History  | Mission | Events | Contacts

History

Our History

Fleet Week San Diego was created by community and business leaders who understood the great depth of public support for our Sailors and Marines, and sought to provide a means for San Diego to express that support in a way that would also establish San Diego as a patriotic, pro-military city.  They shared a vision to recognize the contributions made by the naval services to the many communities that are part of the region generally known as greater San Diego.  In 1997, after extensive planning and team building, Fleet Week was born.  Nurtured by the Chamber of Commerce, the annual series of events grew quickly into a recognized feature of the region’s annual calendar.  By 2001, Fleet Week had outgrown its home in the Chamber and was incorporated as The San Diego Fleet Week Foundation.

The Fleet Week Foundation and Its Beneficiaries

The San Diego Fleet Week Foundation is a California Public Benefit Corporation, founded in 2001 as a non-profit under the provisions of section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.

As a PublicBenefit Corporation, the San Diego Fleet Week Foundation donates proceeds in excess of operating expenses from Fleet Week San Diego to charities that provide critical support to military families.

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Mission

Our Mission

The mission of Fleet Week San Diego is to honor and celebrate the men and women of the military through public events that entertain and alliances that support and thank these heroes.

Fleet Week San Diego’s magic is in the power of the partnership between our communities and the men and women who serve our nation in the naval services.  These great young Americans felt a call to serve the country and are routinely sent to represent our nation, and to defend our strategic interests at great personal risk.  Hours are long, pay is low, and physical hardships and family separations are part of the job.  Perhaps less well-known are the contributions our Sailors and Marines make to the quality of life in our communities.  Disproportionately large numbers of them can be found coaching youth teams, leading scout groups, singing in church choirs, teaching Sunday school, serving as volunteer firefighters, building or repairing homes for the disadvantaged, or using their high-tech skills to install modern computer systems in inner-city schools.  San Diegans feel a uniquely close bond to their Sailors and Marines and hundreds of thousands turn out to demonstrate that support and to enjoy the fun and excitement of world-class special events.

Mission Accomplished 2009

FLEET WEEK SUPPORTS MILITARY PERSONNEL AND THEIR FAMILIES

Fleet Week San Diego offers something for everyone. In addition to demonstrating support of our active duty military, your sponsorship enabled Fleet Week to host our military men and women at many events that would normally be unavailable to them. Here is a list of the tickets to major events we provided to Sailors, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and their families in 2009:

• 8,000 military men, women and their families watched the Red Bull Air Race World Series from a free viewing area on NAS North Island
• 100 men and women and their employers were hosted at the Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve Award Luncheon (NTC Promenade)
• 1,500 coupon books with a coupon value of over $800 were distributed to military personnel during Operation Liberty Call (Gaslamp Quarter)
• Over 120 Sailors, Marines and Coastguardsmen and their guests attended the annual Star Spangled Salute gala (Manchester Grand Hyatt)
• 1,200 active duty military were hosted at Fleet Week Football Classic
• The San Diego Padres hosted 3,000 military personnel and their families at the Padres – Cardinals game
• Over 250 young enlisted men and women enjoyed a day of golf at Admiral Baker Golf Course at the annual All Enlisted Golf Tournament
• 200 honorees were hosted at the Enlisted Recognition Luncheon (SeaWorld)
• 8,000 free tickets were given to military personnel and families to attend the Coronado Speed Festival
• 800 young sailors and their guests attended the Navy Birthday Ball

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Events

Overview of Events

The Fleet Week San Diego series of more than 18 events begins in August with our flagship event, The Eighth Annual Star Spangled Salute, planned for Saturday, August 15, is our annual black-tie gala that brings together corporate sponsors, junior and senior officers from the Navy and Marine Corps and community leaders for an evening of patriotism and celebration.

The San Diego Padres, “Team of the Military,” are proud to be a part of Fleet Week 2009. The Fleet Week Padres Baseball Game on Thursday, August 20, is against the St. Louis Cardinals. The game will honor the San Diego military community in the same tradition that has been so well established by Fleet Week over the years.

The ESGR Awards Luncheon held on September 10, will recognize San Diego companies that understand and support the role of the National Guard and Reserve. These organizations, large and small, play a critical role in the defense of our nation by protecting the jobs of workers who serve in the Reserves. National Guard and Reserve members will invite their supervisors to this luncheon and representatives from ESGR and the Department of Defense will take the opportunity to acknowledge these proactive individuals and the companies they represent.

On September 16, the All Enlisted Golf Tournament will bring together more than 250 junior sailors and Marines to enjoy a day of golf. With the help of our volunteers and sponsors, prizes are awarded worth over $15,000.

Over the weekend of September 26-27, the Coronado Speed Festival held on Naval Air Station North Island, Coronado will attract huge crowds, with free admission for all active duty military and their families. This event is a celebration of speed and auto racing. It has featured a car race, drifting exhibitions, a car show, a car club corral, car displays, military flyovers, and a vendor village. This singular event coincides with the only Navy’s West Coast Open House offering the general public a unique opportunity to visit the base, explore military displays and tour Navy ships.

On Wednesday, September 30, the Enlisted Recognition Luncheon brings together the city’s business leaders with more than 250 Sailors, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines.

Sponsored by the Armed Services YMCA, Operation Liberty Call, Friday, October 2, provides sailors and Marines with a night on the town. Military personnel receive a coupon book filled with discounts from participating merchants.

The Heroes Appreciation Luncheon celebrates the generosity of the many San Diego businesses who have donated time or services to support the families of our recovering warriors.

The Fleet Week Golf Tournament offers a relaxed environment for the Foundation to thank junior and senior officers, our sponsors and community leaders for their generous support of our events.

Fleet Week helps sailors to attend the annual Navy Birthday Ball. Corporate sponsors underwrite ticket costs for enlisted servicemen and women by raising money to reduce the price of the tickets.

Fleet Week Football Classic pits hometown favorites, the SDSU Aztecs against a Mountain West Conference Team. With the help of our sponsors, 7,000 military personnel and their families received tickets to the game.

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 Contacts

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