ELEVATE: A New Chapter for the Rob Benzon Dan Ferbal Foundation
By Cesar A Reyes
Every nonprofit has a story. Few begin with as much heartbreak—and as much love—as the Rob Benzon Dan Ferbal Foundation.
What started as a simple act of remembrance between friends has grown into one of San Diego’s most enduring grassroots LGBTQ+ charitable organizations, providing more than $550,000 in grants to individuals and community organizations throughout the region. At its heart, however, the foundation remains rooted in the same idea that sparked it nearly three decades ago: friends coming together to help someone else.
The story begins in 1999 following the death of Rob Benzon. During Rob’s memorial service, friends and family collected donations in his honor, hoping to create something meaningful from their grief. Rob’s mother, Connie, matched the contributions and later donated proceeds from the sale of Rob’s belongings. Together, those gifts created a $10,000 fund dedicated to helping San Diegans in need.
No one could have predicted what would come next.
Rather than allowing the fund to remain a one-time memorial, Rob’s friends found a way to keep his spirit alive. Each year, they gathered during Pride season, inviting friends to celebrate, reconnect, and contribute what they could. The concept was refreshingly simple: bring people together, have a good time, and encourage small donations from people who might not otherwise consider themselves philanthropists.
Those modest contributions added up.
Year after year, Pride parties became opportunities to raise money for neighbors facing difficult circumstances. The idea was never about extravagant fundraising campaigns or corporate sponsorships. It was about community. It was about people helping people.
As support grew, so did the impact. What began as a memorial fund evolved into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing emergency assistance and targeted support to those experiencing unexpected hardship.
In 2020, following the tragic loss of another beloved member of the community, the organization expanded its mission and name, becoming the Rob Benzon Dan Ferbal Foundation. Today, both men are honored through the foundation’s work.
“It brings us great comfort and pride knowing that both Rob and Dan are shining their great light down on us,” foundation leaders have shared. “Rob’s infectious laugh and Dan’s kind, Virgo-organized nature will always guide us as we continue to do good work in their memory.”
That spirit continues to drive the foundation’s mission.
“The WORD is ‘Hope,'” said board member John Cashman. “It’s key to our mission and what we’re all about.”
For Cashman, who moved to San Diego in the early 1990s for graduate school and ended up building a life here with his husband, the foundation represents the best of what makes the city’s LGBTQ+ community special.
Unlike many charitable organizations that focus on broad initiatives, the Rob Benzon Dan Ferbal Foundation concentrates on direct impact. Its mission is to provide “unexpected help and hope” to individuals facing catastrophic life events beyond their control, while also supporting specific needs within youth and LGBTQ+ organizations.
That commitment to tangible assistance has become the foundation’s hallmark. Every grant tells a story. Every dollar raised has the potential to help someone pay an urgent bill, overcome a crisis, or find stability during a difficult chapter of life.
This year, that mission takes center stage once again as the foundation returns to Pride weekend with a new fundraising event: ELEVATE.
For years, supporters looked forward to LAUNCH, the foundation’s signature Pride fundraiser. But behind the scenes, the organization’s all-volunteer board spent the last two years focusing on strengthening operations, improving communications, and expanding grant outreach.
“For the past two years, our all-volunteer board has been focusing on expanding our communications as well as expanding our grant outreach opportunities,” Cashman explained. “During this time, we made the difficult decision to pause our LAUNCH fundraising event to give us the space and time to do this important organizational work.”
Now the foundation is ready to return.
ELEVATE represents the next chapter. Hosted during San Diego Pride weekend at insideOUT, the event maintains the energy and sense of connection that made LAUNCH so beloved while offering a more intimate experience. Organizers expect approximately 300 guests, creating an atmosphere that encourages conversation, community, and meaningful engagement.
Cashman describes ELEVATE as an evolution of what supporters already know and love.
“It leverages our well-known LAUNCH events in concept and energy, but allows us to scale the event to a smaller, more intimate and elevated event format,” he said.
More importantly, ELEVATE marks the return of what the foundation does best: bringing people together around a shared purpose.
“We’re ready to ELEVATE your Pride with our new event,” Cashman said. “We’re so excited to be back to doing what we love: hosting a party with a purpose so we can continue to give back to our San Diego community.”
That phrase, “party with a purpose,” perfectly captures the foundation’s DNA. It is the same philosophy that inspired a group of friends to pass a donation basket nearly 30 years ago. It is the same spirit that transformed a memorial fund into a thriving nonprofit. And it is the same belief that continues to guide the organization today.
As Pride weekend approaches, ELEVATE serves as a reminder that the strongest communities are built not only through celebration, but through compassion. What began as a tribute to one friend has become a lasting legacy for two remarkable men, and a source of hope for countless San Diegans who need it most.
ELEVATE
Thursday July 16 6-9pm
InsideOUT
robbenzondanferbal.org