| Mission Statement |
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| The mission of the Rob Benzon Foundation is to honor the memory of a dear friend and vibrant member of the LGBT community by turning his tragic death at 31 into a positive force for the many lives he continues to touch. The Foundation achieves our mission primarily by providing unexpected help and hope to those suffering from a personal catastrophic event in our San Diego community. The Foundation harnesses the power of community philanthropy by aggregating small contributions from ordinary people to create extraordinary relief, all in Rob’s memory. |
 Rob Benzon |
The Foundation
The Rob Benzon Foundation was formed to keep alive the memory of a friend who died too soon. At the age of 31, while on vacation with some close friends, Rob Benzon drowned in Acapulco on Saturday, June 5, 1999. His memory guides all of the activities of this foundation to this day.
Rob Benzon was a lot of things to a lot of people, but what he loved most was to remind people every day is a precious gift. He took great pleasure in making others smile and laugh. His infectious laugh and reassuring presence, along with his willingness to help others, is missed every day. Never a wealthy person, Rob lived life to the fullest. He gave generously with his money, his time, and his love. Our work is in memory of him.
At his memorial service, Rob’s friends took up a collection to make a donation to honor their friend. Rob’s mother, Connie, matched the total amount plus added the proceeds from selling Rob’s possessions. The Rob Benzon Memorial fund was formed with this $10,000 to carry on his tradition of making people smile.
The friends continued to add to the fund by soliciting donations from guests at their annual parties. The guiding principle was to bring friends together to have a good time and allow people, who are not normally philanthropic, to give a small amount of money to attend the event. This money, when aggregated, is then used to make a difference in someone else’s life, bringing them unexpected hope.
As donations from the fund were made in the early years, the friends were inspired to raise even more money to continue Rob’s legacy. They incorporated the fund into what is now the Rob Benzon Foundation and raise additional funds at the annual LAUNCH event.
The all-volunteer board is comprised of a group of friends, dedicated to the legacy of Rob Benzon by bringing smiles to others. The board, without any staff along with the generous host committee, sponsors and underwriters, provides everything needed to produce the event. Therefore, 100% of the ticket sales are donated back to the San Diego community. To date, over $80,000 has been donated.
The donations are made primarily to individuals who have suffered a calamity and are in need of emergency support for actual expenses. These situations are evaluated on a case-by-case basis as they arise and are considered for awards earmarked for a specific expense such as emergency food and shelter, medicine, medical treatment and similar necessary urgent care expenses.
We also will consider donations to 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organizations serving the LGBT community in San Diego, California, for specific reimbursement of items of need in amounts that are generally under $1,500.
Thank you for your support of the philanthropic work of the Rob Benzon Foundation. If you have any questions, please email us at info@robbenzon.org or contact any of the current board members.
Current Board Members:
Emeritus Board Members:
(*denotes people who were with Rob in Acapulco)
