Dear EDC board members, investors, and friends,
“Giving Tuesday” officially began in 2012 as a fundraising campaign associated with the 92nd Street YMCA in New York City. Today, it has grown to become a “global generosity movement, unleashing the power of people and organizations to transform their communities and the world.” In just 13 years, the effort has gone from raising a few million dollars to support a single cause/campaign to raising billions of dollars for organizations and causes across the globe.
With the Thanksgiving holiday behind us and the year-end holidays just weeks away, we encourage everyone to continue to practice and promote the generosity and kindness that has had such a strong impact in our community over the last few months and throughout this past year. Our own local ‘generosity movement’ has meant the world to individuals, families, and valued institutions during a very difficult time.
Among the list of important and valuable causes, initiatives, and organizations within our region, one effort that remains near and dear to my heart—and one that our work at EDC has become fully aligned with—is that of youth employment and internship programs. As many of you know, I started my career working in school-to-work and school-to-career programs in Boston’s high schools and community colleges. Decades later, I have seen how those very programs changed and improved lives while strengthening and supporting the city’s economic growth and prosperity. We have started to see the same results here in the San Diego region through our Advancing San Diego program, partners, and the Border Region K-16 Collaborative.
As we head into 2026, Advancing San Diego’s post-secondary internship program that has been so generously supported by JPMorganChase and the state of California over the last few years is seeking new and sustained funding and support. Recognizing it as both a critical and important talent recruitment strategy for employers and an impactful work and learning experience for our local first-generation college students, we are hoping that far more San Diego-based employers will lean in to support the program in 2026. For more information on hosting an intern at your business this coming summer, please contact Taylor Dunne. Just hosting and supporting one more intern makes a world of difference.
And for those who cannot host an intern but still wish to support these efforts financially, we encourage you to make a donation to our 501(c)3 to ensure we can maximize the number of young people we place this summer at small and growing businesses. A $7,500 donation will fully cover the wages for an intern for the entire summer at a San Diego small business. A $500 donation will support the transportation, professional clothing, and any other support services needed by most students (especially those who are from more under-resourced backgrounds). And any donation will help support, grow, and advance this important cause.
We know that there are so many important initiatives and organizations that need support right now, but we also know that this is one way where your donation can help individuals and families within our region while also strengthening our economic outlook for the future.
As always, we cannot thank you enough for your leadership and support over the past year, and we look forward to working by your sides to make the year ahead as strong and stable as possible for our region’s businesses, workers, and households.
May all of your days ahead be merry and bright.
With gratitude and respect,
Mark Cafferty
President & CEO