The San Diego Padres helped raise $200k for Family Health Centers of San Diego (FHCSD) by designating September 13, 2009 as Family Health Centers of San Diego Day at the Padres and prominently featuring the nonprofit during its game with the Colorado Rockies on Sept. 13.

“Family Health Centers of San Diego is honored that so many generous local companies and individuals stepped up to the plate to support our mission,” said Jennette Lawrence, Family Health Centers of San Diego’s Director of Government and Community Relations. “With thousands of San Diego families losing their jobs and healthcare benefits, the demand for our affordable healthcare services is greater than ever.”

The second largest community health center in the country, Family Health Centers of San Diego provides medical, dental, and mental health services to uninsured and medically underserved families. In 2008, its network of 28 locations provided care to over 120,000 individuals through 490,000 patient visits.

“The San Diego Padres are proud to team up with Family Health Centers of San Diego to help children and families without health insurance,” said Padres Foundation for Children Director Sue Botos.

The fundraiser, part of the San Diego Padres’ 2009 Padres Challenge, was made possible by the generous support of the Moores Family, the San Diego Padres, County Supervisor Ron Roberts, Cricket Wireless, Union Bank, Kaiser Permanente, Qualcomm, Cox Communications, Sharp Health Plan, General Dynamics NASSCO, Barona Band of Mission Indians, Gen-Probe, Duhs Commercial, United Healthcare and many individuals.

Funds raised from the event will help relocate and expand Family Health Centers of San Diego’s City Heights Family Health Center. Patient visits at the clinic have increased 465 percent since it opened five years ago. The existing site is now at capacity. Planning and fundraising is underway to relocate the clinic to a larger building one block away from the current site in order to accommodate the growing demand for caring, affordable and high quality healthcare services.

Green Fresh Florals, a San Diego floral and design firm, opened a new design studio and concept store in Hillcrest. The studio/store will celebrate its opening with champagne and in-store specials from Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Sept. 27.

“Our new design studio and concept store provides a creative space to expand beyond our successful floral design work,” said Green Fresh Florals owner Carlos Franco. “We are excited to offer a new shopping experience with unique and special merchandise that conveys our style of contemporary sophistication.”

The new design studio and concept store will carry a range of unique gifts, art, glass, ceramic, metal vases, frames, candles, holders and home decor. With an additional outdoor space, the studio/store will expand their offerings in early 2010 to carry a range of contemporary bistro and patio furniture and home furnishings. Green Fresh Florals also provides floral design classes as well as landscaping design, installation and maintenance.

Franco has been designing floral arrangement for top restaurants, venues, hotels, art museums and events for more than 18 years. Trained in London and Paris, he has had the honor of designing arrangements for Queen Elizabeth and Princes Diana. A native San Diegan, Franco opened Green Fresh Florals in 2004 after working as the lead designer and store manager for FloraStyle for six years. Since opening, Green has designed florals and décor for San Diego’s top venues, including the Ivy Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel, Omni Hotel and Hilton San Diego Bayside.

In 2009, Green was chosen for a second time as the Rotunda Design firm for the San Diego Art Museum’s annual fundraiser, Art Alive. In addition to numerous corporate clients, Green has provided floral services to a range of top brands including Bloomingdales, Nissan, Jaguar, Design Within Reach, Moet Chadon and the Cohn Restaurant Group. A supporter of the local arts community and supporter of the San Diego Art Museum’s Culture and Cocktails series, Green is the choice for San Diego’s top museums including the San Diego Art Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla and Museum of Photographic Arts.

Green Fresh Florals is located at 3785 4th Ave. at Robinson in Hillcrest. For more information, visit greenfloralsd.com or call 619-544-0504.

Malashock Dance is hosting its third annual Malashock Thinks You Can Dance on Sept. 26 at Qualcomm Hall.

The event is a competition that pairs local celebrities with professional dancers and gives each team two months to prepare for a public face-off. Judges provide comedic interjections and audience votes determine the winning team. Dea Hurston, Robert B. Horsman and Katherine Kennedy will be chairing the event. Comedian Phil Johnson will host and hosted by comedian Phil Johnson.

The event takes its cue TV’s popular dance shows, Fox’s summer sensation So You Think You Can Dance, ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and has been touted by past attendees as more fun than your average fundraiser.

The goal the event is to raise funds for Malashock School and Malashock Company’s education and outreach programs.

This year, supporters can donate funds their favorite team via an online fundraising program. Malashock’s goal is to reach $100,000. The team that raises the largest donation will be honored at the event with a special prize.

Tickets start at $50 and include an after-show coffee and dessert cast party. Those interested can visit YouTube channel for excerpts from last year’s celebrity dance event. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 619-260-1622 or visit www.malashockdance.org.