San Diego has never been a city that didn't understand how to mix beauty and generosity. Nowhere is that ethic more prevalent than on the emerald greens of Riverwalk Golf Course, where the Friends of Downtown San Diego will assemble again for an annual ritual that is something more than a day of sportsmanlike competition. It is a manifestation of the community's dedication to education and to the future.
On August 2, 2025, friends, golfers and philanthropists will come back for the 5th Annual Friends of Downtown San Diego Scholarship Fundraising Golf Tourney. It is a day filled with camaraderie and a sense of purpose, as players are given the opportunity to take their shot while helping students at San Diego City College take a shot at life-altering opportunities.
A Tradition Based on Community
When volunteers show up at Riverwalk Golf Course on that Saturday morning, they won't be merely signing up for an 18-hole scramble with golf cart and buffet lunch. They will be becoming sponsors of a cause for local youth.
The Friends of Downtown San Diego is a nonprofit volunteer organization that has become a part of the city fabric. For over a decade, since 2000, it has worked quietly and tirelessly to raise more than $800,000 in scholarship money for students at San Diego City College. These are not statistics on a spreadsheet. Every dollar is someone's future, a book they can buy, a rent check paid or a meal they can count on as they go for their degree.
This is the beauty of the event. It is not merely a tournament. It is the story of San Diego coming together to give youth the liberty to dream and the resources to make the dreams a reality.
The Tournament Experience
Riverwalk Golf Course is not your average course. It has rolling greens and elegant water features that make it the ideal venue for this day of lighthearted competition. The 18-hole scramble format emphasizes fun, strategy and friendship. It levels everyone out so golfers of all ages and abilities can play with confidence.
During the course of the day, players will be doing more than golf. There is the individual pride of knowing that they are contributing to a good cause. There is the group excitement of competing for the grand prize, a private foursome at PGA West. Champions also receive free entry into the following year's tournament, so that they can attempt to win once again, continue the tradition.
Following the game, the players relax with the buffet dinner. There, they will swap tales of close calls and flawless putts, rekindle friendships and forge some new ones in the process of helping to support education. It is a sophisticated but relaxed setting that embodies the best of San Diego nightlife with a purpose.
Investment in the Students and San Diego's Future
Erika Migliore, the President of Friends of Downtown San Diego, understands the value of this initiative better than anyone else. Year after year, she and the volunteers work to ensure that this event is a success with her time and effort.
Their purpose is straightforward. Every last cent that they raise goes straight to deserving San Diego City College students. No paid personnel, no bureaucratic overhead siphoning the fund. This way, the scholarships truly address students' actual needs, whether that is paying application fees for a university transfer, purchasing necessary textbooks or simply keeping the lights on and the food on the table.
As Migliore puts it, assisting students to realize their aspirations is more than a series of isolated success stories. It's about creating a more vibrant downtown community for all. When city students succeed, the whole city is more skilled, more visionary, and more promising.
A Legacy of Giving Back
To San Diego's public-spirited citizens, this tournament is a precious tradition. It is not just a contest, a lasting tradition of giving. It is a reminder that an investment in education is one of the most fulfilling ways to give back.
They are not just golfers, but also entrepreneurs, neighbors and community members who know that opportunity has the power to transform lives. They envision the faces of students who will become the business leaders, teachers, artists and civic leaders of tomorrow. They know that by contributing today, they are building a brighter tomorrow.
How to Contribute or Participate
Those who wish to support the effort have a variety of ways in which to do so. Obviously, the highlighted activity is signing up for the tournament itself. There are only a limited number of openings, and the tournament's popularity makes it a smart move to sign up early. The scramble format, the picturesque Riverwalk Golf Course, the complimentary dinner and the excitement of competition for that huge prize at PGA West will be savored by the participants.
But you don't have to swing an axe. If you'd rather contribute directly, you can donate to Friends of Downtown San Diego at fodsd.org. All donations, big or small, contribute to the scholarship fund and bring additional students to the education they deserve.
This ability to adapt allows anyone to be included in the mission, no matter where he or she is from in San Diego or the world. It is an open invitation to all those who value the power of learning to assist in bringing down walls and opening doors.
An Invitation to Make a Difference
As San Diego gets set for another stunning August day on the course, the message is clear. Gather your foursome. Wash your clubs. Or simply pledge to give. All together as a community, they can make sure cost is never what prevents a deserving student from being able to go to college. In doing so, San Diego is once again demonstrating to the world the strength of kindness, connection and shared responsibility in creating a brighter future. If you are a golfer, an advocate for education or just a supporter of this city, this event provides a chance to be part of something extraordinary. The 5th Annual Friends of Downtown San Diego Scholarship Fundraising Golf Tournament is more than a day of golf. It is a chance to assist students in writing their next chapter. So come ready to play. Come ready to give. Come ready to make a difference. San Diego’s students are counting on it.
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