ArtsBusXpress, a venture providing bus grants for classroom fieldtrips, is celebrating another year of connecting students to the local arts and culture scene. Just halfway through its third year of operation, ArtsBusXpress has already topped the total number of students served in its first two years combined. Overall, teachers have used ArtsBusXpress to transport 14,000 students to operas, museums, symphonies, ballets and live theatre.
The program was initially developed by Patricia Smith, owner of Art Expressions Gallery, who believes that for some high school students, field trips are the only opportunity for piquing their interest in the fine arts.
"And children aren't the only winners," said Smith. "The entire arts community benefits by nurturing future arts patrons. Today's children will be tomorrow's decision-makers, and the future of our cultural institutions rests in their hands. How will they value what they have never experienced?"
The program is also a collaboration of the San Diego-Tijuana Sister Cities Society, San Diego Unified School District, San Diego Arts Education Partnership, city of San Diego Commission for Arts and Culture and the Community Council for Music in Schools.
While initial funding for the program has come from The Burnham Foundation, the Dickinson Foundation, and many members of the local art and framing industry, other groups have jumped on board including Qualcomm (Nasdaq: QCOM), The San Diego Union-Tribune and the Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians.
For more information, including bus rates, visit www.artsbusxpress or call (619) 687-3562.
Debbie Dorsee, known for her work rebuilding fire survivors' homes in Scripps Ranch, has been tapped as executive director of HomeAid San Diego. Supported by an alliance of local building and real estate industry organizations, nonprofit HomeAid works to build abodes for the homeless in San Diego County.
Dorsee's list of duties will include managing commercial and residential projects, directing community outreach efforts, organizing fund-raisers, boosting public awareness of HomeAid, and building coalitions with other community groups, foundations and government.
Dorsee will continue to oversee other consulting projects through the Dorsee Co. of La Jolla. She will also remain focused on the rebuilding Scripps Ranch projects alongside homebuilding company Stonefield Development, which is constructing 81 houses in the Whispering Ridge neighborhood.
Her affiliations include the Building Industry Association of San Diego County, Urban Land Institute, San Diego State University Alumni Association and Art Council, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, La Jolla, and the Mingei International Museum.
The University of Phoenix Learning Center is holding its second annual baby product drive throughout the month of March to assist families of the San Diego YWCA. The university is hoping participants will be able to donate diapers (sizes 4, 5), formula, bottles, pacifiers, baby wipes, blankets, shampoo, clothes, pajamas, car seats and strollers.
The drive is part of a larger, national baby shower campaign to benefit nonprofits all over the country. Locally, the University of Phoenix chose to donate items collected from the drive to families in YWCA shelters, often survivors of domestic violence. Besides the YWCA's emergency shelter, items will also go to Becky's House and the Cortez Hill Family Center.
The university will be accepting items all through March at any of the five San Diego locations: Kearny Mesa Learning Center at 3890 Murphy Canyon Road; South Bay Learning Center at 1040 Tierra Del Rey; Oceanside Learning Center at 2204 El Camino Real; San Marcos Learning Center at 277 Rancheros Drive; and Rancho Bernardo Learning Center at 16870 W. Bernardo Drive.
In an effort to stimulate volunteering and donations, Meals-on-Wheels Association of America has dubbed March "March for Meals" month.
Meals-on-Wheels Greater San Diego Inc., whose volunteers deliver two meals a day to more than 3,000 homebound seniors in the county, will mark the occasion throughout the month with the following events: On March 12 at 11 a.m., the organization will be participating in the 25th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade in Balboa Park. On March 19, Meals-on-Wheels will provide an informational booth to recruit volunteers at Kobey's Swap Meet from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. On March 23, the March for Meals Day and 8th annual spaghetti dinner will be held at Pernicano's from 5 to 9 p.m.; tickets are $9. For more information, go to www.meals-on-wheels.org or call (619) 260-6110.
The American Cancer Society is looking for volunteer drivers to help deliver thousands of daffodils to businesses and schools as part of its 22nd annual Daffodil Days campaign. The campaign raises money for cancer research, education and patient services. Drivers will be needed on Monday, March 14, from 9 a.m. to noon and will be picking up daffodil bouquets in the Miramar area for delivery in their own communities. To volunteer, call (619) 682-7412.
