CHAMBER DAY 2025 - CHALLENGE UPDATE #5 - $42,950 (as of 3/316/25 @ 10:30AM)

[Chamber Day]

CHAMBER DAY 2025 - CHALLENGE UPDATE #5
$42,950
(as of 3/316/25 @ 10:30AM)​

There’s a good lesson today in the value of matching grants. And it allows us to take another HUGE leap forward.

We start with a very generous $5,000 Platinum donation from Cyd Yonker. Cyd not only supports our Chamber, but she’s a long-time volunteer as well. And on top of that, she also designs and creates a hand-made quilt for us each year that’s a blind bid item at Chamber Eve. Here’s what she’s created for this year:

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In addition to that, Cyd works for GALLO and they have a matching grant program for their employees so her $5K gets matched by another $5K from GALLO, underscoring the importance of corporate matching grants. (Check to see if your company has such a program.)

Also today, we’ve also heard from another longtime contributor and supporter of our Chamber, Jeremy & Marlo Wolf. They recognize the importance of having our Chamber available around the clock because you never know when a diver will need some help.

We have a trio of Silver $500 supporters as well. They are led by Laurie Powers, a former PADI instructor who took a break from diving but is now back into it and knows that our Chamber provides a valuable safety net. She’s joined by Jack Sarrett who recognizes the accomplishments of Tina Kennedy (of CDS fame). And rounding out these contributors is Peter Quinones. Whew!!!

So lots going on but still a ways to go to where we’d like to be. We’re a little over five weeks out (May 7 is the magic date) and we’d love to add your name to our growing list.

Who’s next??? Here’s the direct link to the donation page: https://usc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_88ko1OUej3lAYbI

CHALLENGE 2025 - $42,950 total (Updated 3/31/2025 @ 10:30AM)
New donors are in bold type and marked with an asterisk.

Diamond ($10,000-14,999)
Mike Emmerman, Pat Stockhausen, and TJ Emmerman

Platinum ($5,000-9,999)
* Cyd Yonker
* GALLO (matching grant – Yonker)
In memory of Dr. Jeff Sipsey (anonymous)

Gold ($1,000-4,999)
* 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)
* 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)
* 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
Larry Schack