2026 Gala Recap

On Saturday August 29, 200 groovy guests joined us at the beautiful Westin Carlsbad Resort & Spa for Discovery Gala 2026: DC Disco, a rad evening celebrating our community, our mission, and the people who make our work possible.

Donning colorful sequined outfits from the 1970’s Disco era, cool cats put on their boogie shoes and danced on the LED dance floor to the likes of The Bee Gees, Rick James and Donna Summer. Memories were made in a 360 photo booth with party-goers waving pom poms, wearing hip sunglasses, and sporting signs of the time. 

Many took a journey back to their childhood with the 70’s themed candy bar that included Tootsie Rolls, Nik L Nips Wax Bottles, Candy Buttons and a variety of other treats popular in the decade. Plenty of laughs were shared as guests had their caricature drawn, and the mystery of the pen was revealed to those who had their handwriting analyzed. 

Before the main event began, VIP guests grooved to the tunes of The Mocha Tones while sipping on Pangea Biological’s signature FunkyTown Margarita on the Grand Patio. General guests enjoyed spectacular views at the cocktail reception held in the fabulous Water Tower. 

A highlight of the night was the Golden Ticket. Only 100 were sold and the winner got to choose an item from the live auction which included Hawaii and Africa trips, a rare opportunity to visit Disneyland’s Club 33, a night at the Magic Castle complete with limo service, and a behind the scenes tour of the legendary Gunfighters at Camp Pendleton. It was absolutely a night to remember! 

All who attended are stars in our book. However, there were a few we wanted to recognize:

• The Carlsbad Rotary is the 2026 Gala Honoree. The Rotary has long been a driving force for service, leadership, and community impact throughout North San Diego County. A steadfast partner of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation, they have generously supported our mission through volunteerism, advocacy, and fundraising.
• The Hero on a Quest award is given to an individual who has gone above and beyond to inspire others, lead by example, and turn a passion for environmental stewardship into meaningful action. This year’s honoree is Sunny Blende. Through her enthusiasm and advocacy, Sunny has rallied her neighbors to become active members of the Foundation, rolled up her sleeves to support hands-on trail restoration efforts, and inspired those around her to proudly become Watershed Warriors. By encouraging her neighbors not simply to appreciate this incredible natural resource, but to actively participate in its care, she has helped cultivate a community of stewardship that extends far beyond any single project or event. Her efforts are making a lasting impact on our lagoon and the community.
• Former Chair of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation Mike Metts’ dedication to our mission continues well beyond his years of leadership, which led to him being named Volunteer of the Year. Mike generously gives his time, talent, and treasure to make the Gala come to life year after year. As our resident AV master, he’s the magic behind the music, visuals, and energy that keeps us all in the groove. 
• The Board of Directors are the catalyst behind everything we do. This year’s Board Member of the Year is Steve Baker. From the moment he joined the Board, Steve stepped up, taking on the critical role of Treasurer and joining the Executive Board without hesitation. Beyond the boardroom, you’ll often find him out on the trails, showing up for as many events as possible and engaging with the community we serve.
• Another Board Member making quite a difference is Vinit Ahooja, who is the Board Member Rookie of the Year. Vinit wasted no time getting involved, taking on leadership roles across multiple committees and stepping up to join the Executive Board as Secretary. His willingness to jump in, take on responsibility, and contribute wherever needed has made an immediate impact.

The event wouldn’t have been a success without our sponsors:

Disco – The Olson Group

VIP – Grand Pacific Resorts

Bar – Pangea Biological

Valet – Hoehn Family of Dealerships

Community – Mission Pest Control, Rincon Homes, Rincon Tribe

360 Photo Booth – Hernandez & Co

Invite – Minnis & Smallets Employment Attorneys

Spotlight – Dudek

Golden Ticket – EcoWater SoCal

LED Dance Floor – The Lund Team, Poppy Bank

Table Sponsors – Cindy & Mike Metts, Karen & Ray Pearson, Ken Richter

To our guests, sponsors, donors, volunteers, auction supporters, and everyone who helped make the evening a success — THANK YOU!



From the moment the doors opened to the final dance, the evening was a reminder of what is possible when our community comes together in support of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation.