Giving Back to San Diego With Pride

Press Release
The Rob Benzon Foundation, a local 501(c)3 organization, has been hosting its annual Pride event for 17 years. Starting out as a backyard party, the event has grown to be known as one of San Diego’s premiere Pride events. It will take place on Friday, July 15 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at the historic Burnham house on the edge of Balboa Park.

The Rob Benzon Foundation board, along with the generous host committee, sponsors and underwriters, provides everything needed to produce the fundraising events without any paid staff. Because of the volunteer efforts, 100% of the ticket sales are donated back to the San Diego community in the form of grants. To date, over $199,000 has been given back to the community. Ticket buyers as well as those donating goods and services do so knowing that that ALL funds raised through ticket sales will be distributed directly to worthwhile individuals and causes, without a penny going to overhead expenses.

The mission of the Rob Benzon Foundation is to provide unexpected help and hope to individuals in the San Diego community who are suffering from a personal catastrophic event, not of their own making, who are in need of emergency support for actual

Additionally, the foundation helps individuals through local charitable causes serving the youth and the LGBT communities where specific needs can be identified. The grants to organizations do not support general fund or overhead expenses, they are directed to specific causes, individuals, or events that the organization can isolate as being consistent with the mission of providing unexpected help and hope to qualified individuals.

Rob’s story and the beginning of the Foundation

On Saturday, June 5, 1999, the San Diego Community lost a great friend, Rob Benzon. This vibrant and inspirational 31-year-old drowned in a sudden ocean rip current while on vacation in Acapulco with many of the current Foundation board members. His sudden death was devastating to all those who knew him.

At Rob’s memorial service, Rob’s friends and family took up a collection to make a donation in honor of their friend. Rob’s mother, Connie, matched the total amount plus added the proceeds from selling Rob’s possessions. The Rob Benzon Memorial fund was started with this $10,000 and the intention to help those in need in Rob’s memory.

The friends continued to add to the fund by soliciting donations from guests at their annual parties. The guiding principle was to bring friends together, have a good time and allow people who are not normally philanthropic to give a small amount of money to attend the event. When aggregated, this money was used to make a difference in someone else’s life, to bring them unexpected hope.

As donations from the fund were collected and people in need benefited, the friends were inspired to do more to continue Rob’s legacy. They incorporated the fund into a registered, nonprofit 501(c)3 and called it the Rob Benzon Foundation. The organization continues to raise money and grant funds for the purpose of making a difference in someone’s life and bringing unexpected hope.

Rob Benzon was a lot of things to a lot of people. What he did most was to remind people that every day is a precious gift. He took great pleasure in making others smile. He is smiling down now and his laugh still resonates in the ears of his friends and in the smiles of those who are helped in his memory. His infectious laugh and reassuring presence, along with his willingness to help others, is missed every day. Never a wealthy person, Rob gave generously with his money, his time, and his love. The work done is in memory of him.

To purchase tickets for the upcoming event, learn how previous donations have assisted others and for more information about the Rob Benzon Foundation, please visit robbenzon.org.