THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING OUR 50th ANNUAL GALA!

Thank you, again, to our sponsors!

 

 

Learn more about the history of our organization and the IDD community, in general. In this video, we hone in on one of our youth home resident's journey, David, and explore his personal growth with the help of our organization.

 

Let's CONGRATULATE our past 50 gala honorees!

1983--Walter Steidle

Walter Steidle had a huge impact on Home of Guiding Hands. Walter was the President of May Company San Diego and sponsored the Home of Guiding Hands fashion shows for years. Walter loved giving back to others and if he could help someone, he would. He and his family lived in La Jolla for 50 years and later bought a second home in Rhode Island. Walter passed in 2006, and is survived by his wife, Elaine, and his daughter, Tufia.

 

 

 

1986-- Dick & Kathy Curran

Kathy Curran was on the Board of Directors for Home of Guiding Hands and an avid volunteer, while her husband, Dick, was a municipal court judge. She was a member of the Women’s Guild-Pacifica Branch, at Home of Guiding Hands. In general, Kathy's energy and dedication in the community she loved so dearly also included SD Hall of Champions, Salvation Army and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Kathy passed in 2018 and her husband later passed in 2005.

 

 

1989--Joe Famme

Joe Famme was Home of Guiding Hands Director of Fundraising and started the Johnny Lee Golf Tournament years ago at Singing Hills. Joe was also a board member of our organization. He was a prominent contributor to the growth of the aerospace industry, especially in San Diego. The collection consists of engineering proposals, reports, correspondence, photographs, newspaper clippings, as well as other documents related to the design of major Convair aircraft.

 

 

1990--Joe & Betty Mabee

Betty Mabee was a large member of the Home of Guiding Hands Women’s Guild. She was very involved in the planning and execution of our yearly fashion shows. She was very well known in San Diego always got a lot of people to attend and support our fashion shows. John Mabee was an American Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder whom was known as "a California racing icon." He later established Johnny's Market on 43rd Street. He turned that corner grocery store into the highly successful Big Bear Markets chain in San Diego County, selling it in 1994 to Albertsons and Fleming Companies.

 

1990--Mark & Joyce Battaglia

Mark and Joyce were very big donors and sponsored quite a few Home of Guiding Hands galas. Mark was involved in the planning of the Johnny Lee Golf Tournament, one of our big fundraisers during that time, and helped plan, specifically, the year it was cowboy themed. He also owned the Parking Company of America and his company would sponsor many of our organization’s events. The Battaglias had a home in Coronado where they would host receptions for Home of Guiding Hands.

 

 

1991--Al & Elaine Barrack

1991--Alice Zukor

An internationally acclaimed floral designer, Alice is the owner of Broadway Florist, a downtown San Diego institution for over forty years. Alice was an integral part of creating flowers and centerpieces for the Home of Guiding Hands fashion shows. Alice was a prominent voice in the Hillcrest area. San Diego Business and Professional Women's Clubs acknowledged her for her "Outstanding International Achievements" and outstanding efforts to strengthen goodwill between nations.

 

 

1992--Frank & Florence Curran

Frank was elected the mayor of San Diego in 1962 and served between 1963 and 1971. He was also elected to the San Diego City Council and served from 1955–1963. Curran met his wife Florence on Oceanside Pier and they were married in 1936. During his term, the Civic Center was built, a ballot issue passed to build a new stadium in Mission Valley, and a metropolitan sewer system. He said "If we hadn't built that, we couldn't have done anything else."

 

 

1992--Roy & Doris Heramb

1993--Bob & Dottie Carne

Bob and Dottie Carne were parents to Teri Carne, one of our Home of Guiding Hands residents. Teri was born in 1968 and was 12 years old when she began living at the Home of Guiding Hands campus. Bob was very active in our organization and was on the Board of Directors as Treasurer, as well as the Chairman of the Budget Committee. Dottie was also active and planned the Christmas parties for Teri’s unit, as well as sponsors the Christmas parties for the Close house. Teri lived on our campus for 30 years. She died recently in 2023 at 53 years old.

 

 

1995--Eleanor & Carl Lasiter

 

1996--Paul & Joan Boland

Paul Boland was on the Board of Directors at Home of Guiding Hands. He was great at the budgeting process in our organization and was a “numbers person”. Boland was the a Captain at the USN from 1926-2016. Following his 27 years in the U.S. Navy, Paul started employment with the County of San Diego in 1972 with the Department of Public Welfare. He then transferred to the Tax Collector's Office and served as Chief of the Administrative Division. He was appointed Chief Deputy Tax Collector in March 1983. On January 5, 1987, Paul was sworn in as County Treasurer-Tax Collector and re-elected in 1990 and 1994.

