79th Annual Candlelight Ball Raises More Than $3 Million to Benefit Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla

SAN DIEGO – With an astounding $1.5 million challenge grant from Betty Knight Scripps, the 79th Annual Candlelight Ball has raised more than $3 million for Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Through Mrs. Scripps’ continued leadership as General Chairman during the past six years, the ball has provided more than $16 million in philanthropic support to further the lifesaving care for San Diego communities.

Entertaining guests with unparalleled glamour and elegance, the Candlelight Ball is one of the oldest, most prestigious and highly-anticipated fundraising events in San Diego. The black-tie event on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, provided a feast for the senses at the Grand Del Mar. Guests enjoyed gourmet dining, dancing to The Bob Hardwick Sound and spectacular holiday décor.

As one of the nation’s leading businesswomen and philanthropists, Mrs. Scripps is president of Scripps Enterprises Inc. In addition to her work on behalf of the Candlelight Ball, the Rancho Santa Fe resident is a dedicated supporter of health care and the arts, including the Mayo Clinic, the University of Virginia – where the Scripps Library has been established at its Miller Center, the American Red Cross, the English National Ballet, and Friends of Art and Preservation in Embassies (FAPE).