{"id":467335,"date":"2026-09-18T00:31:01","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T00:31:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/467335\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T00:31:01","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T00:31:01","slug":"8-charitable-events-to-attend-in-october","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/467335\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Charitable Events to Attend in October"},"content":{"rendered":"

Las Patronas turns 80 this year. But its newly minted octogenarian status doesn\u2019t mean the all-volunteer organization is slowing down. On August 8, Las Patronas celebrated eight decades of philanthropy at its Venetian-themed Jewel Ball<\/a> at the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More than 800 attendees attended the philanthropic event, a sold-out black-tie gala, which featured classic Italian sports cars, photo ops in a gondola, a replica of the Orologio tower, and other thoughtful details that set the scene for an elegant and festive evening.<\/p>\n

Though the Jewel Ball is one of the highlights of the gala season and the most visible element of Las Patronas\u2019 mission, it\u2019s also an opportunity to thank supporters, showcase the organization\u2019s impact, and cap off fundraising efforts throughout the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cBehind the gowns, flowers, and celebration is an extraordinary amount of work and an even more extraordinary group of women<\/a> who make that work possible. This includes our members, both active and advisory, along with our donors, sponsors, nonprofit partners, and generations of San Diegans who have supported Las Patronas,\u201d says Colleen Lighter, the organization\u2019s president.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of Las Patronas<\/p>\n

Looking Back on a Legacy\u00a0<\/p>\n

As Las Patronas celebrated at its 80th annual Jewel Ball, Festa di Venezia, members reflected on how special it is for an organization to remain so vibrant and relevant for eight decades.<\/p>\n

Las Patronas was founded in 1946 by a small group of women with a shared desire to give back to their community. In the decades since, Las Patronas has transitioned into one of San Diego\u2019s premier philanthropic organizations, providing financial assistance to nonprofit organizations across an array of causes. Major beneficiaries for 2026, who will each receive grants of more than $20,000 for capital projects, include Alpha Project for the Homeless, Canine Companions, Meals on Wheels San Diego County, National Marine Mammal Foundation, Promises2Kids, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, and Workshops for Warriors.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat started with friendship, philanthropy, and service has grown into an organization that has funded more than $28 million in grants for over 4,500 nonprofit organizations throughout San Diego County,\u201d explains Lighter.<\/p>\n

She notes that it\u2019s especially meaningful that while San Diego has changed tremendously over the years, Las Patronas\u2019 spirit of giving has held steady. \u201cThe needs of our community evolve, the organizations serving those needs evolve, and the things they need to do their work evolve. Our responsibility is to listen, learn, and make thoughtful investments that allow those organizations to serve San Diego more effectively,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of Las Patronas<\/p>\n

Charity and Commitment<\/p>\n

Part of what makes Las Patronas stand out among philanthropic groups is its hands-on approach to service. The Jewel Ball is known for over-the-top d\u00e9cor, with many of its elements crafted in painstaking detail by members of Las Patronas, a tradition dating back to the first Jewel Ball.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to fundraising throughout the year, leading up to the event, members log long hours in \u201cThe Warehouse,\u201d where they put their creative skills to work, painting backdrops, assembling centerpieces, and doing everything it takes to turn the exterior of the La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club into a grand ballroom. They also haul all of their handiwork to the venue and set up, then break it back down immediately after the event wraps.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe motivation behind one extraordinary evening is an entire year of fundraising, grantmaking, and thousands of hours of volunteer work,\u201d says Lighter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

That collaborative spirit stretches far longer than just a year. Las Patronas keeps its roster of members intentionally small and highly engaged. To ensure senior members stay on long enough to hold a handful of leadership positions and show newer members the ropes, the organization requires a commitment of six to seven years. It also requires all members to work with its grants committee, visit eligible nonprofit organizations that apply for grants, and assist in the vetting and selection processes. \u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur members have careers, families, and very full lives, yet they make an extraordinary commitment of time. Members participate in fundraising, evaluate grant requests, visit nonprofit organizations, serve on committees, and quite literally build and produce the Jewel Ball together,\u201d says Lighter. \u201cThat investment of time is part of what makes Las Patronas and the relationships we form within the group special. We don\u2019t simply raise money and write checks. We do the work ourselves, shoulder-to-shoulder, and we take stewardship of the money entrusted to us very seriously.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Courtesy of Las Patronas<\/p>\n

The Past Carries the Future<\/p>\n

Lighter says Las Patronas is defined not by moments or events, but by its traditions, which will continue for generations to come.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you think about the generations of women who have given their time, talent, and energy to Las Patronas since 1946 and the donors, sponsors, advisory members, and community partners who have believed in our mission, you realize that our job is both to honor what they built and make sure it remains relevant and strong for the future,\u201d she says.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

And though events like Jewel Ball are rewarding, the real magic happens once the funds are put to work. Lighter recalls one story that captures the quiet impact Las Patronas hopes to continue to make. A woman reached out to say that as a child, she\u2019d attended a school where Las Patronas had funded a new floor and noted how much brighter the campus felt. It may not sound transformational, but it made a difference, and decades later, people still remember.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is what capital giving can do. A vehicle can allow an organization to reach people it couldn\u2019t reach before. A piece of medical equipment can expand care. A commercial kitchen can allow a nonprofit to feed more people or train people in a new profession so they can flourish. Technology can help an organization serve an entirely new population and expand their impact,\u201d she explains. \u201cWe aren\u2019t trying to tell nonprofits what they need. We listen to them, learn about their work, and help provide the critical tools they tell us will allow them to do more of it.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

As she looks to the next 80 years, Lighter\u2019s hope is that Las Patronas continues to evolve without losing what makes it special: thoughtful stewardship, hands-on service, friendship, and an unwavering commitment to San Diego.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe needs will change. The nonprofits will change. San Diego will change. Las Patronas will change with it, but our mission will always remain the same,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Photos Credit: Melissa Jacobs<\/p>\n

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