Without public funding, the Burn Institute relies on events such as the annual San Diego County Fair to make inroads with the community and share fire safety tips.
“The majority of these burns occur in the home and at work, and so education helps prevent those,” said Peter Callstrom, the institute’s executive director.
He was one of several leaders of local organizations at the Del Mar Fairgrounds Feb. 11 to help celebrate the community outreach and participation that will be on display at this year’s fair starting June 11. This year’s theme is “Summer Pet-tacular,” which celebrates pets and pet ownership. The San Diego County Fair is produced by the 22nd District Agricultural Association (DAA).
“Ultimately, that’s what our fair is about,” Carlene Moore, CEO of the Del Mar Fairgrounds, said during a news conference in the Paddock Club. “It’s more than a fun and exciting event that we all look forward to every year. Our fair is more than the performances, food and fun that you’re not going to find anywhere else. The San Diego County Fair is about the people.”
Ashley Colburn McCaughan, executive director of the Don Diego Scholarship program, added how important its partnership with the fairgrounds has been for fundraising. The program has awarded more than $1.4 million in scholarships throughout its nearly 40-year history, including about $90,000 this year alone.
The program’s namesake was a goodwill welcoming ambassador for the fair from 1947 to 1984. In his honor, students who want to apply for the scholarship need to be involved with a program or activity at the fairgrounds.
“We’re very grateful for our board and the community,” McCaughan said, “and the opportunities that the fairgrounds has offered us in order to raise this money that we can then give out to these students.”
Julie Moore, director of corporate sponsorships and partnerships at the San Diego Food Bank, said the partnership with the county fair “presents a unique opportunity to amplify awareness of hunger-related issues.” It also highlights how the food bank, like all the other organizations involved, has “very deep San Diego roots.”
“We’ll be able to engage the public in meaningful conversations about food insecurity,” Moore said. “By integrating into the fair’s Farm 2 U Exhibit, we can demonstrate that hunger isn’t just a distant issue. It affects families, seniors, working adults and our neighbors right here in our community.”
The San Diego County Fair will be held this year from June 11 to July 6, extending past its usual Fourth of July finale to run through the full first weekend of the month.
Some of the other programs include the Fair for All youth ticket program, in which the fairgrounds donates tickets to community organizations that distribute them to children; Community Street Banners program, which allows community organizations to host photo shoots for pictures that are placed on banners to promote the fair around local streets; and Plant-Grow-Eat, a hands-on agriculture program for students in kindergarten through third grade.
“The point I’m going to make here today is that we believe San Diego deserves the very best because we love this place,” said Frederick Schenk, president of the fair board.
For more information, visit sdfair.com.
