The Rob Benzon/Dan Ferbal Foundation was honored to once again support the annual Scott Carlson/Dan Ferbal Community Thanksgiving Dinner by assisting with food costs. Hosted each year on Thanksgiving Day at the San Diego LGBTQ Community Center, this cherished tradition has been bringing the community together since 1988, when Scott Carlson first created the event to provide a warm holiday meal for San Diegans suffering from HIV/AIDS at the height of the epidemic.
For many years, Dan Ferbal and Steve Hawley volunteered, and in 2020, Dan’s name was added to the event in recognition of his remarkable service and enduring compassion for the community. Today, the dinner continues with that legacy of care and inclusiveness, offering a welcoming space and a hot Thanksgiving meal for individuals facing cancer and other serious illnesses, people experiencing homelessness, and anyone in need of connection during the holiday. In 2025, more than 650 individuals benefited from this vital community gathering.
Grant awarded in November 2025