About Nikki St. Germain
Nikki began her working career as a flight attendant for Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA). Displaying intelligence as sharp as her wit she steadily rose up the corporate ladder, eventually becoming Director of Reservations for PSA. Along the way she was manager of flight attendant training, director of in-flight customer services, and manager of station customer services in Los Angeles.
After her husband, Doug Arthur, was tragically killed in a plane crash Nikki's life took a different path. She left PSA to raise her two children as a single parent and she took up the cause of charitable organizations for children in San Diego. This included the La Playa Unit of Children's Hospital Auxiliary and Voices for Children.
"Nikki had a real passion for helping people who were less fortunate", says Sharon Lawrence, Executive Director of Voices for children. She was extremely effective at fundraising, very determined and spoke with a lot of conviction. Her fundraising expertise was evident in 2002 as co-chair of Kids Newsday, an annual event where special edition SD Union-Tribune papers are sold to benefit Children's Hospital. Under Nikki's leadership a new record was set for the event.
In 1996 Nikki, along with her two co-chairs, Mary Foy and Marilyn Cornwell, organized the first 'Celebration of Champions'. This event recognizes children who are battling cancer, others who have survived cancer, and their families. Celebrities, including San Diego Padres and San Diego Chargers accompany children and their families on a celebration of life relay. Since its inception, the event has raised over $3 million dollars for Children's Hospital and is still going strong.
For their efforts, Nikki and her two co-chairs were honored by the Children's Hospital Auxiliary in 1997 with the first Mabel Jessop Spirit Award.
Nikki was always looking for new challenges and in 2001 she was introduced to Voices for Children and asked to participate on the Board of Directors. In 2002, Nikki headed a committee to recruit an auxiliary for Voices that would raise funds and elevate public awareness to the cause. She reached her goal in 2003, when Makua, a volunteer organization in Point Loma, was welcomed into the Voices family. Last year Makua raised over $150,000 for Voices.
Nikki rose to Vice President of Voices for Children and attended her last fund raiser for them in July of 2004.
A few days after this event Nikki was diagnosed with Pancreatic cancer. She fought this disease with the same determination that served her well in her two careers. She endured surgery and chemotherapy before succumbing to this cancer on Mother's Day 2005. Typical of Nikki, she survived longer than doctors and hospice thought she could.
About 1991 Nikki met Dave Jackson and they were married about a year later. Dave, along with Nikki's son Doug, daughter Lauren, and Nikki's stepson TJ have organized this memorial golf tournament to keep her legacy going and to raise money and awareness for Voices for Children.
The two most important things in Nikki's life were family and giving back to the community. She was especially passionate about giving back to kids who, through no fault of their own, were burdened with challenges and lack of opportunity. She would be extremely proud and pleased to know her family has chosen to keep her memory alive through this golf tournament and at the same time making a difference in the lives of San Diego children.