CELEBRATING

This year, The Country Friends celebrates South Coast Plaza's 50th year as a leading international shopping destination with more than 250 prominent boutiques, critically-acclaimed restaurants and the adjacent celebrated Segerstrom Center for the Arts. South Cost Plaza has continued to support The Country Friends for 13 years, raising 1 million dollars for charities throughout San Diego County. We thank you and we celebrate you!

Our honoree this year is Jenny Craig. Jenny was born the youngest of six children and grew up in New Orleans after the Great Depression. She gained 55 pounds during the pregnancy of her second daughter and, for the first time, Jenny faced the probelm of having to lose weight. 

After accomplishing the tremendous weight loss, she accepted the offer to go to work for her gym, and after five years in the weight control business, Jenny met and eventually married Sid Craig in 1979. Together they blended a family of seven— Jenny’s two daughters and three children from Sid’s former marriage.

Eventually, Sid and Jenny joined their knowledge and success to found Jenny Craig, a weight management program consisting of pre-packaged nutritional food along with an individual, one-on-one support system and, as always, exercise encouragement. Now the company has over 750 centers in four countries!

Sid and Jenny were greatful for the opportunity and success they had so they often gave back. They donated one million dollars to United Way—the first the foundation had ever seen!— and another million dollars to Hurricane Katrina victims, as well as supporting other agencies such as Red Cross, Salvation Army and The San Diego Police Fund. Jenny is also passionate about helping military families. She feels that nothing we can do is payment enough for the sacrifices the men and women in uniform make. 

Sid and Jenny spent over thirty years working and living together and sharing their success with their freinds and family before Sid sadly passed away in 2008. Before his passing, the couple decided to sell the company to Nestlé who, ironically, is known for making the “very best chocolate." Perhaps there is synergy there? 

The Country Friends Mission Statement

To Support Human Care Agencies With Emphasis On Those Providing Services To Women, Children, The Elderly And Persons With Disabilities In San Diego County

OUR 2017 CHOSEN CHARITIES

Angel Faces
Angel's Foster Family Network
Armed Services YMCA
Assistance League 
Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito
Boys to Men
Burn Institute
Canine Companions
Center for Community Solutions
Cesar Chavez Service Club
Champions for Health
Community Campership Council
Elizabeth Hospice
Girls Rising
Hospice of North Coast
Include Autism
Jacobs & Cushman S.D. Food Bank
Kids' Turn 
La Jolla Meals on Wheels
LightBridge Hospice
Mama's Kitchen
Miracle Babies
Musicians for Education
Outdoor Outreach
Palomar Family Counseling
Palomar Health Foundation
Partnerships with Industry
Pro Kids, The First Tee S.D.
Project Concern International S.D.
Promises2Kids
Rady Children's Hospital
Reality Changers
REINS
RMH Charities San Diego
RSF Community Center
Saving Horses
San Diego Blood Bank
San Diego Second Chance
STEP
Think Dignity
Voices for Children
Women's Resource Center
YMCA San Diego Border View

OPPORTUNITY DRAWING

2017 Grand Prizes