News & Noteworthy

The Lucky Duck Foundation today announced a $500,000 investment to launch a new program called “Seniors Safe at Home” to quickly stabilize housing for seniors who are at risk of homelessness.

New Shamrocks issued for City’s proposed unsafe camping ban & efforts to help chronically homeless; New Shipwrecks issued for County denying Homekey funding, Coronado for sending homeless away, and Santee for rejecting tiny homes.

The Lucky Duck Foundation and Rolf Benirschke Legacy Foundation are pleased to announce a brand new pizzeria and print shop with a unique and compelling mission: to train and employ homeless youth at the Urban Street Angels’ (USA) downtown youth homeless center. The nonprofit social enterprise is expected to employ more than fifty USA youth every year.

The Lucky Duck Foundation issues a new Shipwreck and a new Shamrock.

The County of San Diego and City of San Diego earned a shamrock for their support of Urban Street Angels to add 20 new immediately-available beds for youth experiencing homelessness.

“2023 must be the year San Diego’s elected officials start the process of reducing homelessness. Clearly, they cannot proceed in the current failed direction. We believe this plan is a practical strategy to change the momentum, help those in need, and protect public safety and health.” – Drew Moser, Executive Director, Lucky Duck Foundation

Over the course of 2022, the Lucky Duck Foundation added 150 critically needed shelter beds, funded 15+ employment and job training programs, removed 85+ tons of trash via “cash for trash,” distributed more than 3,000 winter coats that transform into sleeping bags, eclipsed 1.5 million meals distributed, and much more. And thanks to our donors and volunteers, the efforts by the Lucky Duck Foundation were highlighted on both GMA and NBC Nightly News. We hope you will take a few minutes to watch our 2022 impact report.

The Lucky Duck Foundation today announced its first round of “Shamrocks & Shipwrecks,” a new program designed to publicly highlight political will and effectiveness of elected officials and their jurisdictions when addressing homelessness throughout San Diego County.

Effort includes dollar-for-dollar matching donations from the San Diego Foundation & San Diego Padres Foundation

Congratulations to Peter Seidler, Dan Shea, and Pat & Stephanie Kilkenny for each being inducted into Junior Achievement’s Business Hall of Fame. This prestigious honor recognizes local business leaders for their business excellence, inspiring leadership, and commitment to serving as a role model for youth.

Because of Walton’s disgust over the mayor’s inaction, and as a long-time supporter of the Lucky Duck Foundation, he joined with the non-profit group at its press conference so he could show support for the foundation’s “Shamrocks & Shipwrecks” initiative and to also voice his own personal outrage over the homelessness crisis in San Diego.

EP is teaming up with civic and community organizations in 10 cities across the nation to distribute 1,000 EMPWR sleeping bag coats to unhoused community members. Leading the charge in San Diego is the Lucky Duck Foundation.

Program will publicly highlight political will and efficacy for addressing homelessness

Good Morning America’s “GMA3″featured LDF’s employment program which hires Salvation Army shelter residents to be food rescue route drivers. Feeding San Diego provides the food rescue routes and a vehicle, and the Lucky Duck Foundation provides funding to cover all wages, gas and maintenance.

  Padres pitcher and San Diego native Joe Musgrove is the only Padres pitcher to ever throw a no-hitter. When he’s not winning games for the Padres he’s supporting our efforts. Thank you, Joe, for your work to address homelessness throughout San Diego County!

“Portlanders can’t solely rely on City Hall. Budgets and well-intentioned plans, as well as mayors and city council members, come and go. Portland isn’t San Diego. But the city might learn from how the Lucky Duck Foundation is confronting homeless problems — involving local businesses and community leaders who are committed to taking action, finding solutions and holding policy leaders accountable.”

The homeless employment collaboration between the Lucky Duck Foundation, The Salvation Army and Feeding San Diego has reached a milestone: more than 500,000 lbs. of food have been rescued and all graduates have secured full-time employment and are still housed.

Harold Reynolds, MLB Network Analyst, 2-time MLB All-Star and 3-time Gold Glove Award Winner, toured LDF’s bridge shelter with 10 MLB prospects while they were in San Diego for an MLB Draft Combine.

One of San Diego’s most iconic running traditions, the Carlsbad 5000 presented by National University, today announced a new partnership with the Lucky Duck Foundation, a local non-profit organization dedicated to alleviating the suffering of homelessness throughout the San Diego region.

The Triangle Project, a new incentivized trash cleanup pilot program funded by the Lucky Duck Foundation and organized by LDF volunteer and retired attorney Brian Trotier, has been featured on national news (AP, Newsweek) this week as well as by the Union-Tribune, FOX 5, NBC 7, KUSI, and more.

Tuesday Group co-founders Peter Seidler and Dan Shea shared their thoughts on homelessness in a recent Union Tribune opinion piece:

The Lucky Duck Foundation and Computers 2 Kids today announced a new partnership that will provide laptops and employment opportunities to individuals experiencing homelessness.  

