More than 40 years ago, the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber first opened its doors for business.
And since that time, the chamber has been there 24/7/365 for any diver in need of its services. In 1989, Chamber Day was created as a way of providing more secure funding for the chamber.
And since that time, organizers have come back annually to ask you to pitch in and support the chamber. This year, Chamber Day and Eve will be held Wednesday, May 6.
More than 40 years ago, the USC Catalina Hyperbaric Chamber first opened its doors for business.
And since that time, the chamber has been there 24/7/365 for any diver in need of its services. In 1989, Chamber Day was created as a way of providing more secure funding for the chamber.
And since that time, organizers have come back annually to ask you to pitch in and support the chamber. This year, Chamber Day and Eve will be held Wednesday, May 6.
The people at the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center (on the West End) hope you’ll never need it, but if you do, you’ll be glad it’s there. A key component of fund-raising efforts, especially the past few years, has been the Chamber Challenge.
You are “challenged” to give a straight donation to the Chamber, and then turn around and challenge your friends and dive buddies to match your generosity.
The fund raising has started off with a wonderful $2,500 contribution from the Temecula Dive Club that just underscores that you don’t have to live on the actual coast to be a valuable supporter of the chamber.
And Cirque du Soleil recently came into the fold.
They’ve made a $1,000 donation due to the hours that their employee Robert Soncini has put in as a chamber volunteer. (It also serves to remind you to see if your employer has a similar program where they make a donation to an organization you support.)
The fundraising drive also has a trio of Silver sponsors and starts with a donation in memory of Dr. Jeff Sipsey, the longtime medical director of the chamber who passed away at the end of 2014.
Jeff will be sorely missed but his contributions to making our Chamber vital will live on forever. Chamber Day and Evening organizers also thank longtime supporter Jeanne Sleeper for once again being a Silver sponsor and they re-welcome Phillips 66 into the Silver sponsor fold. Everything helps and there is a little more than a month to go until the actual event. So who’s next? Who will help push us past $6,000?
Chamber Challenge 2015—$5,750 Total
(Updated March 30 at noon – first update)
New donors are marked with a bullet point.
Gold ($1,000 and more)
• Temecula Dive Club
• Cirque du Soleil
Silver ($500-999)
• In memory of Dr. Geoff Sipsey
• Jeanne Sleeper
• Phillips 66
Bronze ($100-499)
• Roy Houston
• Angi & Ron Burkard
• James Adams
• Michael Swinney
Other (less than $100)
• Thomas J. Connare Jr.
For more information, visit http://dornsife.usc.edu/chamberday or call Chamber Day headquarters at 310-652-4990.
