The La Jolla organization aimed at getting residents together is now also giving, donating $2,000 to two local nonprofits so far.

Celebrating La Jolla and offering ways to get new and established La Jollans involved in their community, the first 2026 edition of La Jolla 101 gave away large checks to two surprised nonprofits April 2.

A twice-yearly event hosted by La Jolla real estate broker Amber Anderson, La Jolla 101 is designed to encourage new connections in La Jolla, offering time to network and mingle with small bites provided by local restaurants before moving into short presentations by varying community groups.

After their presentations, local nonprofits St Germaine Children’s Charity, which supports victims of child abuse, and Scripps Health Foundation, which funds projects for Scripps Health, each received a surprise check for $1,000 from the La Jolla 101 team, which has recently become a 501(c)(3).

Anderson initiated the new designation as a “passion project … to help the community financially,” she said.

St Germaine and Scripps Health were chosen randomly, she added.

Among the rest of the presentations were the Social Service League of La Jolla, which runs the Darlington and League houses; the La Jolla Concours d’Elegance, La Jolla Historical Society; and artist Krista Schumacher, who recently opened a gallery in the Pacific Sotheby’s Prospect Street building where La Jolla 101 takes place. 

“My artwork is really centered on capturing the emotional essence of the local landscapes,” Schumacher said.

A self-described “huge ocean lover,” Schumacher emulates how she feels seaside with palette knives and “lots and lots of oil paint,” she said.

Also presenting: Brenda Fake for Friends of Coast Walk Trail and the La Jolla Coastal Conservancy; Fake invited those present to the annual “Weed [Pulling] Party” at 9 am Saturday, April 18, at Coast Walk Trail.

Last year, volunteers removed about five tons of weeds, Fake said. With this year’s early rain storms, “we’re going for seven tons.”

In addition, FOCWT has so far collected “a million dollars to restore that trail,” Fake said.

The La Jolla Coastal Conservancy is stretching FOCWT’s public-private partnership model through the trail and southwest into Scripps Park, all the way to Whale View Point, taking on improvement projects such as removing dead trees, restoring the La Jolla Cove lifeguard tower and more.

La Jolla 101 is “always looking for more organizations that want to present and share what they’ve got going on,” Anderson said.

The next La Jolla 101 will take place Thursday, Sept 10.

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