Giving Back to Our Community

Transforming lives

It’s a tough reality that not all kids have the same opportunities. This is especially true of homeless and at-risk kids. Monarch School transforms the lives of these children. It provides an accredited education while caring for basic needs such as healthcare, food, clothing and personal hygiene. This organization makes a difference every day. We support their efforts at the Children’s Champion level. http://www.monarchschools.org

Changing the world – one girl at a time

Because LJCSC serves so many women, we take a special interest in women’s issues. Using the principle that it’s better to teach someone to fish, than to give them a fish, we are strong supporters of programs that provide microcredit loans to would-be entrepreneurs. Here’s a great video about the impact of changing the lives of girls around the world. www.girleffect.org

Making loans that change lives

Kiva is the world's first person-to-person micro-lending website. You can go to kiva.org and lend directly to unique entrepreneurs in the developing world. Kiva’s mission is to connect people through lending for the sake of alleviating poverty. Kiva is only 39 months old (as of 1-1-09.) During that time over 400,000 donors loaned $55,521,085 to over 125,496 entrepreneurs in 156 countries. The repayment rate has been an astounding 97%. We are happy to be a part of this global effort. http://www.kiva.org/about/how/

Helping women help themselves here and abroad

The Foundation for Women (FFW) is a local organization that serves impoverished women locally and globally by funding and creating microcredit programs. FFW programs reach women in transition, at risk and in crisis as well as offering programs to inspire and educate all women. Since its inception, the FFW has touched the lives of thousands of women in their local and international programs. We applaud and support their efforts. www.foundationforwomen.org

Bringing people together to facilitate small-scale, community-initiated projects in Cameroon

Breaking Ground is a non-profit organization that is committed to grassroots action, sustainability, community empowerment, and global awareness. Through networks of friends, families, co-workers, and even perfect strangers, they raise money to support sustainable, community-based projects in Cameroon. LJCSC took part in a project that built a school, enabling girls to go to school where that wouldn’t have been possible before.  www.breaking-ground.org

Reaching out to our south of the border neighbors

For over 25 years, we’ve supported the work of an remarkable American nun, Mother Antonia Brenner, who lives at the La Mesa Penitentiary in Tijuana. Two Pulitzer Prize winning authors wrote about her incredible life in Prison Angel. She has always understood the relationship between self esteem and personal appearance. She appealed to dentists and plastic surgeons to help her “children,” the prisoners.

In the early years, Dr. Olesen went to the prison regularly and performed plastic surgery on the prisoners. Later LJCSC began to support Casa Campos de San Miguel, a refuge for women leaving prison and for women visiting incarcerated family in the nearby prison. Women and children who come to Tijuana for cancer treatment also use the house.

Our support continues to this day as Mother Antonia and her nuns help so many begin their lives anew. http://www.servants11th.org/index.html http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Story?id=796310&page=1

Making beautiful music in San Diego

The La Jolla Music Society brings world-class music to San Diego. From its early beginnings in Sherwood Hall to its current broad-based programs, La Jolla Music Society is a great asset to our community. The Society’s SummerFest series receives international acclaim. The Society also provides programs for schools and young musicians.

Our support for the Society extends back to the 1970’s. Over the years, LJCSC surgeons and their wives have taken leadership roles and given substantial time and money to this wonderful organization that enriches our community. http://www.ljcms.org/

Supporting other causes and organizations

LJCSC physicians, our staff and families provide financial support to numerous community and international causes from the arts to social services to health-related causes. We find many great organizations that are reaching out and need the support of committed donors. We believe in giving back.