Sunday, February 9, 2025

Annual Gala Supports Epilepsy Foundation with Gingerbread Contest & Auction

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The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County (EFSDC) is turning seventy! For the last seven decades, the EFSDC has been supporting individuals, caregivers and families living with epilepsy through its free programs and services.

 

EFSDC is celebrating this big milestone with the 31st Annual Gingerbread City Gala on Wednesday, December 11, 2024 at the San Diego Natural History Museum. This festive event will feature their nationally recognized gingerbread structure competition judged by celebrity chefs, silent and live auctions, museum exhibits, in addition to a seated gourmet dinner and inspiring program.

 

The popular Treasure Chest will return this year and is hosted once again by Manpower Staffing. 100 keys to three treasure chest locks will be sold. Winning keyholders will win valuable prizes including a $1,000 shopping spree and a Disneyland package.

 

The Gingerbread City Gala is EFSDC’s largest fundraiser of the year and provides free programs and services to the community including individual and family counseling, support groups, career development, advocacy, information and referrals, college scholarships, targeted programming for teens and young adults and specialized programs with medical experts throughout the year. All services are free of charge to anyone who needs them. EFSDC serves more than 25,000 each year.

 

The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County is pleased to announce special guest, Mariah Mayhugh. She is the author of the award-winning children’s book, “Mimi: A Story About Absence Seizures.” She is an accomplished singer-songwriter who studied under 15-time Grammy Nominee, Diane Warren, and her debut single “Broken Glass” is set to release in January 2025. Most recently, Mariah was crowned Miss World America’s Miss Southwest 2024 in recognition of her Beauty with a Purpose initiative, DREAM (Defining Resilience in Epilepsy through Arts and Music), representing the six states of the American Southwest – Arizona, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, and Southern California. Mariah was diagnosed with epilepsy at seven years of age and uses her platform to promote awareness and understanding.

 

Please join EFSDC December 11, 2024 to help raise awareness and fund programming and resources for the more than 50,000 San Diegans living with epilepsy.  For more information, visit www.epilepsysandiego.org.

Danitza Villanueva
Danitza Villanueva
Danitza Villanueva was born in San Diego but spent her youth with her family in Tijuana and grew up on both sides of the border. She has transferred her unique insight of cross-border culture, trends and philanthropy to her business and community interests. Danitza is the first woman from her family to graduate from college. She has two degrees, one from Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Fashion Marketing, and a second from San Diego Christian College in Communications. After starting GB Magazine with Esteban Villanueva in 2007, she has gone on to win awards and recognition from the community for her support of helping raise millions of dollars for non-profit organizations. Currently she resides in East County in San Diego where she and her husband Esteban run DAESVI Publishing, home to GB Magazine, among several other publications.

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