KOCT Gala Raises Nearly $10,000

Oceanside CA— KOCT supporters gathered at the local community station’s studios on Thursday, September 14th for its annual fundraiser. KOCT-Past, Present & Future was the theme for this year’s gala.

The event catered hor d’oeuvres, beer, wine and soft drinks, as well as featured silent auction items, a raffle, guest speakers, and chances for contributors to star in their own promotional video.

Guest speakers included: previous KOCT intern, and current business owner, Carly Starr Brullo-Niles, KOCT board members Kent Davy, Debra Allen, Executive Director Tom Reeser, and President of the Oceanside School Board Robert Gleisberg.

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KOCT Board Member Kent Davy, Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall and AT&T Director External Affairs John Osborne.

KOCT Board member Kent Davy, former Editor of the North County Times, spoke of the importance of a local media resource like KOCT

One of the speakers at the event was former Palomar College intern Carly Starr Brullo-Niles. She took the experience she learned at KOCT and had a successful career in Hollywood before returning to Oceanside to start her own video production company.

Deputy Mayor Chuck Lowery (R) joined the Friends of KOCT at the fundraiser.

KOCT Board of Directors (Left to Right) Margret Merlock, Chair, Alex Karvounis, Gumaro Escarcega, Ken Kebow, Debbie Allen, Treasurer & Fundraiser Chair , Robert Gleisberg, Gwen Price, Kent Davy, Vice Chair , Lisa Contreras, Gerald Hampton, Secretary . (Not Shown Janet Bledsoe-Lacy and Elizabeth Rhea, Immediate Past-Chair)

Pacific Marine Credit Union made a generous donation in support of KOCT.

Left–Local business man and Oceanside Rotarian President Chuck Ward read a text from his daughter, Margaret, who became interested in a media career after her KOCT experience as an El Camino high school student. She is enjoying a successful career in Hollywood as a Film & Television Producer and was inspired to pursue a communications degree as a result of her KOCT experience.

OUSD President Robert “Camo” Gleisberg spoke about the support KOCT has provided for the educational community-both at the high school and college level. “Camo”, also a KOCT Board member, spoke of KOCT’s donation of television equipment to the video class at Oceanside High School.

Left to Right—Aaron Capehart, KOCT Executive Assistant, Alex Karvounis, KOCT Board member, Jake Rush, KOCT Senior Producer and Gwen Price, KOCT Board member.

photos courtesy: KOCT

The event was successful in raising nearly $10,000, with large donations by: Pacific Marine Credit Union(PMCU), Assemblyman and Former KOCT board member Rocky Chavez, Transformational Consulting, Empire Associates Trust, The MiraCosta Foundation, and many other individual donors.

KOCT thanks all who attended and/or donated and hopes to have an even larger attendance next year.

Viewers in Oceanside can watch KOCT via Cox Cable on KOCT Channels 18 & 19, as well as, county-wide on AT&T’s U-Verse service (Channel 99). Visit KOCT.org to stream us LIVE and stay in tune with your community by watching KOCT.