admiration for the work and impact that St. Germaine Children’s Charity has had on protecting our children in San Diego. She discussed the hard truth about human trafficking and how we as parents and adults, have failed to provide our kids the necessary tools that they need to arm and protect themselves from predators who prey on our most vulnerable children. She stressed that more education is needed.
She shared examples of the works that her office and various taskforce agencies are doing, the programs they are implementing, and how their efforts are in alignment with the work and mission of St. Germaine. She assured the audience that while we are sleeping each night, her team of a thousand agents are at work fighting to make sure that justice is brought against those who prey on our children.
After the powerful speech by DA Summer Stephan, our VP of Philantropy Andrea Anderson, presented the Barbara Christensen Heart of San Diego Award Winner to the outstanding work that the San Diego Police Foundation is doing with their SafetyNet Program, to educate and provide the tools needed for elementary, middle- and high-school students to recognize and protect themselves against on-line predators.
Grant Co-Chair Katie Oliver took the stage to join VP of Philantropy Andrea Anderson, and awarded $131,420 in grants to eight agencies that support our organization’s mission to stop child abuse. The agencies honored with grants are listed in Grant Recipients 2024.
This year’s luncheon also marked our 40th Anniversary celebration. Board President Janice Farnow invited past Presidents to join her on stage. She highlighted the milestones achieved under each of their leaderships over the years that have contributed to St. Germaine being the dedicated organization that it is today.
A special thank you to honor our donors. Without their supports and generosity over the years, none of these would have been possible. It takes a village and this village has a big heart!
A sincere gratitude to Kris and Jim Benham, who happily hosted this remarkable venue and generously underwrote the room rental and valet. Kris also created the pretty signage and name tags for the event.
Afterward, Janice presented the 2024-2025 Board of Directors to the attendees and gave a little teaser with regard to the upcoming Silver Tea that is to take place on December 10th, 2024.
And the raffle drawings — the party wouldn’t be complete without them! The reactions of the winners (or winning table is more like it) were priceless.
We are grateful to our Grant Recipients working on the front lines. These agencies provide care to vulnerable newborns and children with disabilities who cannot defend or speak for themselves as well as other children who can speak but don’t. These agencies work to give these children a fighting chance to survive this world . . . the abuse and bruises may disappear, but the pain can last a lifetime.
St. Germaine Children’s Charity recognizes the difficulties of their work and is proud to provide financial support to the San Diego agencies that work to achieve our organization’s mission. To learn more about what each of these agencies do, click HERE.
Kicking Off Our 40th Anniversary with a Bang
Thank you to all the St. Germaine Children’s Charity volunteers who helped make this luncheon special.
