Today we’d like to introduce you to Ruth Westeich.
Ruth was one of the founders and principal funders of the Nonprofit Institute at USD. Her brainchild, the Caster Research Center, is now globally recognized for excellence in nonprofit research and evaluation of the sector. She has been a major force behind the integrative medicine movement for over 20 years. She is a swtrategic bridge catalyzing the movements of Functional Medicine, Nutrition Science, natural medicine and palliative care helping to create a paradigm shift in whole person care and 21st Century prevention and wellness.
Her affiliations include local and national academic institutions and organizations such as, including the Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute, Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine. American Nutrition Association, Bastyr College of Natural Medicine, UCLArts and Healing. She is on the Board of Regents at Southern California University of Health Sciences in Whittier, CA. She is the award-winning co-author of, Creativity Unzipped, Why Your Thoughts Matter, and Finding Ourselves on Common Ground, a photographic book.
Her private family foundation was funded about 18 years ago and Ruth is the President. She has been a major force in connecting, collaborating, and consensus building as part of the focus of her Foundation in San Diego and across the US.
She started a scholarship with Words Alive 12 years ago targeting the most underserved in SD many of which were homeless. Those young people who come under the Juvenile Justice System are the group that falls through the cracks. She, along with a committed team of Words Alive, has educated to career 60 young people. She is an activist in the areas of food safety and environmental toxicity working with advocacy groups in these areas all around the US.
She is extremely concerned about the world they are leaving for their children and grandchildren. She engages and encourages people at the grassroots level to become aware and educated about the critical issues they face.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing I have chosen to devote my life, time and resources to has been, a still isn’t easy. When you set out with many other committed groups to change paradigms, it isn’t popular. The status quo has deep roots totally motivated by profit to keep our health system, our food system, and our environment the same.
Change isn’t easy or popular but I have committed my life to these changes. I am convinced that anything that requires great change will have to come from committed grassroots efforts.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Westreich Foundation – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Recognitions and Awards for Ruth Westreich and The Westreich Foundation:
-Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine – Award of Generosity 2006
-CHAD Health Hero Award 2012
-Monarch Miracle Award 2008
-Casa de Amparo – Donor of the Year 2008
-University of San Diego – Woman of the Year 2011
-San Diego Hospice – Volunteer of the Year 2012
-Cal State San Marcos – Seeds of Growth Award 2013
-North County Philanthropy Volunteer Award 2012
-Samueli Institute – Outstanding Board Member 2012-2015
-Cal State San Marcos – Volunteer of the Year 2014
-UCSD Center of Integrative Med. – Impact Award in IM 2015
-UCSD Center of Integrative Med. – Aware of Generosity 2013
-Center for Community Solutions – Philanthropist of the Year 2015
-Mitchell Thorp Foundation – Pillars of Hope Award 2014
-American Nutrition Assoc. – Leadership Council Award 2015
-Lightbridge Hospice – Lights of LightBridge Award 2015
-University of San Diego, SOLES, Philanthropist of the Year 2015
-AIHM Change Maker Award for 2016 2016
-AHA Go Red for Women Legendary Woman of the Year 2017 2017
-Doctorate of Humanities from So Calif. Uni. Life Sciences 2017
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
I love San Diego. The weather and the topography. Where I live in Fairbanks Ranch is like living in the country. Walking in Nature every day is part of my spiritual practice and I never fail to be humbled as I walk even after all these years.
The people in San Diego are genuine and many are committed just like myself. We are not an old city with old philanthropic endowments and money. We also don’t have many Fortune 100 companies to help our fund the needed social causes so we have to depend on many individuals to work tirelessly.
I wish that business and corporate San Diego understood that the nonprofits in our city and region were vital to moving our economy forward. We have over 10,000 nonprofits each with a passionate mission to deliver services. With more support from business, we could do much more. Many do their part, of course, but I think that the importance of our nonprofit sector requires a big educational outreach to our business community.
I have been an artist all my life. I am deeply committed to every nonprofit in San Diego have beautiful, original art on their walls. It transforms culture. I love to paint but I give all my art away to nonprofits and I encourage other artists to do the same. In 2017 I gave away over 50 pieces to nonprofits in our community. Please highlight this an suggest any nonprofits contact me via e-mail if they would like original art on their walls.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thewestreichfoundation.org; www.ruthwestreichtheartist.org
- Email: Ruth@thewestreichfoundation.org
- Facebook: The Westreich Foundation
Getting in touch: SDVoyager is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
