St. Germaine Children’s Charity held our Annual Grants Awards and Membership Luncheon on June 17th, 2025, at a beautiful location in La Jolla with an iconic backdrop of the Pacific Ocean. With over 100 attendees, June Luncheon Chair Lisa Rhoads and her committee worked to design and expertly orchestrate this year’s luncheon. Featuring on the invitations and programs, is our beautiful Hummingbird which Lisa noted that “The hummingbird is considered the universal symbol of beauty, love and resilience. In many cultures, including the culture of St. Germaine Children’s Charity the hummingbird represents freedom, freedom from child abuse.”
A SPECIAL THANK YOU
Underwriters:
Room Rental and Valet, Kris and Jim Benham
Centerpieces, Lisa and Kevin Rhoads
Photography, Emily Sullivan
Program Designer, Alli Caya
Floral Designer, Bridget’s Blooms
Guests were greeted by lovely smiles from our volunteer Board Members Jeanette Wright, Monique Konovalov, and Marissa Maiorca as they check-in.
The event started-off with a warm welcome from June Luncheon Chair Lisa Rhoads and President Janice Farnow.
Past President Wendy Neri, delivered a beautiful invocation.
Andrea Anderson, VP Philanthropy, announced the Barbara Christensen Heart of San Diego Award Winner, Voices for Children. She then introduced our guest speaker the President & CEO of Voices for Children, Jessica Munoz.
Keynote Speaker: Jessica Munoz, Esq., MFS
Jessica Munoz is an attorney and practiced for more than seven years, including four years as a trial attorney in juvenile dependency courts in both Los Angeles and San Diego Counties. She has been with Voices for Children since January 2016 as the Executive Director for the Riverside County program and more recently as the Executive Vice President for the entire organization. Jessica has devoted her career to vulnerable children, youth, and families affected by legal systems.
Grant Co-Chair Cathy Boychuk took the stage to join VP of Philanthropy Andrea Anderson, and awarded $160,000 in grants to ten agencies that support our organization’s mission to stop child abuse. The agencies honored with grants are listed on the Grant Recipients 2025 page.
Board President Janice Farnow recognize last year’s Silver Tea Chair – Sherry Macelli (photo not available) who led with an exceptional flair of organization and attention to detail, her Co-Chair – Michelle Brown, and the entire Silver Tea Committee, for having produced the most successful Silver Tea event in our history.
A very special thank you to our amazing past Silver Tea hosts Laurie Ellsworth (2024), accompanied here by SGCC member Margaret Dudas, and Laura Wheeler (2022), who joined us in today’s Grant Awards celebration. Without their generosity to allow 300-400 guests into their beautiful homes, we would not have achieved our fundraising goals to provide financial supports to local child abuse prevention agencies in San Diego.
Afterward, Janice presented the 2025-2026 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 9th, 2025.
Congratulations to all of our 2025 Grant Recipients!
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 pains remain.
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.
Thank you to all St. Germaine Children’s Charity volunteers who helped made today special.
We Were Featured on KOGO AM600!
We were also featured on KOGO AM600 radio on July 7, 2025. Thank you Lucinda Kay for a nice segment that highlighted St. Germaine Children’s Charity mission.
A special shoutout to our amazing Lisa Rhoads (June Luncheon Chair) and her friend Joanna Wasmuth. who connected us to Ms. Lucinda Kay. Thank you Ladies!