Ken Kurtis
Contributor
We made at past $90,000!!! (Can $100K be far behind???)
We start off with a very generous $10,000 donation from avid diver, longtime supporter, and good friend Glenn Suhd. Glenn travels all over the world these days to dive and does dive SoCal very much but still recognizes that his donation may help someone else and feels that if you’re in a financial position to help, you should. And he does. Very much appreciated.
Also today we have a $1,500 donation from James Holm who is not only a doctor but a hyperbaric doctor at that. He obviously has a deep (no pun intended) understanding of the maladies that can befall a diver and the value of having our Chamber available 24/7/365. Joining James at the Gold level with a $1,000 donation is Robert Fenton, also a regular and longtime supporter of our Chamber and also someone who recognizes the uniqueness of our Chamber and the safety value it imparts to our SoCal diving community.
The donations today underscore a couple of points. One is that if you’re in a financial position to contribute, please do so. Certainly this year with the economy (the Dow was down another 1,000 points today) and with the aftermath of the January wildfires, we know that’s going to have an impact on the ability of some of you to donate. Which is why it’s all the more critical for those of you who can, to do so. And the second point is that much as we appreciate large donations, we love the smaller ones too. As we always say, every dollar helps.
We’ve got a little over two weeks to go. Looking at this year’s current total compared to the same time last year, we’re pretty close. But we’ve got a long ways to go if we hope to eclipse last year’s total. We can do it with YOUR help. Here’s the link to get your name on our list: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88ko1OUej3lAYbI
CHAMBER CHALLENGE 2025 - $90,150 total (Updated 4/21/2025 @ 5PM)
New donors are in bold type and marked with an asterisk.
Diamond ($10,000-14,999)
* Glenn Suhd
Antelope Valley Desert Divers (AVDD)
Mike Emmerman, Pat Stockhausen, and TJ Emmerman
Platinum ($5,000-9,999)
Paradise Construction Inc. (James Collins)
In honor of the CCD diving program (John & Nanez Turney)
Cyd Yonker
GALLO (matching grant – Yonker)
In memory of Dr. Jeff Sipsey (anonymous)
Gold ($1,000-4,999)
* James Holm
* Robert Fenton
Andrew Pilmanis
In memory of Terry Hodgkins (AVDD BoD)
D.A.N. (Divers Alert Network)
Peter Croke
D.J. Mansfield
Recognizing the Chamber's support of the tech community (Francesco Cameli)
Jeremy & Marlo Wolf Family Foundation
SOCDC (South Orange County Dive Club)
Honoring the Chamber’s support of the tech community (Francesco Cameli)
In memory of Roger Hess (Barbara Allen)
Stuart Berryhill
Pacific Wilderness
Eco Dive Center
In memory of Deanne King (Gary King)
Silver ($500-999)
Angi & Ron Burkard
Joe Takahashi
In memory of those lost in the Eaton fire (Thomas Penn)
In memory of Tom Binkley, Steve Binkley, Tom Wetzel, & Fred Vanacore (John Lumb)
CA Diving News / The Scuba Show
Louis Weisberg
In memory of Jim Cooper (Diana Cooper)
In memory of Skip Tucker (Laura Konowalski)
Mark Stabb
In honor of Graham C. Hufford (D.J. Mansfield)
Don Lake
In memory of Bill Strong (Hal Wells – Hollywood Divers)
Laurie Powers
In honor of Tina Kennedy – District 33 Woman of the Year (Jack Sarrett)
Peter Quinones
Ethan Bush
Catalina Sea Camp / Catalina Island Marine Institute
In memory of Tom Wetzel (Patricia Wetzel)
In honor of the Chamber Crew (Mike Peterson)
In memory of Dr. Lee Somers and Lou Prieskorn (Karl Huggins)
Doug Lada
Roger Carlson
Gina Boster
Bronze ($100-499)
* Wesley Chew
* Kevin Augarten
Jacqueline Tregre
Jens Rubschlager
Craig Singer
Mike Madden
Paul Weers
Ron Hench
In memory of Doug Farnum (Barbara Farnum)
Bonnie Toth
Malibu Divers (Carter Crary & Barbara Gentile)
Barbara & David Joyce
Keith Urashima
David Osorio
Jeff Lewis & Michael Salas
Audrey & Marlow Anderson
Lindy Yow
Ellen Berman
Erin Quigley
Martin Berman
Terra Petry
In memory of Lee Somers (Martha Cornell)
Unes Nabipour
In honor of K9 DM Tefa – a beloved dog (Ted Recupero)
In memory of Da Boy, Daniel Wright (Robin Wright)
Mark Robman
In memory of Elissa Maclean (Curt Maclean)
Sharon DePriester
Mike Couffer
Nicole Duquette
Chris Cox
Jinghan Zhu
Bert van den Vlekkert
In honor of Mars Brownsen (Anthony Bailey)
In memory of Paul Richard Snitko (Brock Dewey)
Bill Power
Gary Sterling
In memory of Leon Slavin (Henry Gittler & Lisette Lieberman)
Tabby Stone & Linda Takvorian
Mark Perlstein
Debbie Miller
Lynn Dodd
Chris Loos
Under $100
Catherine Eckley
Dan & Betty Orr
Kali Cottingame
Larry Schack
We start off with a very generous $10,000 donation from avid diver, longtime supporter, and good friend Glenn Suhd. Glenn travels all over the world these days to dive and does dive SoCal very much but still recognizes that his donation may help someone else and feels that if you’re in a financial position to help, you should. And he does. Very much appreciated.
