The Del Sol Lions Club has donated more than half a million dollars to local organizations since its founding in 2010, the club announced at its annual summer party in August.
That's 15 years of giving.
The Solana Beach-based service club has now distributed $504,390 to nonprofits, schools and food programs across Del Mar, Solana Beach, Carmel Valley and Rancho Santa Fe, according to a San Diego Union-Tribune report citing club treasurer John Page. The club's bylaws require that 100% of funds raised from the community go back to the community.
As of a prior update on the club's website, members had completed 275 service and fundraising projects and logged more than 11,800 volunteer hours.
Where the money goes
The club focuses its giving on four areas: youth and families, the visually impaired, hunger and homelessness, and veterans.
Its most recent round of donations reached nine local organizations:
- Casa de Amistad's Casa Coders robotics team and reading program
- Solana Beach School District scholarships for summer enrichment classes and prizes for DiscoveryFest '26
- The Community Resource Center's food and nutrition center
- MAEGA scholarships
- Humble Design, which furnishes homes for people transitioning out of homelessness
- St. Leo's food program
- Somos Tias
- Meals on Wheels
- Feeding San Diego
The Casa Coders robotics team has been a repeat beneficiary. The Lions gave the student team a $1,000 check in February 2025 at Solana Beach Presbyterian, and the program received additional support in this latest round.
New board takes the reins
The club inducted a new board of directors at the summer party. President Kristin Salgado now leads the organization alongside Vice President Fran Fenical, Treasurer John Page, Secretary Linette Page, and directors Becca Robinson and Robin Kemp.
The Del Sol Lions Club meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at La Colonia Community Center, 715 Valley Ave., Solana Beach. Based on that standing schedule, the next regular meeting falls on Tuesday, Sept. 22.
