🎉 Welcome back to your OB Community Foundation monthly update! 🎉

As the year draws to a close, we at the OB Community Foundation want to take a moment to celebrate the incredible month we’ve had in December! From the joyous Christmas Parade to the heartwarming Food & Toy Drive and the successful Silent Auction, it’s been a season filled with giving, connection, and community spirit.

None of this would have been possible without the unwavering support of our volunteers and the generosity of our community. Together, we’ve made a meaningful impact, spreading joy and hope to those who need it most.

Let’s take a look back at all we accomplished this month!

45th Iconic Crooked Tree

This year’s beloved crooked tree was a true community effort! On Tuesday, December 3, the tree was carefully cut from a local yard at Muir and Sunset Cliffs Boulevard with the help of Naturescape. Thanks to Bob’s Crane, the tree was lifted onto an RD Reed flatbed truck, and with support from SDPD Western Division, it was safely motorcaded to the beach.

For over a decade, local volunteer Ken Moss has led this effort in coordination with the OBCF Board. With a boom lift (courtesy of Hawthorne Rentals), Ken climbs the tree to hang lights and ornaments, many of which are painted by community members. This tradition continues with the help of Love Thy Neighborhood, who organize student field trips from OB Elementary so kids can hang their ornaments on the lower branches.

The tree-lighting ceremony, kicking off the holiday parade on Saturday, December 7, was made possible by Zed Electric, who generously donated their professional services, and Submerge Church, the proud sponsor of this year’s tree.

This year’s iconic crooked tree will remain up until Friday, January 3, so don’t miss your chance to visit and snap a photo before it’s taken down! If you have photos from previous years, we’d love to include them in our collection to commemorate 45 years of the OB tree in all its glory.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to this cherished tradition—here’s to keeping the holiday spirit alive in Ocean Beach! 🎄✨

Christmas Parade - A Hippie Holiday Hoedown

On Saturday, December 7 we hosted the 45^th annual OB Holiday Parade. This year’s theme, Hippie Holiday Hoedown, inspired OBceans to decorate floats and wear costumes that embraced this groovy western mashup. Among the 82 floats, we saw everyone from local school groups like Sacred Heart Academy Preschool and the PLHS Boys & Girls Soccer Teams, to businesses like OB Hardware and Sunset Cliffs Animal Hospital, to community organizations or groups like OB Milk Enthusiasts and Ryan Family YMCA. The best of the best came out and this year’s float winners include:

• Liveliest Performance – Apt 4 Music

• Grooviest Music – Point Loma High School Vanguard

•   Brightest, Sparkliest Lights – Peace Love and V Dubs

• Kids Float of the Year – Ocean Beach Elementary

• Greatest OB Spirit – Submerge Church

• People’s Choice Award – Apt 4 Music

• Best Overall – Hoedown on the Hill

The annual holiday parade is truly the OB community’s event. It would not be possible without hundreds of OBceans volunteering to decorate their floats, ride or walk in the parade, and support the parade host committee with production and staging operations. A huge shout out to Love Thy Neighborhood, a new nonprofit organization to the peninsula who organized and communicated with all floats entries from application through staging. They were amazing partners to work with during parade planning.

This year’s parade would not be possible without the support from our sponsors:

• City of San Diego - City Council - Community Projects, Programs, and Services (CPPS) Grant Funding

• County of San Diego - County Board of Supervisors - Neighborhood Reinvestment Program Grant Funding

• OB Brewer’s Guild

• Melograno Cocktails

• Northside Tavern

• Submerge Church

•  TNT Q and Catering

• Vinum Locus

We cannot wait to start the planning for 2025’s holiday parade! If you are inspired to get involved on the planning committee, reach out to us at [email protected].

Hoedown & Auction: A Successful Hootenanny

On Thursday, December 12, OBceans gathered at The Harp in their finest western holiday attire for the much-anticipated Hoedown & Auction. Over 110 attendees joined in the fun as bidders, volunteers, and supporters, creating an unforgettable atmosphere filled with community spirit.