With funding from the Lucky Duck Foundation, Gwendolyn Sontheim, and the San Diego Foundation, the San Diego Taxpayers Educational Foundation announced the launch of the San Diego Public Regional Outcomes Standard Board (PROS Board).

The Lucky Duck Foundation today announced the launch of a new, region-wide employment and job training initiative to provide work opportunities and on-the-job training for individuals experiencing homelessness.

As we look back on 2021, we thank each of our donors for helping us fund, activate and lead high-impact programs to alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County. And, we’d like to spotlight a few of these programs.

We call on the City, County, and San Diego Housing Commission to take the critically necessary action of developing a plan to add inclement weather shelters throughout the region.

At last night’s Swing & Soirée, we made exciting announcements about new funding to alleviate the suffering of homelessness in San Diego.

We are excited to announce a new youth volunteerism initiative – empowering youth to make a difference in their communities. Our new youth-led movement, the “Lucky Ducklings”, is intended to inspire and motivate youth to alleviate the suffering of homelessness throughout San Diego County.

Kallie Purdue shared her luck completing a nonprofit internship for the Lucky Duck Foundation. She shares her takeaways in this guest blog post.

Gary Warth, writer for the San Diego Union-Tribune, writes about how we aren’t slowing our food and water outreach for people experiencing homelessness.

Martita Mestey of Authority Magazine, sat down with Drew Moser to talk about “food deserts” and how we’re helping to address the lack of access to healthy and affordable food options.

For the past few years, the Lucky Duck Foundation has convened San Diego’s universities to focus their efforts on understanding the reasons for homelessness. Here are their findings.

Lucky Duck Foundation’s statement on the passing of legendary advocate for homeless San Diegans, Father Joe Carroll.

A true LGBTQ ally supports equal civil rights, gender equality, social movements, and challenges homophobia, biphobia, and transphobia. To support your position as an ally, we’re dispelling common myths about the LGBTQ community.

Our region-wide homeless employment launched earlier this year. Take a look at a few of people that are being offered a hand up through these programs.

Guest blog by Fred Patterson III, Business Performance Advisor for Insperity and founder of BLSSD. In this post, he shares why he is a volunteer to end homelessness.

Your volunteer hours, contributions, and dedication to spreading the word helped us deliver 500,000 meals to fight hunger and homelessness. Learn more about this milestone.

Fighting homelessness is everyone’s business. Learn about our innovative collaboration with Feeding San Diego and The Salvation Army combating homelessness and hunger in the San Diego region.

San Diego’s unsheltered are eating a little better thanks to an innovative collaboration between Jewish Family Services and Del Mar’s Flower Hill Promenade.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, we launched our Food and Water Delivery initiative. Outreach workers provided valuable feedback on the program thus far.

Although 2020 brought many challenges, the year also had several bright spots. These are just few programs that made a positive difference and changed lives this past year.

The Lucky Duck Foundation recently announced the purchase and distribution of 2,000 EMPWR transformative sleeping bag coats to provide protection unsheltered homeless San Diegans.

This season of giving, it is even more important to recognize people making a positive impact. Here area a few of our favorite stories.

We are excited to announce that over 100,000 meals have been delivered since the May launch of our County-wide effort to distribute food and water to San Diego’s unsheltered homeless population.

With the COVID-19 pandemic creating new challenges to many homeless people without shelter, the Lucky Duck Foundation and other philanthropists have launched a countywide effort to bring food and water to anyone living in encampments, sidewalks, vehicles or other outdoor places.

Life on the street has become even more challenging for homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Father Joe’s Villages is among the local nonprofits that have stepped up food programs to try to meet a growing need.

Our outreach teams are currently looking for volunteers for our new food and water delivery program in San Diego. Together, we can ensure the well-being of our unsheltered neighbors while helping them move from the streets to shelter, housing, and a healthier place in life.

For most of us, “starving” means we had to rush to work without breakfast, or a short layover between flights left no time for lunch. Hungry, yes. Hopeless, not really. For people experiencing homelessness, it’s a very different story.

The Lucky Duck Foundation launched a County-wide effort to distribute food and water to San Diego’s unsheltered homeless population. Because many community and congregate meal services have ceased due to COVID-19, many individuals experiencing homelessness are struggling to secure food and water.

San Diego has a minimal amount of Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) available to mobilize at-risk young women with children experiencing homelessness. To accelerate the need for supportive housing for young mothers and their children, Home Start purchased “The Miracle on 34th Street”.

Fifty percent of chronic homeless adults began their homelessness as youth. In San Diego alone, it is estimated that 1,500 people without shelter are aged 12 to 24. This is simply unacceptable. Read more from LDF Board Members, Peter Seidler and Dan Shea.

Public supportive housing not only resolves homelessness and increases housing stability, but also improves health and lowers costs by reducing the use of publicly-funded services.

The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) funded COVID-19 tests for 1,500 individuals experiencing homelessness at the San Diego Convention Center temporary shelter in partnership with Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD).

