Makua’s 60th annual fundraising event, “Back to the Beach,”
supporting Voices for Children and its CASA Program,
will take place on June 1, 2013 at the beautiful Kona Kai Resort on Shelter Island
March 29, 2013, San Diego, California -This year Makua’s annual fundraiser benefiting Voices for Children’s Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program, will coincide with the 60th anniversary of Makua’s mission to help San Diego’s children. Makua’s Back to the Beach will transport guests back to the time and place where Makua’s fundraising began, with a 1950′s style island party at the beautiful Kona Kai Resort on San Diego’s Shelter Island. The Kona Kai’s island ambience and Makua’s mission together inspired the name “Makua,” which is Hawaiian for “parent.” The proceeds from Makua’s initial fundraiser in 1953 totaled $1,456.22. Since 2004, Makua has raised more than $1,000,000 in support of Voices for Children. The net proceeds received from this year’s event will help fund the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) who work with VFC to serve the more than 5,000 foster children in San Diego’s dependency court system.
Back to the Beach will feature both silent and live auctions where guests will have the opportunity to bid on exciting and unique experiences such as a week sailing on the luxury yacht “The World,” the only private residential community-at-sea where residents travel the globe without ever leaving home; or fabulous Dugout Seats at Petco Park to watch in style while the Padres play. The evening will culminate with dancing to the rocking sounds of JOCKO AND THE ROCKETS, featuring Jocko from the SHA NA NA TV show, veteran of the movie GREASE, and the WOODSTOCK FESTIVAL. As always, Makua promises to continue its 60-year tradition of putting the “FUN into FUNdraiser” with this year’s event. Between the location, historic anniversary, and live entertainment, Makua expects this event to sell out early, as it did last year. Co-chairs of Makua’s Back to the Beach are Jonni Bailey, Cindy Garrett, and Sherri Worthen.
As an additional incentive this year, an anonymous donor to Voices for Children has made an extraordinary offer. The donor will match-dollar for dollar-all gifts from new donors or increased gifts from existing Makua donors, up to $500,000! To qualify, gifts must be received between January and June 30, 2013. So supporters of Makua’s Back to the Beach have a chance to DOUBLE their contribution, and help meet an ambitious goal that will provide 400 foster children with CASA volunteers and case assessment to 1,200 children waiting for their CASAs!
Founded in 1980, Voices for Children transforms the lives of abused, neglected children in San Diego County by providing them with volunteer CASAs. Advocates receive training to empower them for their diverse responsibilities for foster children, including investigating legal issues, determining and making recommendations about the living placement of the child, following the child’s progress through various placements or services, and facilitating communication with all of the parties involved with a case. VFC is a private, nonprofit organization, funded almost entirely by private donors. This fiscal year, more than 800 CASAs will provide services to1,735 foster children. VFC’s vision, however, is to expand so that a CASA can be provided to every child in the foster care system who needs one. Ultimately, the goal is to improve the lives of all of San Diego County’s foster children.
Makua event co-chair and VFC Board Liaison Cindy Garrett said, “We want our community to realize that the CASA Program does not just benefit foster children-it affects each and every one of us, because CASAs guide these children to become successful, productive adults who no longer are destined to repeat the mistakes of their abusive parents and caregivers. Studies conclude that for every dollar spent on ‘prevention’ today, seven dollars are returned to the public by not having to pay for welfare, MediCal, police, prison and remedial education services in the future. Makua members believe that if enough people appreciate how indispensable CASAs are to our community, then they will want to support the CASA program through events like Back to the Beach.”
Makua members enjoy the camaraderie of friends getting together to help a good cause, their time and effort paid forward to a local foster child who will receive a CASA and the enriching guidance and support they desperately need. Makua members join a legacy of women who have been making a difference in the lives of local children in need for six decades. For information about joining Makua, please contact the Membership Director at membership@makua.org.
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