Freedoms Foundation At Valley Forge San Diego Chapter

The Forge The Freedoms Foundation Mission

We educate about American rights and responsibilities, Honor acts of civic virtue, and

challenge all to reject apathy and get involved.

HONOREES TO BE RECOGNIZED AT FEBRUARY LUNCHEON

Here's to the New Year! It's amazing how each year seems to fly by faster and

faster. We are well underway with plans for a great 2019. Our student delegates to the

‘Spirit of America” Leadership Program at Valley Forge have been selected and you will

be able to meet them at the Awards Luncheon on February 21st.

In March they will go to Valley Forge and Washington, D. C. to experience our

country's history personally and to develop leadership skills in a challenging arena with

other young people from throughout the country. For some of them, it will be life

Joan Liddell changing.

This Awards Luncheon is the one time each year that our members and friends have an opportunity to get together

and renew acquaintances and see what their dues and donations produce.

I am so pleased that I get the opportunity to work with Freedoms Foundation and to be part of the good things this

organization does.

Recipients of our National Awards

MARGARET “SISSY” SUGARMAN DEBRA DAVIS

“Educational Programs for Children and Adults

with Brain Injuries”

“Sissy” Sugarman is an

outstanding young lady, age 17.

Since the age of 11 she has helped

disabled adults and children. She has

served at a veterans’ camp in Alaska

which uses sled dogs and other

activities to help veterans with PTSD and brain injuries.

Sissy uses animals by inviting disabled adults for free

goat yoga at her family farm in Encinitas.

Sissy is active in the 4-H club, having shown sheep,

goats, rabbits and steers. She has also held fundraisers

for the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. As a member of

the U.S. Eventing Club and the U.S. Pony Club, she

competes with her horse throughout California. Sissy

raises Oberhasti goats and Babydoll sheep. She teaches

children about connecting with animals, and where food

comes from. She and her family donate citrus and other

food to a local food bank every year.

Sissy received a silver medal from her

Congressman for over 400 hours of community service.

She is a member of the National Leadership Council, a

faith-based leadership organization.

“Heaven Can Wait”

Debra Davis is a special person

who believes her calling is to serve and

assist those in need. Her story was

only unveiled by chance. Her old 1976

car was parked in the lot of Hoover

High School where she works as a

cafeteria services worker. A car recycling program

career education technician, along with her principal

decided she was a perfect candidate to receive a “new”

2014 refurbished car. The faculty and students who

affectionately call her “Aunt Debbie” was gifted with the

car in June. Debra was overwhelmed with their

generosity. Then her story began to unfold.

What came to light was that each day after work

Debra went home to cook and then out on the streets to

feed the homeless and those in need, sometimes serving

as many as 50 meals. Debra knows she’s making a

difference in the lives of many people. She does all this

on her modest income.

She thinks she will receive her thank you when

she gets to heaven but we know heaven needs to wait

because of what she does for her community.

Joan Liddell, President www.sandiego.freedomsfoundation.com February 2019

VIRGINIA SYVERSON RECEIVES

WILLIAM O. PERRY AWARD NATIONAL VOLUNTEER

OF THE YEAR

Virginia Syverson with FFVF CEO David Harmer In September 2018 Virginia traveled to Valley

Forge to attend the National Volunteer and Partner

Conference to accept the esteemed award as the National

Volunteer. She was chosen from among the many

chapters throughout the country

San Diego always knew she was special and now

she has received the well-deserved national recognition.

TIME FOR MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL LETTERS COMING SOON!

We appreciate your continued membership

and support of our chapter of Freedoms Foundation

at Valley Forge. Annual renewal forms will be

mailed to you next month for the 2019-2020

membership year. Membership categories include

Single ($35), Couple ($50), Patron ($100) and Life

($1000, which may be paid in four installments of

$250 each). Your dues help us fund the October

Student Forums, spring “Spirit of America” Youth

Leadership Program at Valley Forge for high school

juniors, our annual Awards Luncheon and teacher

grants for summer seminars. We look forward to

hearing from you.

OPPORTUNITY BASKETS

The Freedoms Foundation Board of Directors

will provide the beautiful baskets at the Awards

Luncheon. Funds will be earmarked for the Spirit of

America Youth Leadership Fund.

We hope you will participate and thank you for your

generosity

OUR GENEROUS DONORS

We appreciate our contributors

Mary Brandeberry

Brenda Ferich

Paula Day

Joan Liddell

Teri Martin

Fern Murphy

Fern Murphy’s Bridge Club

Becky Reid

Sally Syren

Joyce Truett

Virginia Syverson

JACOB BOMMERSBACH

San Diego County Hero

Eighteen year old Jacob

Bommersbach and his family were

vacationing in Italy, Croatia, and several

Greek Islands. On an extremely windy

day the ship came in to Mykonos.

