One of our staples is ensuring we give back to our community in the form of service. During this Christmas season we assisted at the Holiday with Hope Celebration. Each year the Jackie Robinson Family YMCA hosts a holiday celebration on the Saturday before Christmas. This years festival took place Saturday, December 20, 2014 from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.
Purpose
To provide a fun day for families with children during the Christmas holiday season. Each year gifts are presented to thousands children thanks to the generous donations of individuals and businesses. This year was no different as nearly 5000 people showed up to take part in this years holiday festivities.
This year’s event featured
Arts and Crafts
Picture with Santa
One gift per child that is present*
Music
Entertainment
Much more!
We are thankful for the opportunity that the YMCA gave us to assist families this holiday season and the opportunity to play the roles of Rudolph, Mickey Mouse and Santa.
This year we served the community again twice during the Thanksgiving holiday, The young men of The Blue Heart Foundation’s mentoring program HEART (Higher Education And Rising Together) participated in the Annual San Diego BPOA Thanksgiving Dinner drive and the Annual New Season of Love Block Party. One of our core values is volunteerism, we feel its important to give back and serve our community regularly.
The Annual San Diego BPOA Thanksgiving Dinner drive benefited over 100 families, other amazing organizations that participated in this beautiful event that were Phi Beta Sigma, NFLPA, Sigma Gamma Rho, Brothers United and the San Diego Police Dept and was a great way to kick start the holidays.
That same weekend we volunteered at the Annual New Season of Love Block Party. This is an Annual Event that fed over 1000 families and we were able to distribute 31,000 lbs of groceries and 600 turkeys to families in attendance.
The unique concept and vision of New Seasons Church is to reach this community where it is needed most – the family -every family – with love. Through this event, we plan to bring available resources to our community. We will offer information and assistance with agencies such as: CAL Fresh Pre-Screening, Red Cross WIC, family healthcare resources, East Country Pregnancy Care Clinic, County Health Mobile providing HIV/STD and Hepatitis screening, Covered California information and AKA Head Start.
We volunteered and providing water for participants in the San Diego HipHop5k fun run. The overall goal of this 5k is to create a surge of positive energy and forward thinking in the residents of southeastern San Diego. We intend to accomplish this by demonstrating the wonders of physical activity, creativity and imagination with a combination of ART, FITNESS, CULTURE and COMMUNITY. Through this event we hope to rejuvenate the spirit of the people
With over 250 participants people trekked a 3.1 mile walk/run through Southeast San Diego together through our neighborhoods in a show of solidarity, health and innovative thought. The goal of this 5k was to encourage both and youngest and old to participate. This is a call to combat the numerous preventable illnesses that plague Americans today: diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure and obesity.
There were numerous activities throughout the day including a wonderful line up of local artists from the jazz and neo soul, world to the hip hop and R&B world gracing the stage. a Calisthenics group from Harlem called the Bartendaz coming out to do some pull ups and push ups with us. Pull ups and push ups like you’ve never seen before, the skill level of this group was simply amazing.
There was also a vegan soul food truck t along with about 30 other vendors selling cloths, oils, soaps and handing out information. A 20 foot climbing wall to use, a fire truck for the kids, face painting, competitions like dodge ball and tug of war. So much stuff, dancers, an art gallery, CPR classes, yoga classes, massage tables and much more!
San Diego is home to many fitness enthusiasts and hosts numerous marathons every year. This year, was the first ever 5k marathon in the southeastern area. Named the Hip Hop 5k, its purpose is to combine fitness with art, and also educate people about the importance of exercise and healthy eating. We were thrilled to be a part of this phenomenal event and thank Dawud Tarley and Corina Rose for allowing us to volunteer and be a part of such a wonderful event… See you next year!
Rising early Saturday morning, young men from the Blue Heart Foundation set out to volunteer at a stair climb held to honor firefighters, police and other emergency personnel killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center towers on Sept. 11, 2001. The San Diego Firefighter 9-11 Memorial Stair Climb challenged firefighters, police, military personnel and civilians to ascend 110 stories at the Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel. It began at 7 a.m.
Each year, approximately 100 firefighters die while serving their communities. Many more die from cancer, heart disease, neurological disorders, stroke, and other injuries and illnesses suffered as a result of their service. But we worked together to honor these sacrifices and care for the firefighters who assume these risks and the families who share them.
Each volunteer assisted by helping with setup, passing out water and then taking the trek up the stairs to challenge themselves as well as pay homage to those that paid the ultimate price that day. We climbed in the memory, and honor of the 343 FDNY Brothers, 23 NYPD Brothers and Sisters, and 37 Port Authority Brothers and Sisters, and to raise awareness of the sacrifices made by firefighters everywhere.
