Daily Business Report/Nov. 29, 2016
Sandin Lab and Waitt Foundation
Document Coral and Fish Biodiversity
Associate professor Stuart Sandin (left) and staff researcher Lindsay Bonito of Scripps Oceanography’s Sandin Lab work near a coral reef in the Caribbean earlier this month on an expedition with the Waitt Foundation.
The two-week expedition documented coral and fish biodiversity. See more photos and video clips on the Waitt Foundation Facebook page.
(Photo by Ralph Pace. Courtesy Scripps Institution of Oceanography)
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Gateway Co-Founder Ted Waitt
Named Chair of Salk Institute Board
Ted Waitt, chairman of the Waitt Foundation and co-founder of personal computer pioneer Gateway, has been named chairman of the Salk Institute for Biological Studies’ board of trustees.
He succeeds Irwin Jacobs, philanthropist and founder of San Diego-based Qualcomm, who has held the position since 2006, and chose to step down on the 10th anniversary of his chairmanship. He will serve as chairman emeritus.
“I am delighted the trustees unanimously agreed that Ted is the right successor to lead the board,” said Jacobs. “He is wholly enthusiastic and committed to Salk’s basic biological research and has the enterprising leadership and vision to expand the reach of the Institute’s science even further.”
Salk Institute President Elizabeth Blackburn said she is “thrilled” to have Waitt as chairman because of “his financial acumen and entrepreneurship, as well as his extensive experience as a Salk trustee.” Waitt joined the Salk board in 2004.
In 2008, the Waitt Foundation gave a $20 million to fund the Waitt Advanced Biophotonics Center at Salk.
“I have big shoes to fill,” said Waitt. “I look forward to working closely with Dr. Blackburn, the faculty and the trustees to implement Dr. Blackburn’s vision for bold, transformative science while ushering in an era of unprecedented financial success at Salk.”
The Salk Institute in La Jolla is one of the world’s preeminent basic research institutions. Founded in 1960 by polio vaccine pioneer Jonas Salk, the institute is an independent nonprofit organization and architectural landmark.
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General Atomics’ Predator Variant
Completes its First Flight Test
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc., manufacturer of Remotely Piloted Aircraft (RPA) systems, announced that its Type-Certifiable Predator B variant completed its first flight test at the company’s Gray Butte Flight Operations Facility near Palmdale, Calif., on Nov. 17.
“The first flight of our Certifiable Predator-B aircraft is a major milestone in our progression towards delivering a RPA that meets all NATO airworthiness requirements,” said CEO Linden Blue. “The CPB is the first RPA system of its kind to be compliant with an international type-certification standard, and can therefore be more easily integrated into civil airspace operations around the world.
Qualification testing for type certification will continue over the next two years, with deliveries to the UK Royal Air Force, expected to begin in late 2018. To facilitate qualification testing, GA-ASI is building three company-owned aircraft, along with two airframes designed specifically for full-scale fatigue and static testing.
General Atomics began its internally-funded development effort to modify Predator B in 2012.
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Bank of America Awarding $172,500
In Grants to 22 San Diego Nonprofits
Bank of America announced $172,500 in grants to be distributed to 22 nonprofits working to increase access to basic necessities and enable families in San Diego to thrive.
According to the Center on Policy Initiatives, the U.S. Census Bureau showed 15.7 percent of San Diego residents lived below the poverty line. A Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank report stated that 15 percent percent of San Diegan’s face “food insecurity” meaning that little or no food is available at home.
Funding will help San Diegan’s gain greater economic mobility through increased access to food, shelter, benefits and other fundamental needs that will enable them to move toward long-term stability. The funding is an example of how Bank of America is driving sustainable growth that supports shared success in the community.
“Basic needs assistance is a critical stepping stone on the pathway to financial stability,” said Rick Bregman, San Diego market president, Bank of America. “That is why we support nonprofits in San Diego that are helping people move out of poverty toward better financial futures.”
Among the nonprofits receiving a grant is Downtown San Diego Partnership. “Bank of America truly understands the needs of our community, we’re very grateful for their continued support of our mission,” said Kris Michell, president and CEO of the Downtown San Diego Partnership. “Their generous donation helps to fund programs like our Family Reunification Program, which has helped over 1,000 homeless individuals reunite with loved ones and find their way home.”
Other organizations receiving grants include: Alpha Project For The Homeless, American National Red Cross, Armed Services YMCA at Camp Pendleton, Armed Services YMCA San Diego, Casa de Amparo, Casa Familiar, Inc, Community Resource Center, Feeding America San Diego, Info Line of San Diego County, Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, Kitchens For Good, Meals on Wheels, Operation Homefront, Inc., Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, Inc., San Diego Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Center, Serving Seniors, St. Vincent de Paul, Inc., Support The Enlisted Project (STEP) and United Way of San Diego County.
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Recovery Brands Employees Delivering
Care Packages to Downtown Homeless
Recovery Brands’ 60-plus employees are hitting the streets of Downtown San Diego today to hand-deliver care packages, filled with essential items and life-saving information, to homeless individuals.
Donations from several local organizations, combined with funds from the company and its employees, allowed the company to significantly expand its efforts from last year’s event.
“We were astonished and humbled by the amount of positive feedback we received last year — from care package recipients and employees alike — so it was an extremely easy decision to repeat and amplify the initiative this year,” said Katie Hajec, director of talent management at Recovery Brands. “Our business helps people every single day by putting useful, trusted information online, but there is something about getting out from behind your desk and interacting face-to-face with people during difficult times. We’re all human and we all need that connection.”
Through physical and informational aid, the company intends to help a largely underserved population with a high percentage of individuals in need of addiction treatment and/or mental health services. In San Diego alone, public data cited that nearly half of the unsheltered homeless population in 2015 suffered from a severe mental illness, alcohol abuse disability, or substance abuse disability. Unfortunately, the homeless population severely lacks resources to receive quality treatment. While cost is a rather evident barrier to access, a viable means to locate and evaluate practical treatment options is actually one of the initial access barriers —a large inspiration for the annual initiative.
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Holiday Poinsettias at Balboa Park
Friends of Balboa Park has partnered with the city of San Diego’s Park & Recreation Department to present the annual poinsettia display which opens the first weekend in December and runs through the first week in January. With a $25 poinsettia dedication donation, one can cross off several ‘nice’ people on the holiday shopping list while also making a tax deductible donation to support Balboa Park.
Donors will be acknowledged by:
- Invitation to the Poinsettia Celebration on Dec. 8 from 3 to 5 p.m.
- Donor and honoree names placed in the “Poinsettia Honor Roll” featured inside the Botanical Building during the duration of the display.
- Donor and honoree name on the Friends of Balboa Park website.
- Email poinsettia card to honorees acknowledging donation in their honor.
“Balboa Park is one of San Diego’s top destinations during the holiday months, and the poinsettia display is a special and time-honored San Diego tradition that we are happy to give the community to help celebrate the season,” said Friends of Balboa Park Executive Director John Bolthouse.
Donations must be received by Dec. 1, and will also be available at the Friends of Balboa Park booth at December Nights. For more information, visit www.friendsofbalboapark or call (619) 232-2282.
