“Anyone who’s giving back, we want to recognize them,” Patrick Walsh with StayClassy.org said.
Local charities rightfully took center stage at the U.S. Grant Saturday night as Stay Classy.org and NBCSanDiego recognized people, charities and businesses that have gone above and beyond to give back to our community.
And they had a lot of support.
- The Charity of the Year award was given to Hogar Infantil for their work providing an orphanage for abused and neglected children in Tijuana.
- First runner-up for the award was Wildcoast.
- Second runner-up was Invisible Children.
Here are the list of winners:
- Most Innovative Use of Technology by a Charity: Volunteer San Diego
- Most Creative Fundraising Event by a Charity: Kids Included Together
- Most Popular Cause Awareness Campaign: Invisible Children
- Most Substantial Impact by a Small Charity: Freedom Dogs
- Most Significant Impact by a Business: Nika Water
- Best Individual Fundraising Effort: Kim Goodeve who has been running the Oceanside chapter of Stand Up for Kids for years, as the Director of Center Operation.
- Best Individual Volunteering Effort: Joe Bello who worked hundreds of hours as an event coordinator for “The Rescue”, an international Invisible Children event.
- Most Creative Fundraising Event Hosted by an Individual: Pi Beta Phi 6th Annual Surf Classic
Nominees were selected from online submissions to StayClassy.org.
After the nominees were announced, the public was invited to vote for their choice. By the night of the awards, Stay Classy had recorded more than 17,000 votes.
"The voting turnout for these awards has been amazing," said Pat Walsh, CMO of StayClassy.org, " We've got some very close races, particularly for Charity of the Year."
The evening started with cocktails and music from Gregory Page and his quartet. Matt Diablo from 91X hosted the event and some midpoint entertainment was provided by the Lollipop Girls burlesque dance troupe.