Also today we have a $1,500 donation from James Holm who is not only a doctor but a hyperbaric doctor at that. He obviously has a deep (no pun intended) understanding of the maladies that can befall a diver and the value of having our Chamber available 24/7/365. Joining James at the Gold level with a $1,000 donation is Robert Fenton, also a regular and longtime supporter of our Chamber and also someone who recognizes the uniqueness of our Chamber and the safety value it imparts to our SoCal diving community.
The donations today underscore a couple of points. One is that if you’re in a financial position to contribute, please do so. Certainly this year with the economy (the Dow was down another 1,000 points today) and with the aftermath of the January wildfires, we know that’s going to have an impact on the ability of some of you to donate. Which is why it’s all the more critical for those of you who can, to do so. And the second point is that much as we appreciate large donations, we love the smaller ones too. As we always say, every dollar helps.
We’ve got a little over two weeks to go. Looking at this year’s current total compared to the same time last year, we’re pretty close. But we’ve got a long ways to go if we hope to eclipse last year’s total. We can do it with YOUR help. Here’s the link to get your name on our list: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88ko1OUej3lAYbI
CHAMBER CHALLENGE 2025 - $90,150 total (Updated 4/21/2025 @ 5PM)
New donors are in bold type and marked with an asterisk.
Diamond ($10,000-14,999)
* Glenn Suhd
Antelope Valley Desert Divers (AVDD)
Mike Emmerman, Pat Stockhausen, and TJ Emmerman
Platinum ($5,000-9,999)
Paradise Construction Inc. (James Collins)
In honor of the CCD diving program (John & Nanez Turney)
Cyd Yonker
GALLO (matching grant – Yonker)
In memory of Dr. Jeff Sipsey (anonymous)
Gold ($1,000-4,999)
* James Holm
* Robert Fenton
Andrew Pilmanis
In memory of Terry Hodgkins (AVDD BoD)
D.A.N. (Divers Alert Network)
Peter Croke
D.J. Mansfield
Recognizing the Chamber's support of the tech community (Francesco Cameli)
Jeremy & Marlo Wolf Family Foundation
SOCDC (South Orange County Dive Club)
Honoring the Chamber’s support of the tech community (Francesco Cameli)
In memory of Roger Hess (Barbara Allen)
Stuart Berryhill
Pacific Wilderness
Eco Dive Center
In memory of Deanne King (Gary King)
Silver ($500-999)
Angi & Ron Burkard
Joe Takahashi
In memory of those lost in the Eaton fire (Thomas Penn)
In memory of Tom Binkley, Steve Binkley, Tom Wetzel, & Fred Vanacore (John Lumb)
CA Diving News / The Scuba Show
Louis Weisberg
In memory of Jim Cooper (Diana Cooper)
In memory of Skip Tucker (Laura Konowalski)
Mark Stabb
In honor of Graham C. Hufford (D.J. Mansfield)
Don Lake
In memory of Bill Strong (Hal Wells – Hollywood Divers)
Laurie Powers
In honor of Tina Kennedy – District 33 Woman of the Year (Jack Sarrett)
Peter Quinones
Ethan Bush
Catalina Sea Camp / Catalina Island Marine Institute
In memory of Tom Wetzel (Patricia Wetzel)
In honor of the Chamber Crew (Mike Peterson)
In memory of Dr. Lee Somers and Lou Prieskorn (Karl Huggins)
Doug Lada
Roger Carlson
Gina Boster
Bronze ($100-499)
* Wesley Chew
* Kevin Augarten
Jacqueline Tregre
Jens Rubschlager
Craig Singer
Mike Madden
Paul Weers
Ron Hench
In memory of Doug Farnum (Barbara Farnum)
Bonnie Toth
Malibu Divers (Carter Crary & Barbara Gentile)
Barbara & David Joyce
Keith Urashima
David Osorio
Jeff Lewis & Michael Salas
Audrey & Marlow Anderson
Lindy Yow
Ellen Berman
Erin Quigley
Martin Berman
Terra Petry
In memory of Lee Somers (Martha Cornell)
Unes Nabipour
In honor of K9 DM Tefa – a beloved dog (Ted Recupero)
In memory of Da Boy, Daniel Wright (Robin Wright)
Mark Robman
In memory of Elissa Maclean (Curt Maclean)
Sharon DePriester
Mike Couffer
Nicole Duquette
Chris Cox
Jinghan Zhu
Bert van den Vlekkert
In honor of Mars Brownsen (Anthony Bailey)
In memory of Paul Richard Snitko (Brock Dewey)
Bill Power
Gary Sterling
In memory of Leon Slavin (Henry Gittler & Lisette Lieberman)
Tabby Stone & Linda Takvorian
Mark Perlstein
Debbie Miller
Lynn Dodd
Chris Loos
Under $100
Catherine Eckley
Dan & Betty Orr
Kali Cottingame
Larry Schack
