Events

Building Bridges Through Rotary

In conjunction with San Diego Climate Week, and Rotary Clubs in the U.S. and Mexico, Steve will showcase inspiring initiatives including the Tijuana River Project, Pollinators Without Borders and other cross-border environmental efforts.

About Steve Bender

Steve Bender is a global sustainability leader and strategic advisor with decades of experience building partnerships, launching environmental initiatives, and helping organizations grow in ways that are both responsible and resilient.

He is the CEO of Sea 2 Sky Solutions, an international consulting firm focused on sustainable innovation and collaboration; the head of Newport Homes, where he leads work in green building, affordable housing, and sustainable building design; and the CEO of The 7 Seas Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the world's oceans. Steve also serves as Global Head of Strategic Partnerships and Revenue Growth at EarthX.

Steve serves as Chairman of the Board of the United States Green Chamber of Commerce. As a founding director of both the U.S. Green Chamber and the California Green Chamber, he is widely recognized for bringing business, government, and nonprofit leaders together around shared sustainability goals, always with a focus on making sustainability work for business.

His conservation and civic leadership include serving as President of the Rotary Club of Newport Beach, The Rotary Global Service Club, as well as Director of the Environmental and Sustainability Rotary Action Group (ESRAG) for Western North America, supporting environmental projects across more than 1,700 Rotary clubs. He also serves on the Rotary Climate Action Team and is a former President of the Newport Bay Conservancy.

Steve is the founder of Rebuild Ukraine Green, an initiative working with international partners to support post-conflict recovery in Ukraine. In collaboration with Rotary, Steve also focuses on funding landmine removal from agricultural regions and supporting a prosthetic hand program to help civilians injured by the conflict regain mobility and independence.

A certified Master Diver with a lifelong love of the ocean, Steve works closely with businesses, governments, NGOs, and international organizations to turn sustainability goals into practical, measurable, and lasting impact.

🥪 It's Peanut Butter Jelly Time… Literally! 🍇

Please join the La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club for an afternoon of peanut butter, jelly, and good company! 🤝

🎯 Our goal: 5,000 sandwiches — let's see how many we can really make!
❤️ Where they go: every sandwich helps feed people facing food insecurity
   here in San Diego, through Father Joe's and Interfaith.

📅 Sunday, October 18th, 2026 ⏰ [10am - 1pm]
📍 8540 Via Mallorca, San Diego, CA 92037
🏠 A huge thank you to Fary, who donated her complex's great room so we can all get together!

🍞 Please bring: loaves of bread! We're providing the peanut butter, jelly, and all the other supplies but we always run out of bread!
🚗 Parking: please park at the DSW Shoes or the pet shop across from the complex and walk over.
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Bring your friends and family — the more hands, the more sandwiches!

🔗 Rather send someone an invite than sign them up? Share this link:
https://lajollagtrotary.org/event/peanut-butter-and-jelly-social-1/

📱 Questions, comments, or concerns? Text Samson Tse at (818) 632-5149

Mark your calendar for another Rotary Insider Tour.

Join us Friday, November 13, from 10:00 to 11:00 AM at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park, featuring Old Masters, Impressionists and more.

Logistics and sign-ups to come.

Contact: jpercival@scribecommunications.com

Learn more about the San Diego Museum of Art

By popular demand, Eduardo Velasquez returns to LJGT Rotary.

Eduardo Velasquez, Vice President of the San Diego Regional EDC, will share San Diego's Economic Outlook 2027 and a look at what may be ahead for the region.