While Jacob’s parents and sister were

not really interested in going to the island, Jacob

convinced his father Bill to walk around and explore. As

they were walking, they saw a stroller propelling down

the street. Not knowing if there was a child inside or

not, Jacob and Bill started running down the hill.

Suddenly, the stroller veered toward the edge of the

street which ran along the seaside. Jacob was able to get

to the stroller just after it fell into the sea. Jacob jumped

down about 12 feet to the rocky coast and saw there was

a child in the stroller. He was able to get the baby out

and hand it up to his dad. Jacob figured he would have

to do CPR on the baby but it began to cry just as its

mother came down the hill. The mother spoke very

little English but did know the words Thank-You.

Jacob had several cuts and bruises from the rocks along

the sea but it was worth it saving that baby.

Jacob graduated from Plano East Senior High in

Plano, Texas, with a grade point average of 4.3. He is a

freshman at the Colorado School of Mines majoring in

electrical engineering. Jacob is also an Eagle Scout and

the nephew of S. D. Board member Mary Brandeberry.

The Forge Page 2

2019 San Diego

Representatives

“ Spirit of America” Youth Leadership Program

Fiamma Albarran – Pt. Loma High Maxwell Arias - Southwest High

Nicole Arias - Juian High Cheyenne Booth – Julian High

Cameron Britt – Serra High Raina Davis – Madison High

Tatianna Howell – Madison High Joshua Limon – Madison High

Natalie Marrewa – Madison High Isabella Pimental – Southwest High

Jack Rousa – Serra High Janelle Singson – Southwest High

Phillip Vo – Serra High Daniel Zhevel – Serra High

In late November 11th grade students were selected to attend the leadship conference in Valley Forge March 14-20, 2019. Chaperone Monica Gutierrez will accompany the students.

Gift of

Loving Donors

The G.O.L.D. Diggers was founded 25 years

ago by the “Golden Nuggets” - a core group of

dedicated women. Their hope was that the

organization would meet the needs of many small

local nonprofits. They realized that a number of

children and their caregivers fell through the cracks

in the current system and knew that people in San

Diego would open their hearts and their checkbooks

to meaningful causes that served our community.

These ladies also wanted to help older

people and youth with special needs, victims of

crime and individuals with vision problems.

Many of the early recipients including

Autism Tree, E&CO and Monarch School have

gone on to become major organizations serving the

San Diego Community.

In the twenty-five years that ensued, the

G.O.L.D. Diggers have donated over $715,000 to

local charities.

STUDENT ORIENTATION – DECEMBER 30, 2018

Mom

and

Raina

Davis

Virginia Syverson and

Monica Gutierrez

Dad and Daniel Zhevel

Arias Family

Faimma

Albarran, Becky Reid

and Mom Albarran

Making our

Community

Stronger

Casa de Amistad is an after-school 1-to-1

mentoring and tutoring organization that is

dedicated to fostering the education and character

development of Hispanic children and their families

from the North County coastal region of San Diego

County. “The House of Friendship” serves over 200

kids annually. Every week over 180 volunteer

tutors/mentors help provide educational assistance

to children and their families. During the weekly

sessions at Casa de Amistad, they help students

accomplish homework assignments in a timely and

complete manner, improve their reading and math

skills and encourage the development of productive

general study skills. Casa holds a Summer

Enrichment Program which utilizes experiential

education in design, research, art, math, science,

and technology. Casa de Amistad also partners with

the San Diego Youth Symphony. Students in fourth

through sixth grade receive free music lessons on

the violin, cello or viola twice a week. Casa is a

positive life changing experience for the students

and the adult providers.

The Forge Page 3

San Diego County Chapter P.O. Box 81614 San Diego, CA 92138-1614 ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

ANNUAL G.O.L.D. DIGGERS

HATS OFF LUNCHEON

Our chapter will participate in the annual

G.O.L.D.Diggers Hats Off Luncheon on Thursday,

April 11, 2019 at the Adminal Kidd Club. Teri

Martin and Lisa Clements have already begun the

process of designing a hat and we are guaranteed to

be awarded at least $500.00 which will be used to

help defray the cost of the youth trip to Valley

Forge. Please plan to attend. Details and

Questions – Brenda Ferich-brendaferich@cox.net.

Last year’s big winner Jeanne Irwin

NON PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE

PAID SAN DIEGO, CA PERMIT NO. 2336