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March 4, 2026 The Coronado Community Foundation needs volunteer drivers to add to our popular Seniors A GoGo Free Ride Service. Each week, we are adding registered seniors to the Coronado Seniors A Go-Go program, and the response is growing.  Through our partnership with ElderHelp of San Diego, Coronado volunteer drivers are matched with Coronado seniors who need a FREE ride to a medical appointment, social engagement, or even a shopping outing.  Currently, we have 15 registe

On February 12, 2026 over 20 nonprofit leaders gathered for our 1st Nonprofit Leaders Roundtable of the year at the John D. Spreckels Center. A special thank you to PAWS of Coronado  for hosting and bringing the guest of honor, Ambrose.  Each year, the Nonprofit Institute at USD presents its "State of Nonprofits and Philanthropy Report" at the Governance Symposium. This year, with the symposium date changed, they presented the findings via a webinar.  About the State of Nonpr

Published by Coronado Eagle and Journal 1/4/2026 Written by Michelle Gilmore, CEO Coronado Community Foundation What started as a “Big idea” and turned into a six-week campaign culminated with giving across the community from donors, businesses, media partners, and matching funds, to the tune of $10,000. The Coronado Gives campaign, a first-time effort co-sponsored by The Coronado Times and the Coronado Eagle & Journal, and hosted by the Coronado Community Foundation, succes

H appy New Year to you and your families. We hope and trust your 2026 is off to a great start. We are grateful to share that our end-of-year Champion Coronado campaign raised $73,450, just shy of our $75,000 goal. This incredible result reflects the generosity and commitment of our community, and we are deeply thankful to everyone who contributed. These gifts help grow partner-led programs like our Exceptional Families Program and Neighbors in Need initiatives, support Arts

Published by Coronado Times 12/12/2025 written by Megan Kitt Coronado Gives is raising money for residents and families now through Dec. 31 in partnership with the Coronado Community Foundation, The Coronado Times, and the Coronado Eagle & Journal. Below is a story of community impact. When Colby Freer was a child, she would watch every year as the tents sprang up in Spreckels Park, waiting for magic. For more than a century, the Coronado Flower Show has brought its sweepin

Published by Eagle & Journal 12/10/25 written by Christine Johnson In a conversation with Michelle Gilmore, CEO of the Coronado Community Foundation, I asked her about the recently launched Coronado Gives campaign. We sat down for a coffee at Clayton’s Bistro to catch up over a lavender latte. C - Is Coronado Gives new this year? I’ve never seen it before. M - Yes, it is a first-time media partnership between the Coronado Eagle & Journal and The Coronado Times . Hosted by

Published by Coronado Times Coronado Times Staff 11/27/2025 Seven was healed and found his forever home through PAWS of Coronado. Courtesy photo Meet Seven, a two-year-old male German shepherd mix whose story is nothing short of inspiring. Thanks to the Pacific Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of Coronado and community contributions to its medical fund, Seven has not only healed from a blunt force trauma injury, but also, he has learned to trust people and found his forever home

Published by the Coronado Eagle & Journal by Christine Johnson December 1, 2025 The mission of Strength in Service is to promote mental health support, career opportunities, and foster social health and belonging to enhance the quality of life for active-duty service members, veterans, military spouses, and their families. There are times when you come across a story that makes you sit up and take notice. Something that allows you to believe there are truly people in this

Coronado Community Foundation volunteers, board members, and donors gather to launch the “first ride” for the free Coronado Seniors a GoGo program. Pictured left to right: Betsy Gill, Helen Kupka, Susie Keeney, Jim Jamison, Kathy Winkleman, Michelle Gilmore, and Lisa Gerbel. We are proud to announce that the first official “Coronado Seniors A GoGo” ride took place on Monday, November 17, marking the return of a much-needed transportation service for Coronado’s older adults. T

The collections committee inspects artifacts in the Coronado Historical Association's Vault. Initially published by Coronado Times 11/24/2025 Coronado Gives is raising money for Coronado Families and residents through Dec. 31 in partnership with the Coronado Community Foundation, The Coronado Times, and the Coronado Eagle & Journal. Below is a story of community impact. When Christine Stokes moved to Coronado ten years ago, she knew she was coming to a town steeped in histo

