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VOL. 6, NO. 10
MAY 7, 2010
THISWEEK Good Guys do great things for Wounded Warriors Benefit By Patty McCormac
le b a u Val pons Cou Page on 39 THANK YOUTH VERY MUCH
Local teens were honored for years of service they have put in since seventh grade 13
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RANCHO SANTA FE — Thirty-nine Wounded Warriors were recognized and each given a $5,000 check from the Good Guys at the 11th annual Good Guys of Morgan Run Fundraiser on May 1 at the club and resort. “If I were not wearing sunglasses you would be able to see my true emotions,” said Sgt. Sol Martinez as he looked inside the envelope that contained a card of thanks and a check. The check is a thank you and comes with no strings attached. It can be used for any purpose desired by the recipient. Getting special recognition this year was Sgt. Major Raymond Mackey, who sustained injures in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, while leading a patrol. He stepped on an explosive device and suffered injuries requiring the amputation of both legs above the knees, hearing loss of 90 percent in both ears and serious burns that require skin grafts. He is 46, married and has five children. Mackey is hospitalized at Bethesda Naval Medical Center and was not well enough to travel to receive his award in person. It was a beautiful day for the event. In the morning club members hosted Marines for a golf game. Then in the afternoon, the luncheon and awards ceremony was held outside on the lawn in the presence of about 100 people.
gala goes low-key By Patty McCormac
SPECIAL THANKS Sgt. Major Derrick Christovale, above left, and Col. Anthony Ardovino.“This organization takes very good care of our Marines and sailors,” Christovale said of the Good Guys. Photo by Patty McCormac
The auction portion of the event, run by Good Guy Bert Poncher, invited lively bidding on items from expensive cigars, to art, to golf gear. Noted Rancho Santa Fe artist Scott Jacobs donated several original paintings to the auction, which were quickly snapped up by art lovers. Although he was outbid, Lance Cpl. Daniel Betts ended up with the bust of Chesty Puller, the most decorated Marine in history. The winning bidder handed
it over to him as a gift. “It’s amazing what they are doing,” Betts said as he held the bust. “I am going to put this in my bathroom and every day when I wake up I will see it. It motivates me.” The other Marines and Army personnel who were guests at the luncheon were gifted with sweatshirts and gift certificates from area restaurants. “This is an awesome event,” Sgt. Major Derrick Christovale said. “This organization takes very
good care of our Marines and sailors.” Christovale was on hand with Col. Anthony Ardovino to bestow a framed print of fighting warriors as a thank you to the Good Guys. They requested it be placed near the bar. “The people are very nice and it is good to hear people appreciate what we do,” said Cpl. Justin Mansfield, who has served two tours in Iraq. Mansfield is married with a 5-year-old TURN TO GOOD GUYS ON 27
Children ‘pay it forward’ at animal center RANCHO SANTA FE — Surf Dog Ricochet, best known for her charitable Pay It Forward lifestyle, joined two of her fundraising beneficiaries, as they pawed it forward on Pay (Paw) It Forward Day on April 29. They handed out dog biscuits to the orphaned dogs at the Helen Woodward Animal Center, in an effort to raise awareness of animals needing homes. San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders proclaimed April 29 as Paw (Pay) It Forward Day after Ricochet’s representatives contacted his office as part of a worldwide initiative started by founder Blake
Beattie. Paw (Pay) It Forward Day is based on the novel of the same name written by Catherine Ryan Hyde. The premise of the story is about a 12-year-old boy who did three good deeds for others in need. All he asked in return was for them to pass on the good deed to three other people, and keep the cycle going. Ricochet’s fundraising beneficiaries, Patrick Ivison, a quadriplegic she raised more than $10,000 for, and Ian McFarland, the 6-year-old with brain injuries for whom she raised more than $6,435, joined her at the Helen
Woodward Animal Center. The boys distributed boxes of dog biscuits, along with a basket of biscuits ready to be fed to the dogs waiting to be adopted. The boys also got to hold puppies, and visit the other animals, including the horses, goats, and sheep. The highlight of the visit for Patrick and Ian, along with Ian’s siblings, was being able to personally give their biscuits to some of the dogs. The dogs were happy with this mid-afternoon treat, and the young, motivated visitors had smiles plastered on their faces knowing they were paying it forward to dogs in need.
The children also learned more about adoptable animals, and what Helen Woodward Center does. Helen Woodward Animal Center is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to saving the lives of animals and enriching the lives of people. For more than 37 years, the no-kill center has provided humane care and adoption for orphaned animals, as well as animal-centered educational and therapeutic programs for people. For additional information, contact Judy Fridono at (707) 228-0679 or pawinspired@aol.com.
RANCHO SANTA FE — For those planning on attending the Un-Gala UnPlugged benefiting the Alzheimer’s Association on May 14, there are a few things you need to know. “We want this to be everything a gala is not,” said Beth Davidson, spokeswoman for the Alzheimer’ Association. “No high heels, no tuxedos and no rubber chicken. We just want to have fun. People can mingle. There is no set seating arrangements. There will be wine and tequila tasting. It is a great venue for people to mingle and check out the silent and live auction items.” All the proceeds from the benefit will be given to the Alzheimer’s Association and the 50,000 people it serves in San Diego County annually. Susan Taylor, anchor of NBC 7/39 News, is the cochair of the event. She said that women who are over 55 years old today will have a one in six chance of getting the disease. For men, it is one in 10. “Alzheimer’s disease robs people of their memory and logic and devastates those who care for them, the spouses, the children, the friends,” Taylor said. “It’s just a hideous disease.” She said the great news is that some breakthroughs are on the horizon and that UCSD is conducting a latestage trial with an experimental drug showing some promise, but a cure is still years away. The event will also be the last time that Taylor and Marty Levine will be officially appearing together since Levine will be retiring on May 26, his last night on the air. The Un-Gala UnPlugged is casual. It will be held at a private home in Rancho Santa Fe. Providing entertainment for the evening will be TURN TO GALA ON 33