With the generous support of local businesses donating items for 56 auction packages and 13 raffles, the event grossed an impressive $9,705.44. The funds raised will help cover the OBCF's holiday expenses, including the OB Tree vendors, hosting the Holiday Parade, and supporting the Food & Toy Drive. For a full list of supporters, visit: obcommunityfoundation.org/community-events/auction.

This annual event continues to grow in success, thanks to the unwavering dedication of community volunteer and Auction Chair, Gina Patrick-West. This year, she assembled a stellar team with planning committee members Mercy Baron and Mel Roark, working alongside the OBCF Board to make the event a hit.

Adding to the excitement, auctioneers Mike James, Gavin Fleming, and Edwin Decker brought lively, high-energy fun to the live auction, making it a night to remember!

Thank you to everyone who made this event a roaring success. Your contributions keep the holiday spirit alive in OB! 🎄🤠

Spreading Holiday Magic Through the Food & Toy Drive

This year’s Food & Toy Drive was truly magical! Together, we brought holiday cheer to 71 seniors and 91 families, including 195 children, brightening the season for so many in our community. It’s inspiring to see how this cherished tradition of giving continues to create ripples of kindness and holiday magic year after year.

A heartfelt thank you to our amazing volunteers, including TVIA, MADCAPS, Masonic Center, Submerge Church, Love Thy Neighborhood, Kiwanis, Yule Volleyball, OB Community Development, and our friends at Sushi Lounge, for their generous contributions and unwavering support. Your dedication and partnership made it all possible—thank you for making a difference!

A special shoutout to the OB Community Development Corporation (OB CDC) for going above and beyond with funding for in-kind purchases, including:

• 100 turkeys for families

• 71 blankets for seniors

• Gift cards to enhance gift packages for teenagers

• A truckload of toys to supplement packages for children aged 0-12

Thank you, OB CDC, for your incredible commitment, energy, and generosity, ensuring this year’s Food & Toy Drive was filled with a little extra love for everyone on the nice list (and maybe a few on the naughty list too!). 🎄❤️

This effort is a testament to the power of community and kindness. Thank you to everyone who helped make the holidays brighter for so many!d partnership made all of this possible, and we couldn’t have done it without you!

City of San Diego Tree Recycling Program

Give your Christmas tree a second life! The City of San Diego’s annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program runs from December 26, 2024, through January 16, 2025, with 16 convenient drop-off locations for City residents.

Recycled trees are transformed into high-quality compost, wood chips, and mulch, which residents and business owners can purchase year-round. Plus, City residents can collect up to two cubic yards of compost and mulch for free at the Miramar Greenery!

Ocean Beach Drop-off Location: Robb Field Recreation Center 2525 Bacon St.

Let’s work together to reduce waste and support sustainability in our community! 🌱

State News

Get Up to $2,000 to Purchase an E-Bike Through the California E-Bike Incentive Project!

The California E-Bike Incentive Project, funded by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), offers up to $2,000 to help residents purchase an e-bike. CARB’s mission is to protect public health and ecological resources by effectively reducing air pollution, all while balancing economic considerations.

E-bikes are a sustainable and eco-friendly transportation option, and this program makes it more accessible than ever to join the movement toward cleaner air and reduced emissions.

Learn more and get started through these organizations:

• SANDAG

• Pedal Ahead

Take advantage of this opportunity to make a difference for the environment and your daily commute! 🚲✨

Looking Back with Gratitude, Moving Forward with Hope

As we wrap up this incredible year, we reflect on the milestones we’ve achieved since the formation of our new board in June. Together, we tackled every goal on our list and worked tirelessly to give our community our very best. It’s been a privilege to serve and witness the remarkable strength, generosity, and unity of our community. With the new year on the horizon, we are filled with hope and excitement for what’s to come. Here’s to building on this year’s success and continuing to make a positive impact in 2025.

Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful, healthy, and prosperous new year!