Chula Vista is near and dear to Debbie Discar-Espe’s heart.
She spent 50 years in the city before recently moving to Mission Bay to avoid the long commute from her work at the San Diego County Water Authority to her old Chula Vista home.
Although she is now retired from her job and no longer living in the county’s second largest city, Discar-Espe is still connected to Chula Vista.
She comes to Chula Vista often to visit her children and attend mass at Corpus Christi church.
But her philanthropic endeavors are what keep her thoroughly connected.
Discar-Espe,52, currently sits on the Sharp Chula Vista board and is chairwoman of the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation, an affiliate of the San Diego Foundation which focuses on improving quality of life through community giving.
As chairwoman Discar- Espe works collaboratively with the foundation’s board to oversee membership funds, the disbursement of funds and what kind of philanthropic efforts the foundation will help.
“I really believe in philanthropy, it means a lot to me,” she said. “I find that it is very rewarding.”
Last year, the foundation supported the health and mental well-being and educational development of youth within Chula Vista by awarding $25,000 to Chula Vista Opus, a musical program in the Chula Vista Elementary School District that is in partnership with San Diego Youth Symphony. They also awarded funding to the Living Coast Discovery Center and about $12,000 to the ARC of San Diego’s parent and infant program.
Their focus changes every year and for 2018 the foundation will turn its efforts into helping with job development and professional development. Discar-Espe said the foundation just focused receiving grant applications, they scored them and will be visiting applicants, then grant committee will determine who to put on the ballot and they will elect which applicants will be awarded grants.
Discar-Espe, who has been a member of the foundation for six years, said the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation not only improves the community but it also enhances her life.
“The time that I find myself spending at the Chula Vista Charitable Foundation, I find that it is a character builder for me,” she said.
