A Memorable Evening in Downtown San Diego
GALA PHOTOS NOW AVAILABLE—Thank you to everyone who joined UPAC at the 51st annual Leadership Awards Gala to celebrate Margaret Iwanaga Penrose and Wendy Urushima-Conn, and to raise vital funds that will help UPAC continue to empower the diverse, underserved communities of San Diego!
Congratulations to our 2026 Leadership award recipients Blue Shield Promise, Susan & Dee Lew, and San Diego Foundation and for their mutual work in serving San Diego’s most vulnerable communities.
Donate Today
Unable to make this year’s Gala? There’s still an opportunity to make a positive impact! When you donate to UPAC, you make culturally and linguistically appropriate mental health support and addiction treatment & recovery programs available to over 6,000 individuals and families in San Diego whose incomes are approaching, at, or below the federal poverty threshold. Make a positive impact on our local community—donate today!
UPAC’s 51st annual Leadership Awards Gala was a success thanks to the incredible generosity and dedication of our community—from all who came out, to our event team, our board members, sponsors, and all who participated in the silent and live auctions. Together, we’re fueling brighter futures for our community!
Thank you to our Gala sponsors & underwriters
Thank you to all our corporate and individual sponsors who stepped up to bring UPAC’s 51st Annual Leadership Awards Gala to life!
Those who sponsored and underwrote our 51st Annual Leadership Awards Gala enable UPAC to continue its mission to strengthen and empower the diverse, underserved, and vulnerable communities of San Diego. Their generous support will help UPAC continue to provide person-centered, holistic services that prioritizes cultural and ethnic identity to enhance the overall health, well-being, and self-sufficiency of those served.
Thank you to all who contributed to our Gala auction
All proceeds from the contributed auction items benefit the essential work of UPAC, such as providing job training to youth from underserved communities, mentoring youth who struggle with language and cultural barriers in school, and helping individuals overcome substance use through therapy, medication assisted treatment (MAT), and mental health support.