It has been less than a week since the San Diego Convention center opened its doors to more than 350 residents of two homeless bridge shelters. But, the physical move into the Convention Center was only the first step.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on San Diego’s homeless is potentially cataclysmic. We continue to advocate for our homeless population. Read more.

Following is a list of available resources and partners working tirelessly in response to COVID-19. This page will be updated periodically.

The Regional Task Force on the Homeless offered some fantastic tips for maximizing interactions with people experiencing homelessness. You never know what a simple conversation can do.

Lucky Duck Foundation intern, Gabby, shared a recent experience she had after school with a man named Henry. Take a look at her time with Henry and see how a simple conversation can make a difference.

The Lucky Duck Foundation announced a $1 million region-wide homeless employment and jobs training initiative that aims to hire and train the homeless and enable them to secure long-term employment.

Take a look into the Lucky Duck Foundation. We’re sharing a little bit about who we are, what we do, what we believe, and the people we do it for.

Lucky Duck Foundation intern, Gabby, shares why she thinks you should start your own birthday fundraiser to help San Diegans homeless community.

Read Councilmember Chris Ward’s response to the individuals that signed the petition urging elected officials to open vacant government-owned buildings.

SAN DIEGO, CA – January 20, 2020: The Lucky Duck Foundation today announced an online petition campaign alongside results of a comprehensive poll it commissioned that revealed public opinion surrounding the City and County’s homelessness crisis.

Most of us will never know what it’s like to lose our jobs, experience a medical emergency, or another life-altering event that could render you without income or housing stability. For thousands of San Diegans experiencing homelessness, it was an event like this that led their life unsheltered. Have you found yourself thinking of ways to help that don’t involve donating money?

The Wheels of Change expansion has been incredibly successful. The workers in the second van have already completed clean-up activities in several areas of San Diego. Hear from participants about what the program means to them.

Without positive intervention, many homeless youths continue the pattern of homelessness into adulthood. No matter the reason for their circumstance, organizations like the San Diego-based Youth Assistance Coalition (YAC) are there to help break the pattern.  

Adopting an action plan to tackle homelessness was the easy part. Now, activating the plan requires consistent funding and participation from all stakeholders in order to be effectively executed. The following OpEd appeared in Voice of San Diego on October 25th, 2019.

When the Lucky Duck Foundation handed over the keys to a new outreach van to Family Health Centers of San Diego, a critical connection was made. Read more about how the donation gave people critical access to services.

San Diego Magazine profiles three bridge shelter residents who share their stories, hopes, and fears with writer Kelly Davis.

The Alpha Project and the Lucky Duck Foundation Announce the Expansion of the “Wheels of Change” Homeless Employment Program. The program employs Bridge Shelter residents who clean up City streets while also doing homeless outreach. 

People with poor mental health are more susceptible to the main factors that can lead to homelessness: poverty, isolation from family and community, and personal vulnerability.

In this second installment about Helen Woodward Animal Centers’ Pets Without Walls program, a program staff member shares the story of Claire and Ebony and their incredible bond.

Furry, friendly, and without conditions, pets are a part of us. Homeless pets included. Read Susan and Sunshine’s story and find out how to help!

We recognize the achievements of our mothers, sisters, daughters, aunts, and friends and honor the homeless women in our communities. Here are 5 challenges that affect homeless women and tangible ways you can help.

Help us welcome Drew Moser as the Foundation’s new Executive Director. Moser will implement and expand LDF’s primary areas of focus to help San Diego County’s homeless.

The Mayor’s decision means that Golden Hall will now serve a critical purpose in providing shelter for the homeless women and children displaced from the temporary closure of Father Joe’s Villages bridge shelter.

Every day can be Random Acts of Kindness Day if you choose to make it so. If you’re short on inspiration, peruse our list of 14 community acts of kindness and make a choice to be the light.

The new year is a great time to set intentions for the year. For those who look to receive through giving, we’ve collected a list of 3 simple ideas for you to help make a positive impact in lifting the dignity of San Diego’s homeless community. …

Written By Erin Meanley Glenny – Published by SAN DIEGO MAGAZINE. Inside Lucky Duck Foundation’s efforts to distribute backpacks for the homeless. When Pat and Stephanie Kilkenny launched Lucky Duck Foundation in 2005, their goal was to serve everyone in need, from people with disabilities to shelter animals. …

SAN DIEGO, CA (November 1, 2018)— The Lucky Duck Foundation (LDF) announced today the addition of Deborah Norwood Ruane to its Board of Directors. A seasoned real estate professional for over 30 years, Norwood Ruane’s focus and expertise has centered around affordable housing financing and development. …

We are excited to report that the Lucky Duck Foundation’s 10th Annual Swing & Soiree grossed nearly $800,000! Combine that with the more than $400,000 raised between last year’s and this year’s event and you have a record-breaking $1.2 million raised by the Lucky Duck Foundation in one year! …