Sprites of East County, a mother-daughter philanthropic organization, will hold its annual benefit celebration at Skyline Church in La Mesa on Saturday, March 9.
Founded in 1968, the non-profit organization is comprised of 240 mothers and their seventh- to 12th-grade daughters who live in the area served by the Grossmont Union School District.
Sprites of East County, a mother-daughter philanthropic organization, will hold its annual benefit celebration at Skyline Church in La Mesa on Saturday, March 9.
Founded in 1968, the non-profit organization is comprised of 240 mothers and their seventh- to 12th-grade daughters who live in the area served by the Grossmont Union School District.
The organization’s goals include providing community volunteer service, financial assistance to their philanthropies, along with providing scholarships to deserving young girls in the community.
Each year they present an event to help raise funds and to showcase outstanding contributions by their members. This year’s event’s theme will be Sprites Drive-in thru the ’50s.
The annual event draws 1,000 supporters. The festivities will include a fashion show, dance performances, a luncheon and silent auction.
Marybeth Meek, benefit co-chair, stated, “This year will be a fun and fabulous event. The fifties were a more lighthearted, colorful era and the music will reflect that. I sat through the dress rehearsal and can say that it will be a relaxing, fun and visual feast.”
Asked about Sprites’ service within the community, Meek said with pride, “My daughter and I have been involved with this organization since my daughter was in seventh grade, and now she is a senior and will be graduating. We encourage a sense of community service in our daughters in an age where teenage girls are feeling more entitled and self-serving,” added Meek.
“Our organization aims at instilling a sense that there are greater purposes and that our girls can help make a difference for those less fortunate,” she said.
Mothers and daughters work together by volunteering at such places as Rachel’s House, which is a home for homeless women. “We volunteer to help the needy, the elderly, children with autism and many different segments of our community. Many of our girls go on to volunteer beyond their college years, some staying active as ‘sustainers’ within our organization,” Meek explained.
Graduating seniors who will be recognized for their outstanding volunteerism at the benefit will include Elizabeth Aguilar (Valhalla), Christianna Barrack (Steele Canyon), Ashley Bearden (Valhalla), Jaclyn Combs (Gary and Jerri-Ann Jacobs High Tech High), Rachel LaFramboise (Valhalla), Kylie Lewis (Valhalla), Colleen Luibel (Valhalla), Olivia Meek (Grossmont), Caitlin Nardi (Valhalla), Vanessa Shevlin (Grossmont), Katie Stockwell (Valhalla), Sarah Vanderhoff (Valhalla) and Susanna Wiggins (Valhalla).
Acknowledging that these are continued difficult economic times, the organization stresses that “this is even more reason for us to continue serving and fundraising for our local charities. That is why we are requesting your help in making our fund-raising event a success.”
Sprites mothers and daughters provide more than 5,000 volunteer hours of service annually to many East County philanthropic groups. These services include providing companionship to the elderly, bringing meals to the hungry, caring for children, and providing gifts to the needy during the holiday season.
Tickets to this year’s benefit cost $30 per person. Meek advised that this year there will be rush tickets available for $10 at 4:30 p.m. on the day of the event, allowing school students and others who otherwise could not afford the event to be able to attend. Rush tickets are only good for the show, and will not include the luncheon or the silent auction part of the celebration.
All interested in this fundraising event and worthy cause are encouraged to attend.
Skyline Church is located at 11330 Campo Road in La Mesa.
