In January, our very own, Todd Newell, Financial Advisor, trained and competed in a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) tournament with an organization called Tap Cancer Out (TCO). TCO is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organize that raises funds beyond cancer research; encompassing training, survivorship support, prevention, and even some adventurous initiatives.

At Tap Cancer Out, it has been their belief since day one that the jiu-jitsu community can come together to support these organizations, hospitals, doctors, researchers and volunteers who won’t quit until they’ve forced cancer to tap out.

Todd raised $3,255 dollars through word-of-mouth and the entire event raised $90,107. Todd went on to win his division winning both of his matches by submission. For those who are familiar with BJJ: he won his first match by rear naked choke and his second by kimura shoulder lock.

If you have charitable inclinations and would like to donate to TCO consider contacting Todd at Todd.Newell@wellsfargoadvisors.com or (858) 456-5457. He can direct you towards the links to donate to not only help the cause but receive a charitable tax deduction.

Tap Cancer Out. https://tapcancerout.org

The 888 Wealth Management Group, represented by Karin Huber, Bob Kinslow and Todd Newell, attended the Forever Young, Black & Gold Gala, hosted by San Diego Oasis. On the night, San Diego Oasis raised $197,232 to support their mission of promoting healthy aging through lifelong learning, active lifestyles, and community engagement, specifically their Intergenerational Tutoring and Digital Divide programs. At San Diego Oasis, they seek to create a brighter future for older adults in our community.

Peter Mero Senior Vice President-Investments & Senior PIM Portfolio Manager and Mark Walton Managing Director –  Investments & Senior PIM Portfolio Manager attended a big fundraiser for Heroes Linked at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills. The honored guest was actor Gary Sinise, who has made a powerful impact among many veteran’s groups including his own foundation. Heroes Linked provides a national network of volunteer advisors to help veterans when they leave the military to find rewarding and satisfying careers. 200,000 servicemen and women leave the military each year so there is a great need to link these veterans with career opportunities.

Joris, along with other parishioners of St. Charles Borromeo in Point Loma, went to Mexico near the Colonial slums of Tecate to help organize and provide essential items to over 400 families in need. These are families that scavenge the dump for items to sell. In addition to the Christmas push, Joris will be going to Colonia this year to learn about how the community at large could benefit from additional planning and civic improvement.

Mark and his family joined more than a dozen other volunteers over the holidays to help pack bags and boxes of food for the FIND Food Bank. FIND focuses on distributing healthy food to families in need throughout southern California. FIND delivers the food directly to families and to soup kitchens, food pantries, and religious and non-profit organizations. Food insecurity is a major problem and finding healthy food has become even more difficult for many people to afford. The work of the FIND Food Bank has been critical in addressing the needs that many families have.

Mark and his wife, Lynette, joined close to three thousand other volunteers at Cathedral Catholic High School to pack meal kits to help feed more than a million impoverished families. These are high nutrition, easy to prepare packets that go mostly to the families in Tijuana, but some are sent to families in the Ukraine and Ecuador. The event was such a success the volunteers packed a million meals in less than two days!