Point Loma Association’s annual dinner and auction raises $160,000

The Point Loma Association’s recent annual dinner and auction at the Kona Kai Resort and Spa raised over $160,000 for community projects and beautification.

The event, with the theme “The Gateway Gala,” celebrates and supports the Point Loma community by raising money to continuously beautify the neighborhood and brighten the Peninsula. This year’s theme was “Decades of History,” in recognition of Point Loma’s long history and the ongoing legacy of support community members provide to aid activities such as art murals and Mean Green Team volunteers.

Dinner guests were encouraged to wear costumes from their favorite decade, and they did not disappoint. Community and board members alike dressed as their favorite decade from the 1800s to the 2000s.

The awards ceremony portion of the event recognized board members’ achievements and contributions to Point Loma. The Community Champion Award was given to JT Barr who led PLA projects with the most notable being the Village Lights. The Lighthouse Award was presented to the United Portuguese S.E.S for over 100 years of dedication to the Point Loma community.

The Legacy Award recognized Dorothea “Dottie” Laub for her extraordinary generosity and dedication to the Point Loma community. “Dottie’s impact over many decades has created a legacy in Point Loma and greater San Diego that exemplifies PLA’s mission of ‘keeping Point Loma beautiful for generations to come,’” said PLA president Sandy Hanshaw.

Over 270 PLA board members and Point Loma residents attended the event raising nearly $160,000 in gross revenue through sponsorships, donations, and live and silent auction bids. These donations help to beautify, inform, and advocate to improve the quality of life on “The Point” for generations to come.

Landscape architect JT Barr also unveiled the proposed gateway sign for Point Loma to be installed near the corner of Rosecrans and Lytton streets. The live auction, hosted by former San Diego Chargers announcer Pierre Charmasson, garnered a large portion of the donations that will be used toward clean-ups and community beautifications across Point Loma.

Bid packages included getaways in Puerta Vallarta, Mexico, Breckenridge, Colo., Las Vegas, and Sedona, Ariz., a bay cruise on a private yacht, guided wine tastings, Phil’s BBQ dinner at the Point Loma Firehouse, two hours of landscaping from the PLA Mean Green Team, and more.

To learn more about the Point Loma Association, visit pointloma.org.

PLA

The Point Loma Association is a nonprofit comprised of a 20-member board of directors, 10 committees, the Mean Green Team, Graffiti Busters, over 1,000 resident and business members, sponsors, donors, and hundreds of dedicated volunteers.

PLA members plant trees, flowers, and plants while maintaining 20 public green spaces in Point Loma. The organization also transforms asphalt and concrete medians and parkways into landscaped islands of natural beauty; installs community signs, lights, landmarks, benches, and banners; creates a patchwork of public art through utility box art, murals, and sculptures; picks up litter; cleans up homeless camps; removes graffiti; calls for the removal of billboards and power lines; and advocates to improve quality of life.

PLA informs the Peninsula of important and exciting community news and events, having the “ear” of City, County, and state political leaders, as well as San Diego Police Department, U.S. Navy leaders, Unified Port officials, California Coastal Commission, and the City Planning and Parks and Recreation departments.