Friends of Vista Hill - Fundraising Events

55th Anniversary Gala was a Blast!

Oh, what a night! Guests were welcomed aboard the USS Midway Museum by volunteers and staff wearing 1950s attire and ushered into the hangar bay where Frank Sinatra was crooning and a lovely gal was showing off her hula hooping skills. The program was opened by The Cat and the Hat who also first leapt out from the page in 1957.

Our IMBY (In My Back Yard) award recipients, Sharon and Jerry Stein and the Sam and Rose Stein Family are proud to have three generations of their family involved with Vista Hill. In 1989, the Sam S. and Rose Stein Foundation donated $1 million to Vista Hill’s Los Niños Education Center; and in honor of this contribution and their commitment, it was renamed the Sam and Rose Stein Education Center in 1991. Sharon and Jerry Stein have continued this philanthropic legacy and today their four children, Greg, Lisa, Karen and Dana all actively support numerous worthwhile causes. Greg currently serves on the Vista Hill Board of Directors and Dana has been involved in several Friends of Vista Hill fundraising events including this year’s gala committee.

“We were very “honored” that you honored the Stein Family and are so proud of our relationship with Vista Hill and all of the wonderful work that is done there,” boasted Sharon Stein.

Operation Blast to the Past: A Salute to 1957 was an event filled with fascinating historical facts, fancy food provided by the fabulous Crown Point Catering, lively bidding on grand auction items and glamorous guys and dolls bee boppin’ on the dance floor. Gala Chair Connie Conard and her incredible committee are thrilled that their hard-work coupled with the generosity of the donors and guests created a spirited evening and netted over $200,000 for Vista Hill’s programs and greatest needs.

Thank you to our Gala Sponsors and Underwriters!
We couldn’t have done it without YOU!

Presenting Sponsor - Audrey S. Geisel ~ Dr. Seuss Fund
“The Jive” Sponsor - Darlene Marcos Shiley
“The Swing” Sponsor - Virginia Napierskie
“The Lindy Hop” Sponsor - Torrey Pines Bank
“The Bop” Sponsor - Mary Alice & Ron Brady

Underwriters:
Vista Hill Board of Directors
Thomas J. & Theodora Lynch Fleming Foundation
Faith Stagg
Elaine Lipinsky Family Foundation
Cubic Corporation
Rachel & Pino Ficara
Anonymous
Barbara Kjos
Peggy Matthews
Judy & Alan Robbins
Kenneth & Harle Montgomery Foundation
Sandy & David Stone
The Mistler Family Foundation - Barb Crew
Ann Mound

Vista Hill Council on Mental Health Luncheon with Dr. Mark Katz
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Guests at Vista Hill’s Council on Mental Health Summer Luncheon wouldn’t let speaker Mark Katz, Ph.D. go. They wanted more, and he has promised to make a return visit. His topic, “Children Who Fail in School but Succeed in Life,” seemed to touch everyone in the room.

Author of On Playing a Poor Hand Well, Dr. Katz is a San Diego clinical and consulting psychologist who explores the sources of resilience in lives of individuals who struggled during their years in school. He compared the ability to cope with the skill of juggling. Most of us can toss one ball up and catch it; some of us can “juggle” two balls. Very few of us can manage to juggle three balls, and almost nobody can handle four. Children who have major problems can only handle so much. If they must deal with several hard situations (for example poverty, substance abusing parents, a mother who is seriously ill, homelessness, etc.) it is simply too much for them. They must have help and support.

Dr. Katz spoke about executive skills which we all need to get through our daily lives. Some people know what they need to do, but they just can’t make it all happen as it should. Executive secretaries help CEOs; wives help husbands; husbands help wives, and so on. Positive encouragement is critical.

As a Friends of Vista Hill board member put it, “Dr. Katz changed my 9th grader’s life in a very special and positive way!”

Vista Hill’s 21st Annual Fashion Show & Luncheon
Thursday, April 26, 2012
“A Walk on the Wild Side” was a roaring success! Thanks to the wonderful committee and dedicated event chair, Barbie Spinazzola, and honorary chair, Rick Gulley, nearly 500 guests were buzzing about. Ladies went hog wild and dressed in animal print. We even had an entire table of tigers!

Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed shoppers arrived early at 10:30 to get the pick of the litter from the 19 boutique vendors. Guests were eager beavers to get into the ballroom and see the cheetah and other creatures compliments of the San Diego Zoo. Attendees were treated to a wonderful lunch and presentations from Vista Hill’s President and CEO, Robert Dean, mistress of Ceremonies and Vista Hill Advisory Board member Carol LeBeau, and ParentCare Alumni members inspired the audience with their amazing stories of recovery and giving back. They gifted the guests with their American Indian tribal drumming. Everyone went ape over the fabulous fashions put together by Gretchen Productions. All this to raise over $60,000 to support Vista Hill’s programs serving families throughout San Diego County.

Special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor Virginia Napierskie and to our other sponsors and underwriters: Barbie and Dan Spinazzola; Audrey S. Geisel/Dr. Seuss Foundation; Valerie and Harry Cooper; Barbara Kjos; Mutual of Omaha Bank; Peggy Matthews; Chandler Asset Management; Sally B. and John M. Thornton; San Diego Zoo; and Synergy Electric/Diane Keltner.

Gala Goes Gangbusters: $225,000 Raised for Vista Hill Programs
Chairperson Mary Alice Brady and her Gala Committee jumped in with both feet and made 10/10/10 A Perfect 10! an unforgettable Vista Hill Gala. Raising $200,000 was their target, and with the help of 250 guests, they surpassed this goal!

Robert Dean, Vista Hill President & CEO, named Virginia Napierskie and Connie Conard, mother-daughter philanthropists in San Diego, the IMBY (In My Back Yard) Award winners for their long-term commitment to Vista Hill and other local organizations. They received a well-deserved standing ovation.

Honorary Chairs Audrey S. Geisel and Darlene Marcos Shiley were present in spirit. They, along with Virginia Napierskie, kicked off the Gala underwriting this year and helped the Committee surpass its goal. Having such dedicated donors who lead the way means the world to Vista Hill.

The Gala Buzz started many weeks ago, and the official kick-off Patron Reception was held at Mary Alice and Ron Brady's on September 22nd with fifty guests enjoying their beautiful home.

On 10/10/10, guest speaker Irma Contreras, a ParentCare graduate, spoke of her many years drug-free, and thanked Vista Hill for “being there” for so many struggling women and children in San Diego County.

Guitarist Kim Olson wrote and sang songs on the spot during the cocktail hour while guests viewed a special line-up of live and silent auction items. Many unique touches focusing on “ten,” made the evening especially fun. Auctioneer Mark Drilling and Friends of Vista Hill Event Coordinator Rachel Peniche encouraged attendees to open their wallets to Fund a Need.

Everyone enjoyed delicious cuisine by Crown Point Catering and entertainment by the award-winning Chula Vista High School Glee Show Choir “Vocal Synergy” – 10 girls and 10 boys with beautiful voices and lots of energy.

Music by the Mighty Untouchables (known that night as the Mighty UnTENables) completed the evening with dancing and 10 desserts at the Liberty Station Conference Center. The event ended at 10:10 p.m., a very appropriate hour.

Women's Council on Mental Health Luncheon - July 22nd

Author Jane Isay spoke with humor at the Women's Council on Mental Health Summer Luncheon on July 22, covering the topic of the “Generation Gap Between Adult Children and their Parents.” Her book Walking on Eggshells addresses this subject which the audience related to and enjoyed. Photo Co-chairs Sheila Lipinsky and Phyllis Epstein with speaker Jane Isay (middle), which took place at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine.

Viva La Moda! was the theme of the April 9th Fashion Show at the Manchester Grand Hyatt. The 400+ guests purchased items from 15 vendors and participated in the Silent Auction and Opportunity Drawing. The Fashion Show by Gretchen Productions had a Latin flavor as did the delicious lunch. Co-chairs were Laura Applegate and Tania Luviano. Honorary Chair was Friends of Vista Hill Board member Diane Keltner. Special thanks to Pat Brown who stood in for emcee Carol LeBeau who was under the weather.

The Women's Council on Mental Health Spring 2010 luncheon on February 18 featured speaker Juliet Funt, daughter of Allen Funt of Candid Camera fame. Ms. Funt spoke on the topic of“Overcommitted, Overwhelmed and Over It! Success Skills for the Blisteringly Busy.” Over 200 enjoyed the talk, which was candid and filled with humor. Carlee Harmonson and Susan Christopher co-chaired the committee.