At 1111 Wilbur Ave in Pacific Beach, 92109, the San Diego Marines Foundation organizes large-scale Marine Corps Birthday Celebrations and channels the proceeds to veteran-focused charities across the region. Founder Marc Okicich enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1987, served at Camp Pendleton and Kaneohe Bay in Hawaii, and later earned his BA in Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland. After years of informal birthday gatherings in Chicago bars, Okicich co-founded the Chicago Marines Foundation, where a 2014 inaugural celebration attracted more than 200 guests and raised over $17,000 for the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Guests heading to a celebration can start the evening at World Famous, a longtime oceanfront restaurant just minutes from the bay. Medal of Honor recipient Kyle Carpenter has appeared as Guest of Honor at multiple events, helping one celebration draw a crowd of more than 700 and raise upward of $35,000 for veteran-centric organizations. Co-founder 1st Sergeant Paul Ramirez, an active-duty company first sergeant with 1st Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Pendleton, previously served with the Wounded Warrior Regiment at Walter Reed, where he first met Carpenter. The foundation partners with sponsors such as First Command Financial Services and Epic Realty to underwrite its signature events along the San Diego waterfront. Attendees looking for a post-event gathering spot often head to 710 Beach Club on nearby Garnet Ave for late-night drinks and live music. Okicich has described his mission as building a legacy of giving and camaraderie within the San Diego Marine Corps family.