ARTICLE
Jon Sisk Ken Whiting Extracurricular programs and, especially, high school athletics have been a fundamental part of the identify of American communities for a very long time. As funding for education has declined communities have stepped up to supplement the expenses of operating these programs. But finding the large sums of money necessary to rebuild the infrastructure – stadiums, pools, athletic fields – necessary to keep these programs going is a monumental challenge. So it was in Santa Cruz, until the Chamber’s men of the year, Jon Sisk and Ken Whiting, created Jon & Ken’s Most Excellent Adventure. Brothers-in-law, both long rooted in the community, with daughters in athletic programs, and well-experienced in nonprofit fundraising, Jon and Ken set out to find a means to generate the funds necessary to rehabilitate athletic complex at Santa Cruz High and provide other support to SCHS athletic programs. Jon and Ken, both members of the Sunrise Rotary Club, with the enthusiastic commitment of their fellow Rotarians, undertook the difficult task of raising the more than $500,000 necessary for these improvements. At the center of the plan was their Most Excellent Adventure, a three-day bicycle ride from Healdsburg to Santa Cruz now in its twelfth year. In addition to undertaking the ride itself, participants we required to find sponsors for their trip, each soliciting an average nearly $1,000 each year. The ride, coupled with other Rotary activities will result in a new athletic field and track to be completed in the spring of 2010. Jon Sisk is a founder and Senior Vice President / Senior Lending Officer of Lighthouse Bank in Santa Cruz. Jon was previously with Coast Commercial Bank where he held the position of SVP, Senior Relationship Manager. A thirteen year member and former President of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club, Jon also serves on the board of the Dominican Hospital Foundation. An avid runner and surfer and has coached local youth sports teams for over 15 years. A graduate of Saint Mary’s College, Jon and his wife, Margie, live in Santa Cruz with their daughters, Riley, Makenzie, and Addy. Ken Whiting manages his family’s food service business on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Founded in 1953, Whiting’s Food Concessions serves visitors from more than 20 locations at the Boardwalk where it is the attraction's second largest employer. Ken has also been recognized for his contributions to the food service industry. A third generation native Santa Cruzan, Ken is a long-time member and past president of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club where he has chaired “The Event” Charity Auction (raising over $100,000) and the Santa Cruz Activities for the Rotary District Conference. Ken is also a long-time Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce volunteer where he was chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2000. He is also past board member of the Santa Cruz Conference & Visitors Council and the Restaurant Association. Ken and his wife Renee raised three daughters in Santa Cruz and are proud new grandparents. Ken and Jon’s most excellent adventure continues. They are co-chairing a last push with community volunteers, school administrators, and the school district staff and board members to raise the balance of the funds necessary to complete the track & field complex, currently under construction. BACK
Jon Sisk
Ken Whiting
Extracurricular programs and, especially, high school athletics have been a fundamental part of the identify of American communities for a very long time. As funding for education has declined communities have stepped up to supplement the expenses of operating these programs. But finding the large sums of money necessary to rebuild the infrastructure – stadiums, pools, athletic fields – necessary to keep these programs going is a monumental challenge.
So it was in Santa Cruz, until the Chamber’s men of the year, Jon Sisk and Ken Whiting, created Jon & Ken’s Most Excellent Adventure. Brothers-in-law, both long rooted in the community, with daughters in athletic programs, and well-experienced in nonprofit fundraising, Jon and Ken set out to find a means to generate the funds necessary to rehabilitate athletic complex at Santa Cruz High and provide other support to SCHS athletic programs.
Jon and Ken, both members of the Sunrise Rotary Club, with the enthusiastic commitment of their fellow Rotarians, undertook the difficult task of raising the more than $500,000 necessary for these improvements.
At the center of the plan was their Most Excellent Adventure, a three-day bicycle ride from Healdsburg to Santa Cruz now in its twelfth year. In addition to undertaking the ride itself, participants we required to find sponsors for their trip, each soliciting an average nearly $1,000 each year. The ride, coupled with other Rotary activities will result in a new athletic field and track to be completed in the spring of 2010.
Jon Sisk is a founder and Senior Vice President / Senior Lending Officer of Lighthouse Bank in Santa Cruz. Jon was previously with Coast Commercial Bank where he held the position of SVP, Senior Relationship Manager.
A thirteen year member and former President of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club, Jon also serves on the board of the Dominican Hospital Foundation. An avid runner and surfer and has coached local youth sports teams for over 15 years.
A graduate of Saint Mary’s College, Jon and his wife, Margie, live in Santa Cruz with their daughters, Riley, Makenzie, and Addy.
Ken Whiting manages his family’s food service business on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Founded in 1953, Whiting’s Food Concessions serves visitors from more than 20 locations at the Boardwalk where it is the attraction's second largest employer. Ken has also been recognized for his contributions to the food service industry.
A third generation native Santa Cruzan, Ken is a long-time member and past president of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary Club where he has chaired “The Event” Charity Auction (raising over $100,000) and the Santa Cruz Activities for the Rotary District Conference.
Ken is also a long-time Santa Cruz Chamber of Commerce volunteer where he was chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors in 2000. He is also past board member of the Santa Cruz Conference & Visitors Council and the Restaurant Association.
Ken and his wife Renee raised three daughters in Santa Cruz and are proud new grandparents.
Ken and Jon’s most excellent adventure continues. They are co-chairing a last push with community volunteers, school administrators, and the school district staff and board members to raise the balance of the funds necessary to complete the track & field complex, currently under construction.
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