Best of Ranch & Coast 2020: People & Philanthropy

TV Personality
Winners: Kimberly Hunt KGTV 10News & Elizabeth Alvarez KUSI
Finalist: Jeff Zevely, CBS News KFMB
Finalist: Kathleen Bade, Fox 5 San Diego
Finalist: Catherine Garcia, NBC San Diego

Radio Personality
Winners: Dave, Shelly, and Chainsaw 101.5 KGB & Jagger and Kristi Magic 92.5
Finalist: Jesse Lozano, STAR 94.1
Finalist: Chris Cantore

Athlete
Winners: Fernando Tatis Jr. San Diego Padres & Manny Machado San Diego Padres

Executive Chef
Winners: Jason Knibb Nine-Ten & William Bradley Addison
Finalist: Jeffrey Strauss
Finalist: Bernard Guillas
Finalist: Stephane Voitzwinkler

Restaurateur
Winners: Bertrand Hug Mille Fleurs & Mister A’s & Jeffrey Strauss Pamplemousse Grille
Finalist: Brian Malarkey
Finalist: Matteo Cattaneo

Sommelier
Winners: Chris Russo Nine-Ten & Will Burtner Coomber Craft Wines
Finalist: Cate Hughes
Finalist: Brandon Lervold

Maitre ’D
Winners: Marko Dedic Mille Fleurs & Jerry Capozzelli Mister A’s

Bartender
Winners: Lara Vellocido Mille Fleurs & Dutch House The Huntsman at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe
Finalist: Erick Castro

Philanthropist/Volunteer
Winners: Joan and Irwin Jacobs & Cini Robb
Finalist: Denny Sanford

Local Nonprofit
Winners: The Country Friends thecountryfriends.org & FACE Foundation face4pets.org
Finalist: San Diego Food Bank
Finalist: Rancho Coastal Humane Society
Finalist: Walden Family Services

James Floros, Gwendolyn Sontheim, and Miles McPherson
Editors’ Pick: Leaders Combating Hunger
James Floros is the president and CEO of the San Diego Food Bank and its North County Food Bank chapter. Since the start of the pandemic in mid-March, the nonprofit has distributed more than 25 million pounds of food to an estimated 600,000 people every month in communities across San Diego County, up from 350,000 per month prior to the start of the crisis. The Food Bank’s 500 member nonprofits include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, low-income day care centers, and senior centers. The organization recently also established its Super Pantry Program, which created 35 high-volume distribution centers located throughout the county. The Super Pantries are projected to distribute an additional 1.2 million pounds of food to 130,000 people every month. sandiegofoodbank.org, northcountyfoodbank.org

Gwendolyn Sontheim is a founder and current board chair of Feeding San Diego, whose mission is to end hunger through food rescue. Last year alone, the nonprofit distributed more than 31 million meals to the community and rescued more than 27 million pounds of food. The pandemic has brought about an estimated 50 percent increase in the need for food assistance. Feeding San Diego, in partnership with more than 320 local charities, schools, faith communities, meal sites, and food pantries, is helping kids, families, and seniors across the county to help meet that need. In addition, Sontheim helped launch a new program with the Lucky Duck Foundation to provide food and water to unsheltered homeless San Diegans. Since its launch at the end of May, the program has provided approximately 175,000 meals. feedingsandiego.org

Founded by former San Diego Chargers cornerback Pastor Miles McPherson, Rock Church is one of San Diego’s largest ministries, with community service at its core. At the beginning of the pandemic, the church’s volunteer corps retrofitted 300,000 N95 respirator masks that were out of date and whose elastic bands had rotted while in storage. In addition to the mask retrofit, Rock Church and Rady Children’s Hospital partnered to collect, track, and distribute donated critical-need medical equipment. And when it comes to helping those facing hunger, the church’s San Marcos and City Heights campuses, in partnership with local donors, host monthly food, diaper, and supplies distribution events to help those who have found themselves in an unexpected place of need during the COVID-19 crisis. sdrock.com    M.P.

Lara Vellocido
Readers’ Choice: Best Bartender
Time flies when you’re having fun! That’s certainly the case for Mille Fleurs’ Lara Vellocido (right), who has been tending bar at the renowned Rancho Santa Fe restaurant for an impressive 24 years. Together with her sister, Catharine Goldman (left), who has been with the establishment for 11 years, the two make up the dynamic duo that regulars have come to know and love.  858.756.3085, millefleurs.com   M.P.

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