Chamber Day
Contributor
Two days ago I wrote: “We’re only $100 shy of $110,000. Who will push us past that mark?” My goodness did you ever (collectively) respond as we have now passed $125,000!!! That’s a phenomenal leap spread over a couple of our suggested donation levels. Here’s who we have to thank for the latest push.
We start with not one but TWO Platinum-level donations of $5,000 each, both from longtime Chamber supporters.
The first is from the folks at Gallileo-Capri who deal in real estate. And you’ve doubtless heard the mantra “location, location, location” in real estate. Gallileo-Capri recognizes that our Chamber is in the perfect location at the Isthmus of Catalina Island and they’re willing each year to make sure that that location stays financially sound.
Our second $5,000 donor is Dr. Susy Horowitz, not only an avid diver and longtime Chamber contributor, but also a key member of our Chamber Day Steering Committee for many years. Susy has recently relocated to southern Florida but she still not only stays active in SoCal diving and helps us with Chamber Day, but she also still believes in the importance of supporting our Chamber with her donation as well as with her time.
Now we move to the Gold donor level and begin with a generous $2,000 donation from Melody Tucker in memory of Skip Tucker. Skip loved diving and left a great impression on those who he touched. Melody’s donation not only helps keep our Chamber going but also keeps Skip’s legacy alive as well. She’s joined at the Gold level by D.J. Mansfield, another one of our key committee members, who not only understands our need for financial support but whose $1,550 donation today is in addition to a $1,000 donation he made a few weeks ago.
“Additional donation” seems to be the watchword of the day because as we move to the Silver level, we have two people who previously this year made donations and who have made a second donation in this round. Those two would be James Collins and Brad Calaway, both of who are stepping up a second time to help our Chamber. They’re joined by longtime donor Scott Barnes who once again this year affirms his belief in contributing for the greater good of the entire diving community.
Plus we’ve got a couple of Bronze-level contributions which include a corporate match as well. Whew!!!
We’re inside of two weeks until May 7 and this is usually (hopefully?) when the pace of things picks up. Our boats are now sold out, Chamber Eve is at 80% capacity (so still seats available there), and we’ve certainly got room and time to add your name to the 112 names already on our Challenge Donor list.
So how about it? Can we thank you in our next update? Here’s how to add your name and keep our Chamber strong: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88ko1OUej3lAYbI
CHAMBER CHALLENGE 2025 - $125,750 total (Updated 4/25/2025 @ 2PM)
New donors are in bold type and marked with an asterisk.
Chamborium ($15,000 & up)
Sherry Griswold Foundation
Diamond ($10,000-14,999)
Glenn Suhd
Antelope Valley Desert Divers (AVDD)
Mike Emmerman, Pat Stockhausen, and TJ Emmerman
Platinum ($5,000-9,999)
* Gallileo-Capri
* Dr. Susy Horowitz
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)
* In memory of Skip Tucker (Melody Tucker)
* D.J. Mansfield (additional)
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)
* Scott Barnes
* James Collins (additional)
* Brad Calaway (additional)
Stephen Ryan
In memory of Bill Strong (Vickie Elson & Richard Todd)
Katherine Den Bleyker
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)
* Jean-Yves Coulead
* Adeia match (Coulead)
* Anonymous
* Bryan Bray
* Matt Volk
In memory of Roy Hauser, Truth Aquatics (Jeanne Sleeper)
Brad Calaway
Rik Aceves
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 with not one but TWO Platinum-level donations of $5,000 each, both from longtime Chamber supporters.
The first is from the folks at Gallileo-Capri who deal in real estate. And you’ve doubtless heard the mantra “location, location, location” in real estate. Gallileo-Capri recognizes that our Chamber is in the perfect location at the Isthmus of Catalina Island and they’re willing each year to make sure that that location stays financially sound.
Our second $5,000 donor is Dr. Susy Horowitz, not only an avid diver and longtime Chamber contributor, but also a key member of our Chamber Day Steering Committee for many years. Susy has recently relocated to southern Florida but she still not only stays active in SoCal diving and helps us with Chamber Day, but she also still believes in the importance of supporting our Chamber with her donation as well as with her time.
Now we move to the Gold donor level and begin with a generous $2,000 donation from Melody Tucker in memory of Skip Tucker. Skip loved diving and left a great impression on those who he touched. Melody’s donation not only helps keep our Chamber going but also keeps Skip’s legacy alive as well. She’s joined at the Gold level by D.J. Mansfield, another one of our key committee members, who not only understands our need for financial support but whose $1,550 donation today is in addition to a $1,000 donation he made a few weeks ago.
“Additional donation” seems to be the watchword of the day because as we move to the Silver level, we have two people who previously this year made donations and who have made a second donation in this round. Those two would be James Collins and Brad Calaway, both of who are stepping up a second time to help our Chamber. They’re joined by longtime donor Scott Barnes who once again this year affirms his belief in contributing for the greater good of the entire diving community.
Plus we’ve got a couple of Bronze-level contributions which include a corporate match as well. Whew!!!
We’re inside of two weeks until May 7 and this is usually (hopefully?) when the pace of things picks up. Our boats are now sold out, Chamber Eve is at 80% capacity (so still seats available there), and we’ve certainly got room and time to add your name to the 112 names already on our Challenge Donor list.
So how about it? Can we thank you in our next update? Here’s how to add your name and keep our Chamber strong: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88ko1OUej3lAYbI
CHAMBER CHALLENGE 2025 - $125,750 total (Updated 4/25/2025 @ 2PM)
New donors are in bold type and marked with an asterisk.
Chamborium ($15,000 & up)
Sherry Griswold Foundation
Diamond ($10,000-14,999)
Glenn Suhd
Antelope Valley Desert Divers (AVDD)
Mike Emmerman, Pat Stockhausen, and TJ Emmerman
Platinum ($5,000-9,999)
* Gallileo-Capri
* Dr. Susy Horowitz
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)
* In memory of Skip Tucker (Melody Tucker)
* D.J. Mansfield (additional)
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)
* Scott Barnes
* James Collins (additional)
* Brad Calaway (additional)
Stephen Ryan
In memory of Bill Strong (Vickie Elson & Richard Todd)
Katherine Den Bleyker
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)
* Jean-Yves Coulead
* Adeia match (Coulead)
* Anonymous
* Bryan Bray
* Matt Volk
In memory of Roy Hauser, Truth Aquatics (Jeanne Sleeper)
Brad Calaway
Rik Aceves
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
