Our 2023-24 fiscal year officially ended June 30th, 2024. And what a year we had! Due to the success of our two major fundraisers, Between the Covers … A Literary Luncheon and Havana Nights; several small fundraisers throughout the year; and the generosity of our members, donors, and sponsors, we net over 20% more than projected! We were able to fully fund the primary grant requests of our Top 3 philanthropies: Community’s Child; Manes for Movement; and Marine Mammal Care Center LA. In addition, we were able to partially fund the grant requests of 11 other South Bay philanthropies: Boys & Girls Club of the LA Harbor; South Bay Children’s Health Center; South Coast Botanic Garden; 1736 Family Crisis Center; Cancer Support Community South Bay; Friends of the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium; Los Serenos de Pt. Vicente; Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy; Providence TrinityKids Care; Toberman Neighborhood Center; and Wyland Foundation.

 

Our Top 3 received their checks at our traditional June Luncheon, our final and celebratory general meeting of our fiscal year. It was held again at the BlueWater Grill in Redondo Beach. In addition, this year our 1st VPs Philanthropy did something different to distribute the remaining 11 checks. We held an afternoon social at a member’s home and invited all 14 of our philanthropies to enjoy some appetizers and mingle with each other. It was very moving to watch our philanthropies receive their checks but also to see them bond with each other and talk about ways we can all help each other. We truly are Better Together (which happens to be out theme for our 2024-25 season).

 

Congratulations to all our philanthropies for 2023-24! We look forward to another successful fundraising year and to a continued relationship with all of you.