The Feelings Monster: Students build their very own “Feelings Monster”—a small creature with a big job: holding onto the feelings they’re not ready to deal with yet. Kids write or draw their emotions, feed them to their Monster, and learn that feelings don’t have to be ignored or acted on right away. Initially published in Coronado Eagle & Journal November 20, 2025 Safe Harbor has been part of the Coronado landscape since 1998. A 501 (c)(3) non-profit that has helped thousand

Introducing Coronado Gives, a partnership of The Coronado Times, The Coronado Eagle & Journal, and the Coronado Community Foundation Coronado is a place that gives. Our archives are filled with stories of Coronadans showing up for one another, whether to connect with neighbors during the COVID-19 pandemic, to support local schools , or to support seniors . That spirit inspired a new partnership between The Coronado Times and The Coronado Eagle & Journal : Coronado Gives, a c

A letter to the editor written by Jenelle Nettles, Camp Able Director, and published in the Coronado Eagle & Journal At the Coronado Community Foundation, we love seeing the impact of our community’s generosity come to life. One of those meaningful efforts is The Exceptional Families Program (EFP) —an initiative that brings families of children with special needs together to connect, play, and feel celebrated. Recently, EFP families enjoyed a special day at the San Diego Symp

CUTLINE:   Coronado Philharmonia Music Director, Osvoldo Mendoza, thanks Helen Kupka, Founder and Board President of the Coronado Community Foundation. Photo credit : Joel Ortiz Photography We were honored to show our support of the arts through a sponsorship of the recent concert by the Coronado Philharmonia Orchestra (CPO). On Saturday, September 6th, a captivated crowd gathered for a truly special evening led by Music Director and Founder, Osvaldo Mendoza. The program cele

“What does a Community Foundation do?” That’s the question we are asked most often at the Coronado Community Foundation (CCF). One way we answer is by identifying and addressing the unmet needs in our community, and one year ago, in partnership with Camp Able, the City of Coronado, and Friends of Coronado Library, we launched the Exceptional Families Program (EFP) to do just that. The Story Time Exceptional Families Program event at the Winn Room, co-sponsored by Friends of t

Nonprofit leaders gathered   on June 10th for  a quarterly roundtable  in the Winn Room at the Coronado Library . Pictured left to right (back row): Ashley Degree, Coronado Schools Foundation; Christine Stokes, Coronado Historical Association; Dave Bean, Optimist Club of Coronado; Bo Blumenthal, Optimist Club of Coronado; Michelle Gilmore, Coronado Community Foundation; Shannon Pavell, Coronado Hospital Foundation; Helen Kupka, Coronado Community Foundation; Inge Cornejo, Cor

“What does a Community Foundation Do?” That is the question we are asked most often at the Coronado Community Foundation (CCF). Well, we’ve been busy this year and want to fill you in on our activities and focus for the rest of the year. We know that building capacity and capability with our partner nonprofits is essential to the success of our mission. In January, we invited and funded the local nonprofit leaders to attend the 21 st Annual Nonprofit Leadership and Governance

Coronado's Nonprofit leaders gather for the kick-off Roundtable on Wednesday, March 26th at Feast & Fareway. In January of this year, the Coronado Community Foundation extended an invitation to the Executive Directors, CEOs, and Board Presidents of Coronado’s nonprofit organizations to attend the two-day Nonprofit Leadership Summit and Governance Symposium. From this successful initiative, the idea emerged to bring nonprofit leaders together regularly for scheduled roundtable

The Coronado Community Foundation welcomes sponsorship applications for events hosted by nonprofits that benefit the community and are aligned with our priority areas. Thanks to the generosity of the Patricia Lyons Estate Restricted Fund , events that support mental health and wellness will receive special consideration. Sponsorship grants range from $1,000 to $10,000. Please review the criteria before submitting your application. All applications are due by 5:00 pm PST on Ma

Michelle Gilmore, Helen Kupka, and Malia Pfister proudly represent CCF at the Nonprofit Leadership and Governance Symposium on January 23rd. The Coronado Community Foundation proudly sponsored Coronado Nonprofit leaders to attend the 2-day Nonprofit Leadership and Governance Symposium.  The event, held at USD and hosted by the Nonprofit Institute, brought Nonprofit leaders, Board Presidents, researchers, and educators together for learning, engagement and networking. We had a