Everybody has the ability to make the world a better place – even convention centers. The San Diego Convention Center Corporation’s Donations Program allows us to do our part by positively impacting our environment and benefiting the local community.

Through the Donations Program, clients and exhibitors can donate usable materials left over from events held at the Convention Center to local nonprofit organizations. These materials, which would otherwise take up space in a landfill, go to improve the quality of life for many in San Diego.

“Our goal is to ensure that left over materials from conventions aren’t being wasted,” said Gerrica Gray-Johnson, convention services manager and head of the Donations Program. “By finding new uses for these items in the community, we’re not only helping out San Diegans, we’re also doing our share to reduce what we put in local landfills while offering a valuable service to our clients.”

Through the Convention Center’s Donations Program, many of our clients have been able to provide an invaluable community service by designating a local charity to be the recipient of their surplus goods. In 2007, over 39,415 pounds of items were donated to local charities.

“Our clients have donated everything from left-over motor oil to a local community college’s automotive class, to fire engine red carpet to a San Diego fire house,” said Gray-Johnson. “We’ve also had many clients donate left-over pens, pencils and convention bags to local schools, including the Monarch School, which serves the needs of homeless and at-risk children in the community.”

When the 2008 Winter Fancy Food and Confection Show was held at the Convention Center in January, over 100,000 pounds of food was donated by exhibitors to several local charities, including San Diego’s Meals on Wheels program, which delivers meals to the homes of people in need.

Centerplate, the Convention Center’s exclusive in-house caterer does its part, too. Instead of throwing away unused food from banquets and other meals prepared on site for clients, they donate to the Rescue Mission. In 2007, the Rescue Mission picked up 91,193 pounds of food and made 300 trips to the Convention Center, thanks to Centerplate’s efforts to reduce waste.

“We like to do our part to help the community,” said Jeff Leidy, executive chef at the San Diego Convention Center. “Being earth-friendly is what we do – it’s who we are.”

Participation in the program is easy. All clients need to do is contact their event manager or Gray-Johnson directly to inform them of any items they’d like to donate. Clients can designate a local nonprofit or our staff can help find one. We serve as the liaison between our clients and local nonprofits, arranging for delivery or pick-up of donated items and forwarding any correspondence.

“The process is very easy,” said Gray-Johnson. “We take care of the leg work, all we ask our clients to do is say yes.”

If you are interested in donating items please contact Gerrica Gray-Johnson at 619.525.5580 or by email.