 

 

1997--Carol LeBeau

Carol LeBeau was a prominent TV news anchor when she was involved in Home of Guiding Hands. She emceed over 12 events and supported our organization immensely. Carol encouraged people to donate while she was on air for various segments over the years. She felt “blown away” to be acknowledged as an honoree in 1997. She loves Home of Guiding Hands because of the kindness and compassion the employees have for the individuals they serve. She felt it was a privilege to be a part of it.

 

 

 

1998--Reverend Sorenson

John Sorrenson was one of the founders of Home of Guiding Hands. He first served at Messiah Lutheran Church and later founded Christ the King Lutheran in Fletcher Hills where he served until retirement in1992. John was a Board Member of our organization and the Advisory Chaplin of the Chargers and the Padres. He was very active in his community and was involved with Value Village Thrift Stores, San Diego County ARC, California State Republican Central Committee, International Variety Club and the Nice Guys. Sorensen was a strong supporter of and clergy representative at North County’s Interfaith Community Services.

 

2000--Bill & Norma Verbeck

2001--Randy & Marie Jones

2003--Steve & Donetta Hoefer

2004--Chuck & Dotty Hansen

When Chuck & Dotty moved here from the east coast, Chuck was working for PSA airlines. Home of Guiding Hands was looking for donations for their gala and Chuck decided to donate airline tickets. From there, our Women’s Guild contacted her to attend our fashion show and the rest is history! Dotty then joined the Women’s Guild and took over as President for the guild in 1989 and 1990. She was also the Chairwoman for the fashion show for a couple years, as well as the guild’s secretary in 2003. Chuck was started as a donor and later was on the Board of Directors. Chuck would assist Randy Jones in the fashion shows when he was the auctioneer for the event. Dotty loved the people she met through Home of Guiding Hands and felt rewarded when she was able to raise money to get items from the homes wish lists. Her and her husband were very pleased and surprised to be honored at the gala.

2005--The Heramb Family

2007--Bob & Dottie Carne & Family

2008--Dick & Jill Marrs

 

2009--Stephen & Lynne Doyle

Lynne Doyle got involved with Home of Guiding Hands the year our gala was Mardi Gras themed and held in Coronado. She was on the Gala committee for many years and was the chair of the committee a couple of times. Stephen and Lynne were very grateful to be honored by Home of Guiding Hands during the 2009 gala. They absolutely love the mission of Home of Guiding Hands and the individuals we serve.

 

 

 

 

2010--Ann & Don Walker

2011--Rick & Mary Doremus

2012--Sherry & Lawrence Delsen

 

2012--Marcy & Isaac Blumberg

2013--Frank Gerberding

Frank was a big part in running the golf tournament and was the Golf Chairman a few times. He absolutely loves our residents and looked forward to seeing their growth each year. He feels that there couldn’t be better care than that of the Home of Guiding Hands family. He thinks that our staff is passionate about their jobs and our dedicated to our clients. When he was honored in 2013, he felt very humbled and was one of the highlights of his life. He was pleased that he could give his time and talent to better the organization in any way.

 

 

2016--Jim & Jean O'Grady

2017--Dave & Charlene Walker

 

2018--Rich & Lynda Kerr

Rich & Lynda Kerr got involved with Home of Guiding Hands through their connection with Jim Allison, a running back for the Chargers, who was on the board of our golf tournament. Allison would also play in our golf tournament where, at that time, one of the perks of coming to tournament was playing alongside local PGA players. Later, Rich was on our golf committee and helped plan the golf fundraisers. In 2001, they set up the Kerr Family Foundation to give back even more to other organizations in the community. When they were honored in 2018, they were very impressed with the amount of support they received from our organization.

 

 

2019--Ben & Sheila Trovaten

 

2021--Mark Klaus

2022--The Harris Family

2023--The Bloom Family

More esteemed honorees...

1982--Jules Moreland

1984--Hank Bauer

1987--Jim Davis

1989--Manuel Caldera

1991--Harry Cooper & Valerie Preiss

1992--Dora Place

1994--Jack & Jean Close

1997--Edward "Skip" Dahlkamp

1998--Chuck Buck from Buck Knives

1999--Dr. H Glenn & Mrs. Kellogg

2002--Roger & Margaret Hueppechen

2006--Phil Thalheimer & Jennifer Isaac

2011--Clyde & Bernadette Durst