6 days Ago By Jeff Clemetson
Two San Diego recovery organizations announced big news last week, just in time to make their mark on this April’s Alcohol Awareness Month. Genesis Recovery, an addiction treatment center in Dulzura, reopened April 24 after raising $1 million in grants, including $325,000 from developer and Caster Group founder Terrence Caster; $325,000 from the Lucky Duck Foundation; $150,000 from the David C. Copley Foundation; and $200,000 from the Grossmont Healthcare District.
The recovery center was initially located in Lakeside but closed in 2023 when the property was put up for sale. The East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC) took interest in reopening Genesis in its Dulzura location, said ECTLC CEO Dr. Julie Hayden, who will lead the new 24-bed center.
The grant funding will pay for six months of operation, treating around 100 men supported by Medi-Cal, Hayden said. McAlister Institute, one of San Diego’s oldest recovery organizations announced April 22 the retirement of CEO Jeanne McAlister, who led the alcohol and drug treatment services provider she founded for 47 years. Stepping in to the chief executive role is McAlister’s granddaughter Marisa Varond, who joined the institute in 2011 and served a variety of roles including executive director, helping launch initiatives such as California’s first apprenticeship program for substance use disorder counselors.
+++ The USS Midway Foundation got a $3 million grant last week from the James M. Cox Foundation. The funds will go toward the Freedom Park at Burnham Navy Pier project to build the now-named Barbara Cox Promenade, the final segment of the park’s Footsteps of Freedom Walk.
The promenade will include a statue of the late Barbara Cox and a multi-figure monument honoring military personnel and families who said goodbye at Navy Pier before separating during wartime. Daughter of Cox Enterprises founder James Cox, Barbara Cox in life made history at Navy Pier when the Navy widow had the honor of christening the USS Midway in 1945. +++ The Major League Baseball season hasn’t even hit the All-Star Break yet and the San Diego Padres have already won a major award.
MLB in partnership with WM (formerly Waste Management) honored the Padres with its highest sustainability award – the Green Glove. MLB introduced the Green Glove Award in 2008 to recognize the club with the highest waste diversion rate at their stadium. The Padres received this year’s award for maintaining an impressive diversion rate of over 95%, with a 46% increase in total materials diverted year-over-year during the 2024 season.
+++ The San Diego Business Journal is pleased to announce a new calendar feature on our website, active today! The new calendar will allow local businesses and organizations to share their business-related events at sdbj.com/business-calendar/ . The calendar will be open to the public and not locked behind the subscriber paywall.
In addition to business events, the calendar will also have a section for arts and culture events. Posting events to the SDBJ calendar is free of charge. For interested parties, advertising opportunities are also available.
The calendar was developed in partnership with Events.com, which announced this month it had acquired the La Jolla Concours d-Elegance from the La Jolla Historical Society. The Concours d-Elegance, held this past weekend, is one of the most prestigious automotive experiences in the world.
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