Friday Lunch to Honor Bill and Norma Verbeck, La Mesa Philanthropists

La Mesa philanthropists Bill and Norma Verbeck will be honored Friday (Jan. 20) at a special luncheon meeting of the Kiwanis Club of La Mesa for their years supporting local groups and charities.

“Verbeck will be awarded the Kiwanis International 50-Year Legion of Honor at the meeting,” said Bob Battenfield for the club. “Tony Zambelli, president of the La Mesa Kiwanis Club, will make the presentation.”

Ceremonies will be at the La Mesa Community Center, 4975 Memorial Drive.

The Verbecks, retired former owners of Grossmont Escrow, have made significant financial donations to the East County Boys & Girls Club, the Home of Guiding Hands, the Grossmont Hospital Foundation, the Jarrett Meeker Foundation and the Water Conservation Garden at Cuyamaca College, Battenfield said.

In association with the La Mesa Kiwanis Foundation, the Verbecks have donated to the club’s annual scholarship program for graduating seniors from Helix and Grossmont high schools, as well as the Chubby Sykes Memorial Scholarship Fund for vocational scholarships for graduates of Chaparral High School, he said

A total of 15 college scholarships are awarded annually through these programs.

“Through Grossmont Escrow, the Verbecks are also a major sponsor of the Drew Ford/Kiwanis Club of La Mesa Soap Box Derby Races, which have taken place three times each year for the past 10 years,” Battenfield said.

They also helped the Grossmont Hospital Foundation including funding toward the William and Norma Verbeck Tomography Cancer Treatment Center. One of the homes for developmentally delayed residents of Home of Guiding Hands as well as some facilities at the Boys & Girls Club also bear the Verbeck name.

Speakers at the luncheon include 2nd District county Supervisor Dianne Jacob and Mayor Art Madrid, who will present the Verbecks a “Walk of Fame” plaque.

Recounting the Verbecks’ service to the community will be Jerry Fazio, East County Boys and Girls Club Foundation Executive Director; Mark Klaus, executive director, Home of Guiding Hands; Beth Morgante, vice president, Grossmont Hospital Foundation; Keith and Judy Meeker of the Jarrett Meeker Foundation; and Marty Eberhardt, executive director of The Water Conservation Garden.

Also speaking will be Joe Drew, owner of Drew Auto, and Caren Gage, co-owner of Grossmont Escrow.

In addition, in the 1980s, Bill Verbeck served a four-year term as an elected member of the Helix Water District governing board, and Bob Friedgen, retired general manager, will speak about Verbeck’s service to the district.

Dennis Wilkes, immediate past president and derby director, will be master of ceremonies at the luncheon—beginning at 11:45 a.m and concluding by 1:30 p.m.  Cost is $20 per person.  To make reservations, contact Dennis Wilkes at dwilkes1@cox.net.