RB charity with a side of self-congratulation

Ah, Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation—RBCF for the insiders, of course—rolling out the red carpet to pat itself on the back for a solid 36 years of do-goodery.

A whopping $90,000 to 24 nonprofits, parceled out like breadcrumbs to keep Rancho Bernardo’s charming little bubble polished and gleaming. Cue the clinking glasses and golf-course applause.

Picture it: over 250 attendees at the Annual Thanksgiving Luncheon, because nothing says “we care” quite like a catered affair at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. What a setting to announce the noble redistribution of funds into buckets labeled “education,” “youth development,” “science and technology,” and, let’s not forget, “the arts”—a.k.a. the catch-all for anything that didn’t fit neatly into the others.

Enter Debbie Kurth, Board President, beaming with pride and spewing words like “vibrant” and “civically engaged,” as though this slice of suburban paradise didn’t already have more vibrance than it knows what to do with. She gushes about nonprofits building community pride and boosting quality of life, as if Rancho Bernardo wasn’t already the Stepford of San Diego.

And let’s not overlook the cherry on this philanthropic sundae: $1.2 million over the years, thanks to membership dues, fundraising programs, and an endowment fund designed to keep this operation humming “in perpetuity.” Pathway of Pride, they call it—because nothing says enduring civic legacy like a name that could double as a real estate development slogan.

So raise a glass to RBCF, guardians of Rancho Bernardo’s wholesome glow. Who needs systemic change when you can sprinkle a little grant money around and call it a day?

Ah yes, the Rancho Bernardo Community Foundation—a shining beacon of civic virtue conjured up by local leaders with a taste for committee meetings and the faint musk of donor dollars. A tidy little scheme, dressed up as a way for residents to “give back” and grease the wheels of the suburban machine. The pitch? Invest in programs that make Rancho Bernardo an even better slice of white-picket-fence utopia. Because apparently, it’s not enough to simply live and work here—you’ve got to marinate in self-congratulatory improvement too.

Through its annual grantmaking extravaganza, RBCF has tackled everything from youth development to arts and culture—buzzwords piled high like a buffet of do-gooder hors d’oeuvres. Health, human services, the outdoors—yes, even the sacred outdoors—have been addressed. Not solved, mind you. Just poked at politely, like a side salad at a corporate luncheon.

And for those whose hearts swell at the thought of joining the benevolent ranks, it’s as simple as a click. Visit the RBCF website or drop a line to Trudy Armstrong—your friendly gatekeeper to the Rancho Bernardo philanthropic elite. Email her at trudy@sdfoundation.org, and she’ll get you all set up on the Pathway of Pride. Just don’t forget your checkbook.

• Bernardo Heights Middle School Performing Arts Boosters Inc. – Music Library – $2,500 to revitalize music library offerings for BHMS orchestra and band programs.
• Best Buddies in California – School Friendship and Inclusion – $4,000 to build mutually enriching friendships between Rancho Bernardo students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities.
• Ed Brown Center – Cultural Connections – $3,500 to provide older adults with strong social connections to prevent isolation.
• Friends of the Rancho Bernardo Library – Concert Series – $5,000 to host a series of eight concerts, including piano soloists, trios, jazz artists and larger ensembles.
• Let’s Light the Cross – Sustainability – $2,800 to preserve the integrity, enhance visibility and accessibility with lighting.
• Poway Onstage – Arts in Education Initiative – $5,500 to introduce 4th graders to musical instruments and support for its 35^th Season.
• Poway Unified School District – The Kitchen Table Academy – $5,000 to provide a culinary, nutrition, smart farming, and green waste curriculum for students with autism and developmental disabilities.
• Rancho Bernardo High School Foundation – Robotics – $3,000 to support student competitions, travel, materials and machinery.
• Rancho Bernardo High School Friends of the Library – Multifacets of Growth – $4,000 to provide the RBHS Library with the learning tools necessary to enhance the RBHS students’ learning experiences in reading, resources, research, and technological development.
• Rancho Bernardo High School Parent Teacher Student Association – Breaking Down Walls Workshop – $5,000 to provide social-emotional programming for students where they will discuss real-life challenges, such as anxiety, depression, family crisis, loss of a loved one, bullying, etc.
• Rancho Bernardo High School Music Boosters Inc. – $2,500 to support the RBHS Royal Regiment – Mallets for Percussion.
• Rancho Bernardo Historical Society Inc. – Historical Image Preservation – $3,500 to professionally digitize old and fragile images.
• Rancho Bernardo Senior Services- Rancho Bernardo Services – $5,000 to provide free information, volunteers and a variety of services to senior citizens in need.
• Rancho Bernardo Veterans Memorial Association – Patriots Walk Plaque – $4,000 to dedicate Patriots Walk plaques for fallen heroes who were killed in action while serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces since 9/11 and were also graduates of Poway Unified School District high schools.
• Ride Above Disability Therapeutic Riding Center – Rider horse show team – $2,500 to assist the disabled community in achieving their goal outside of horseback riding lessons with horse showing.
• San Diego Harmonics Chorale-Sound Equipment – $2,500 to purchase sound equipment that will help lessen performance costs and allow the group to perform in a variety of local venues that may require special sound design to accommodate the size and acoustics of the venue.
• San Diego Oasis – Bridging the Digital Divide Program – $5,000 to increase older adults’ wellness and quality of life, foster integration of technology and encourage lifelong learning.
• Spirit of the Fourth Inc. – Spirit of the Fourth July 4, 2025, Celebration – $7,700 to contribute to a full day of activities, including a Community Fair in Webb Park, the RB Star competition winners concert and other performances.
• The Continuing Education Center at Rancho Bernardo – History Classes – $2,500 to promote mental health and well-being among the senior citizens by providing intellectual stimulation and learning opportunities for them to socialize in a welcoming and secure environment.
• The Rise Concept – Resources in Support of Empowerment- $3,000 to support a community hub with volunteer resources, professional services, a resale store with affordable shopping and a pathway to self-fulfillment for at-risk youth, survivors of human trafficking and challenged veterans.
• Tremble Clefs – Therapeutic program for people with Parkinson’s – $3,000 to support voice therapy that is both therapeutic and socially supportive.
• Turtleback Education Foundation – Bringing World Music to Students – $3,000 to teach about diversity and share different cultures through musical assemblies that give students the opportunity to interact with performers and hear music from another culture.
• Voices For Children – Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program – $2,500 to provide advocacy on behalf of two Rancho Bernardo children in foster care and fund the recruitment, training, screening and supervision of new CASAs.
• YMCA of San Diego County – Teens in Motion – $3,000 to support a program for teens and young adults with developmental disabilities at Rancho Bernardo High and provide a safe space to foster friendships, learn life skills and create fun opportunities for our students to thrive and become connected in our community.