Community Projects funds allocated to Greater Fallbrook groups

A 4-0 San Diego County Board of Supervisors vote October 31 allocated District Five Community Projects funds to several Camp Pendleton, Fallbrook, and Bonsall organizations.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Diego County was allocated $25,000 for a mentoring program at Stuart Mesa Elementary School on Camp Pendleton, Girls Incorporated received $20,000 to implement a program at Camp Pendleton, the Fallbrook Senior Citizens Center will be given $16,019 for air conditioning repairs, the San Diego Bowl Game Association will have $3,500 to purchase game tickets for Camp Pendleton families, and the Bonsall Chamber of Commerce will receive $1,000 for their silent auction fundraiser.

Each county supervisor has a discretionary Community Projects budget which may be used for schools and non-profit organizations which provide services to county citizens and can also be used to supplement other county funding for specific county projects. Allocation of the funds requires approval of the Board of Supervisors. Fifth District Supervisor Bill Horn had the support of the other three supervisors present while Ron Roberts was absent from the October 31 meeting.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Diego County focuses on one-to-one mentoring relationships with children. The mentoring sessions combine weekly tutoring and recreational activities which improve both academic and social abilities. Big Brothers and Big Sisters of San Diego County has a program called Operation Bigs which focuses on military dependents; the grant will make Stuart Mesa Elementary School the fourth school to utilize Operation Bigs.

Girls Incorporated provides educational programs to American girls, especially those in high-risk and underserved areas. Their programs address math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media and economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, and sports participation. The grant will allow Girls Incorporated, whose local facility is in Vista, to expand operations to Camp Pendleton, where a new “Girl Community” program expected to serve more than 50 girls would be established.

The Fallbrook Senior Citizens Center provides nutritional programs, social day care, and other services for other elderly residents. The center includes a thrift shop, a senior service club, and a produce center. It also currently includes three broken air conditioning units, and the Community Projects grant will cover the costs of repairing those units.

The San Diego Bowl Game Association was called the Holiday Bowl Committee before the Poinsettia Bowl joined the Holiday Bowl and gave San Diego two college football bowl games. In 2005, the first year the Poinsettia Bowl was played, the two games combined to generate an estimated $43.6 million for the San Diego region. The economic and local promotion benefits of the games have not prevented the non-profit bowl association from substantial public service activities, and the Community Projects funds will provide 200 view level seats at the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, which this year will be played December 19, for Marines stationed at Camp Pendleton and for their families.

The Bonsall Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1990, and in addition to its primary mission of supporting local businesses the chamber also partners with the Bonsall Women’s Club to deliver toys to disadvantaged children. A silent auction helps raise money for the toy drive, and the Community Projects grant will help purchase toys for approximately 80 children.