Las Patronas awards ’09 Jewel Ball proceeds at luncheon

Ten San Diego nonprofits were selected to receive grant funding from Las Patronas during a luncheon on Jan. 20 at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club. The agencies shared the $872,426 generated in 2009 from fundraising efforts by Las Patronas, which were supported by the San Diego community, and culminated in the 2009 Silk & Spice Jewel Ball. With the grants:

• Alpha Project for the Homeless will buy an eight-passenger van to expand its outreach services to people who lack transportation.
• Birch Aquarium will buy a hybrid pickup truck to transport marine animals and equipment critical to its mission of preserving environmental resources.
• Salk Institute for Biological Studies will buy a cargo van to transport a hands-on laboratory experience to middle school classrooms.
• San Diego Civic Youth Ballet will get a sprung dance floor at Casa del Prado for use by many dance organizations to reduce the risk of injuries.
• San Diego Public Library Foundation will buy audio-visual equipment and computers to allow access to technology at the facility on the Logan Elementary School site.
• Sharp Healthcare Foundation will get a Giraffe OmniBed isolette and accessories to support micro-preemie infant needs.
• Spreckels Organ Society will get a replacement organ console for the historic organ pavilion in Balboa Park (matching grant with The Benbough Foundation).
• St. Vincent de Paul Village will buy playground equipment for its Child Development Center.
• The New Children’s Museum will get a multi-interface phone system for its building.
• Tri-City Hospital Foundation will get a Giraffe Omnibed isolette for stabilizing infants and five Neo-Puff Infant Resuscitators to allow safe oxygenation of neo-natal infants’ lungs.