Chamber Day
Contributor
We made another big leap and have passed $130,000!!!
The major reason for the jump is a $5,000 Platinum-level donation from longtime diver and avid Chamber supporter Maja Vrvilo. Maja is a television and film director and she obviously understands how important it is to have a team behind you so everything runs smoothly. And she knows that her generous donation supports the team of volunteers that allows us to keep the our Chamber at-the-ready 24/7/365.
The countdown begins as we are only 10 days away from Chamber Day 2025 (May 7). Even though it seems, when you just look at the total, that we’re in good shape with the Challenge, it’s important to remember that a large percentage of our final tally comes from Challenge donations. And that’s why your all of your donations - $100, $500, $1,000 and $5,000 - mean so much to us.
Last year was a record-setting year for the Challenge, coming in at $141,980. Can we eclipse that this year? We can if YOU decide to pitch in. We appreciate whatever you can contribute and hope to soon be able to add your name to our list.
So how about it? Who’s next to propel us even further along and possibly towards a new record? Here’s how keep our Chamber strong: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88ko1OUej3lAYbI
CHAMBER CHALLENGE 2025 - $131,400 total (Updated 4/27/2025 @ 5PM)
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)
* Maja Vrvilo
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)
* Tony Kalinowski
* Barnacle Busters LGBTQ+ Scuba Club
* Carl Felien
* Brad Crocker
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
The major reason for the jump is a $5,000 Platinum-level donation from longtime diver and avid Chamber supporter Maja Vrvilo. Maja is a television and film director and she obviously understands how important it is to have a team behind you so everything runs smoothly. And she knows that her generous donation supports the team of volunteers that allows us to keep the our Chamber at-the-ready 24/7/365.
The countdown begins as we are only 10 days away from Chamber Day 2025 (May 7). Even though it seems, when you just look at the total, that we’re in good shape with the Challenge, it’s important to remember that a large percentage of our final tally comes from Challenge donations. And that’s why your all of your donations - $100, $500, $1,000 and $5,000 - mean so much to us.
Last year was a record-setting year for the Challenge, coming in at $141,980. Can we eclipse that this year? We can if YOU decide to pitch in. We appreciate whatever you can contribute and hope to soon be able to add your name to our list.
So how about it? Who’s next to propel us even further along and possibly towards a new record? Here’s how keep our Chamber strong: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88ko1OUej3lAYbI
CHAMBER CHALLENGE 2025 - $131,400 total (Updated 4/27/2025 @ 5PM)
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)
* Maja Vrvilo
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)
* Tony Kalinowski
* Barnacle Busters LGBTQ+ Scuba Club
* Carl Felien
* Brad Crocker
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
