Sonance has deep roots in San Clemente, establishing headquarters here over 40 years ago. The Company pioneered in-wall, in-ceiling and outdoor audio systems guided by the belief that Life is Better with Music. Founders Scott Struthers and Geoff Spencer nurtured a small southern CA home technology company into a thriving business with distribution in over 100 countries today. Their product offerings are known for providing a perfect balance of acoustic excellence and beautiful award-winning architectural design. 

Those who live in San Clemente know that Sonance has a passion for giving back to the community. In the past 10 years, Scott Struthers has devoted himself 100% to philanthropy, hoping to be the spark that makes giving something all of us want to do. In 2016, he founded the Elephant Cooperation, Sonance’s first non-profit and dedicated to protecting elephants through awareness and community-led solutions in Africa. Scott was inspired by a visit to Africa with his father when he was a young boy. The curiosity from that first trip drew him back repeatedly to the continent and gradually evolved to a lifelong commitment to addressing the plight of elephants.  The need is great: since 1964 African elephant populations have declined 77% due to loss of habitat, poaching, and human-elephant conflict. In just a decade, Elephant Cooperation has made positive changes in Africa, rescuing and rehabilitating orphan elephants and working with communities on holistic wildlife preservation and protection.

It's a long way from the savannahs of Africa to the Los Molinos surf neighborhood in San Clemente. This is where the Elephant Cooperation’s annual fund-raiser enters the picture. Fondly called the Anti-Gala, the event was founded on the idea that charitable giving is most powerful when it becomes a shared experience. Scott believes fund-raising should be fun. He refers to the Anti-Gala as simply the biggest Halloween Party in Orange County. The location varies, and the most recent Anti-Gala was in San Clemente. The Carnival theme attracted hundreds of attendees, community leaders and corporate sponsors. Anti-Gala proceeds support the Elephant Cooperation good works in Africa.

However, 2025 marked an important new chapter for the Anti-Gala. The fund-raiser’s vision was expanded from a single Saturday night of fund-raising in support of elephant preservation. Elephant Cooperation aligned with fellow in-company non-profit, Sonance Cares, for a second day of fund-raising dedicated to San Clemente’s Boys & Girls Club. Sunday, October 18 became the first Sonance Cares Day for the Kids.

The family-friendly afternoon was free for all children under 18 and featured all of the Carnival excitement from the Anti-Gala. Themed “Trunk or Treat” (after the elephants of course), kids were encouraged to wear Halloween costumes. Proceeds will help underwrite summer camp and after school programs for Boys & Girls Club members. Terry Hughes, CEO of the Boys & Girls Club, was particularly thankful for the innovative event. “Sonance has been a tremendous supporter of our kids and organization for a long time. They don’t just give, but they get involved and like to see and understand the impact of their gifts by involving employees and partners and by encouraging us to find additional donors to match their gifts. They’ve challenged us to think bigger and become more strategic in our future endeavors and this has elevated our success.” The event exceeded expectations on every level, from attendance, to volunteer hours, to fund-raising. Sonance was pleased that the momentum from the Anti-Gala could be extended to an additional, locally important cause.

Scott’s daughter, Jaimie Clinard is the third generation to be involved with the positive aspects of philanthropy. Her father took her to Africa at an early age to learn about the need for elephant preservation and supporting communities in need.  “My Dad is the most generous man I know and I’m deeply proud of him.” Jaimie owns All Swell Surf in Los Molinos and was struck by how much positive energy could result from the Sonance Carnival weekend in the neighborhood. 

Mark your calendars. The inaugural Sonance Cares: A Day for the Kids was so successful, the event returns this year, Sunday October 18, with proceeds directed to local organizations that support children in need. Similar to last year, the event will follow the Saturday October 17 Anti-Gala.

If you see a pattern in this article, you’re not mistaken. Scott Struthers and his team at Sonance believe all of us can make a difference by giving back, and that partnering for a good cause can be both valuable and fun. Whether we donate time, money, skills or expertise, it’s important to give.