Each climber received a badge and photo representing one of the 403 firefighters, police officers, Port Authority officers and emergency medical personnel who died in the terrorist attacks. “This event brings tears to your eyes, makes you proud to be an American and gives you a great workout all at once,” said Carlyle Wund of Firefighter Aid, which is organizing the climb. “It unites firefighters and the general public in the spirit of support and remembrance.”
Funds raised benefited FirefighterAid (formerly the San Diego Firefighters’ Benevolent Fund,) the 501(c)(3) charity which cares for Firefighters and families through sickness, distress, and death.
Thursday, Aug. 21st we joined The San Diego Padres Volunteer Team in sorting and bagging over 8000 lbs of nectarines at the San Diego Food Bank to help fight against hunger. Presented by Toyota the Padres Volunteer Team is a county-wide volunteer force created to give back to the greater San Diego area. It calls up Padres fans to join with our players, alumni and staff to donate their time to San Diego’s nonprofits, civic organizations, and Padres Foundation activities.
Our joint mission is to build awareness of and inspire participation in serving the greater San Diego community. Our vision is to inspire volunteer service that benefits the greater San Diego community. As Peyerre Hart would later state ” It was fun hanging out with the guys and helping people at the same time.”
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in San Diego County. Last year, the Food Bank distributed 22.3 million pounds of food, and the Food Bank served, on average, 370,000 people per month in San Diego County.
The Food Bank receives food from the USDA, food manufacturers, food retailers, the agricultural sector, food drives, and through financial contributions that enable us to purchase protein-rich foods, fresh produce, and dry staple foods such as beans, oatmeal, and rice. The also benefit from the generosity of more than 28,000 volunteers annually that help to sort and distribute donated and purchased food products and on this day we were proud to join them. Jamil Duke shared “It was good to help people, I’m glad the fruit is being distributed to people that can’t afford food.”
The 16th Annual United States of America Presidential Volunteer Awards Program “ A New Birth of Freedom” took place on Friday, May 22, 2015 at the Educational Cultural Complex located at 4343 Ocean View Blvd., San Diego, 92113. The program highlighted youth as young as 11 years old and adult volunteers from throughout San Diego County for their community service contributions.
Ms. Maxine Clark presented the Seal of the President of the U.S. and a White House Congratulatory Letter from President Obama was read by Mrs. Cynthia Gilliam, Presidential Awards Director, “The purpose of hosting the Presidential Volunteer Awards Program is to acknowledge the dedication and support that many San Diegans give to their community to improve the quality of life for all. Volunteers are the driving force for many successful community clean-ups, programs and events. Many volunteers do not work for recognition. However, we find it very important to do so because everyone should be acknowledge for the positive and great work that they do. If we don’t celebrate them, who will?”
Isaiah Coleman stated, “I am proud to volunteer and serve my community. I enjoy giving back because is not only the right thing to do but I want to be a productive citizen. Us, youth usually are said to be lazy and stuck on social media and video games all day. I think given the opportunity more kids will want to become involved. The Blue Heart Foundation was recognized for serving over 1000 hrs of volunteer service. Tracy Morris founder of The Blue Heart Foundation said “I am thankful and humble to receive this recognition with so many San Diegans who are also making a positive impact in our community by volunteering. Each and ever member of our mentoring program HEART contributed to this honor.”
The Presidential Awards Program was made possible with the support and contributions of The Buffalo Soldiers, 9th & 10th Horse Calvary Association; La Diego Dance Theater, Danial Marshall; The Best Kept Secret, San Diego Chapter; Educational Cultural Complex; Dr. Anthony Beebe, Ed.D; St. Stephens’s Cathedral COGIC Mime Group, T.R.U.T.H; Lard Family; Nelicidad and Mela Pettis; Christy Figueroa Pettis; Harold J. Ballard Parent Center; Pastor Charlie and 1st Lady Maxine Clark; Pastor Kevin and 1st Lady Roberson; Mr. Michael Sanders; Waldorf School of San Diego; Principal Gary Rollins; Gompers Prep and Herbert Hoover
This year’s event featured
and video games all day. I think given the opportunity more kids will want to become involved. The Blue Heart Foundation was recognized for serving over 1000 hrs of volunteer service. Tracy Morris founder of The Blue Heart Foundation said “I am thankful and humble to receive this recognition with so many San Diegans who are also making a positive impact in our community by volunteering. Each and ever member of our mentoring program HEART contributed to this honor.”
