Sara Wilensky
The San Diego Foundation
(619) 235-2300 ext. 338
sara@sdfoundation.org

May 9, 2007, Carlsbad – An evening of wine, cheese and charity marked the formal launch of Endow Carlsbad, a local fund of The San Diego Foundation that will serve the community of Carlsbad exclusively. Community leaders, businesses and nonprofits gathered at the Ocean House to celebrate the new community foundation and to inform others about the benefit of the initiative.

Carlsbad is one of many communities that recognize the need for Endow Carlsbad, already seeing successful community foundations in Escondido, Rancho Bernardo and 4S Ranch. Endow Carlsbad has already attracted 40 founding members that include business and community leaders. So far, each member is a Founding Member, someone who has made a commitment of $1,000 per year, for five years. Chaired by Knox Williams, Endow Carlsbad already has contributions and commitments totaling $200,000.

“Carlsbad is such a giving community and I am so fortunate to be a part of it,” states Chair Knox Williams. “Endow Carlsbad is a vehicle to connect Carlsbad residents with causes that matter.”

Endow Carlsbad is a community-specific effort to meet the emerging needs of Carlsbad by encouraging and increasing responsible and effective philanthropy. The aim is to build endowments, which will provide support for charitable causes in Carlsbad, enhancing residents’ quality of life now and for generations to come.

Half of the contributions will immediately go into annual grant making, while the other half will be placed in a permanent community endowment. Each year, Endow Carlsbad will focus on one cause or issue in Carlsbad, and the members of Endow Carlsbad will vote annually to decide where the grant making dollars go.

Endow Carlsbad is an ongoing effort in The San Diego Foundation’s region wide initiative, Endow San Diego. The initiative informs and inspires San Diegans regarding the benefits of endowment. Endowments are permanent charitable funds with the requirement that the principal is never spent. The balance of these funds is invested, earning income that is then spent to support charitable works in perpetuity.

If you would like to join Endow Carlsbad, or to get more information, please call John Duca at 760-269-3882, or e-mail john@sdfoundation.org.

About The San Diego Foundation
Founded in 1975, The San Diego Foundation is a broad-purpose community foundation helping individuals, families and organizations carry out their charitable plans, with the common goals of improving the quality of life in the greater San Diego region, now and for generations to come.