Spotlight on the Community

Deacon Jim Vargas, President and CEO of Father Joe's Villages, talks about his organization's campaign to prevent and end homelessness, one life at a time. Vargas discusses the new process of distributing three meals a day to those in need, as well as the Turn the Key Initiative, which will establish 2,000 affordable housing units in San Diego. Vargas also underscores the exponential benefits of helping even just one person get off the street and into a stable life.

Stephanie Cook, Executive Director of the San Diego Women's Foundation (SDWF), chats about her foundation's goal of connecting, inspiring, and educating local women through collective philanthropy. Cook highlights the SDWF's desire to tackle the most pressing issues in the community by allowing the organizations which they sponsor to use funds in any manner that best suits their needs. Cook talks about the Foundation's latest grants cycle which focuses on nonprofit organizations that provide critically needed services to help individuals and families acquire or maintain stable housing.

Neville Billimoria, SVP Membership/Marketing & Chief Advocacy Officer for Mission Federal Credit Union, is joined by Lieutenant Colonel Lee Lescano, the San Diego County Coordinator for the Salvation Army, to discuss how their respective organizations are combating the tremendous increase in food insecurity and hardships this holiday season. Billimoria talks about Mission Federal's continued efforts to raise money to give back to the community, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Lescano details the Salvation Army's plan to continue their annual Angel Tree toy drive program, food distribution, and Red Kettle campaign in a COVID-safe way this year.

Ashley Camac, Executive Director of USO San Diego, is joined by Brianna Ahern, a Board Member of the Same Organization, to discuss the nearly 80-year-old organization's annual outreach to 500,000 military men and women and their families. Camac underscores USO's efforts to connect military personnel with their families during their deployments. Ahern speaks about the duties of USO Board members, as well as how listeners can get involved with the USO San Diego Board. Camac and Ahern touch on the evolving needs of military families during COVID-19 and how USO San Diego meets those needs.

Jennifer Paroly, President of the Tri-City Hospital Foundation, is joined by Aaron Byzak, Chief External Affairs Officer, to shout out the "game-changing" David C. Copley Foundation gift, which will allow the hospital to upgrade and renovate its Emergency Department. Byzak discusses the hospital's 60th Anniversary Plans next year; while Paroly talks about the hospital's outstanding reputation in cardiovascular and stroke care.

Nick O'Brien, CFO and one of three founders of Aeris, Inc., is joined by Co-Founder Andrew Medland, COO, discuss the science behind copper as a germ-killing product to reduce the spread of pathogens. O'Brien and Medland talk about their company's commitment to helping protect frontline healthcare workers.

Tracy Jones, editor, writing coach, and founding member of the San Diego Memoir Writers Association (SDMWA), is joined by Chili Cilch, SDMWA memoirist, to discuss how their organization helps writers hone their memoir writing skills. Jones highlights the December 5 Memoir Showcase, which will feature a host of memoirs from local writers. Cilch chats about her journey to becoming a writer and speaks to how valuable her involvement with SDMWA has been for her work.

Rich DeMarco and Pete Medhurst, longtime play-by-play announcers for Army Black Knights and Navy Midshipmen football teams, preview the 121st gridiron tilt slated for Saturday, December 12 at Michie Field on the West Point campus. DeMarco and Medhurst chat about the Army-Navy House Sweepstakes, in which one Army fan and one Navy fan will win a ticket to next year's game in New York City. DeMarco and Medhurst reminisce about memorable moments from prior games, as well as underscore the pageantry of "America's Game."

Dr. Sheldon Zablow, Nutritional Psychiatrist and Author of Your Vitamins Are Obsolete, describes the correlation between essential vitamin deficiencies and chronic inflammation, a contributing factor in 9 out of 10 leading causes of death. Dr. Zablow discusses why multivitamins many people take are ill-suited for maintaining healthy vitamin levels, as well as the critical role that B12 and folate play in maintaining a highly functioning body.

Sharon Lutz, Executive Director of Hospice of the North Coast (HNC), is joined by her colleague, Jim Reiser, Bereavement Coordinator at Hope Bereavement Center, to talk about the end-of-life services HNC provides. Lutz highlights the Pacifica House, the only General In-Patient Hospice home in North County, along with HNC's annual "Light Up A Life Memorial" event scheduled for Thursday, December 3. Reiser recounts the challenges that have come with the pandemic as well as the promising results of EMDR - an emerging method for overcoming trauma.