This regular feature focuses on philanthropic activities by Valley-area companies and businesspeople. A Los Angeles accounting and management consulting firm will have a student lounge named for it following a donation to the California State University at Northridge Foundation. The undisclosed gift from Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein LLP creates a fellowship fund to support faculty research in the field of accounting. Also included is the naming of a professor as the Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein Faculty Fellow. Additionally, a lounge to honor students in the business degree programs has been named the Singer Lewak Greenbaum & Goldstein Business Honors Student Lounge. Singer Lewak Managing Partner David Krajanowski said the firm is appreciative of the contributions the university makes to educating future accountants and has been a resource for more than 30 years. “More than 10 percent of the L.A. office staff graduated from CSUN,” said Krajanowski, himself a 1977 graduate. “It is difficult to work at SLGG and not bump into someone who calls CSUN their alma mater.” Singer Lewak has multiple offices in Southern California including Woodland Hills. Healthy Fundraiser The Grand Ballroom of the Moorpark Country Club will be transformed into an African jungle for the CareNow Foundation’s fundraising gala on June 3. Agoura Hills-based CareNow provides funding for staff, equipment and supplies, and training of local healthcare providers in remote regions of the world. Items are still needed for the silent auction to take place during “SafariNow an Expedition into the Heart of Humanity.” “This will be our largest fundraising event for the year,” said CareNow Founder Ed Bjurstrom. “It will also serve as an opportunity for CareNow to thank its many generous supporters.” Tickets for the event are $125 each or $1,250 for a table of 10. Sponsorships are still available. For more information contact (818) 597-2451 or at carenowfoundation.org. Cool Way to Fight Cancer Ben & Jerry’s in the Sherman Oaks Galleria donated 15 percent of its sales during a three-hour period every Monday in March to the American Cancer Society. The ice cream store is fielding a team to take part in this year’s Relay for Life to raise funds for cancer research. “We all think there is a cure out there and with proper research and education we can beat it,” said team captain Patricia Beach. The Relay for Life takes place June 2 at Birmingham High School in Van Nuys. Dole Feeds Needy Children The Dole Food Co. teamed up with Feed the Children to support South Florida’s largest annual food drive. Westlake Village-based Dole donated 42,000 pounds of Dole Fruit Bowls and other nutritious Dole brand products for distribution on March 19 to needy families and children in Miami/Dade County. This donation marks the 10th year that Dole participated in the food drive with Feed the Children. “Dole and Feed the Children share the same goal: promoting healthy lifestyles and providing children with the nutritious food necessary for growth and development,” said Marty Ordman, Vice President, Marketing and Communications for Dole. “One way to demonstrate our commitment is by helping families who are in need of access to healthy foods.” In addition to being a supporter of the South Florida food drive, Dole partners with Feed the Children to provide healthy and nutritious foods around the globe. To date, Dole has donated over 5.5 million pounds of food and products to Feed the Children programs aimed at ending hunger and promoting nutrition for needy children. “Healty eating is vital during childhood and adolescence for proper growth and development, and Dole is committed to providing foods for healthier lifestyles,” Ordman said. University Donations A $5 million donation for a new science building is among the recent gifts received by California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. The $5 million came from Jim and Sue Swenson of Dana Point and will help fund the construction of a new science building to allow for expanded research opportunities for faculty and undergraduate and graduate students. The Overton family pledged $1 million for the construction of a new Early Childhood Center to replace the facility housing the renowned preschool for more than 30 years. Former university regent Marvin Soiland and his wife Fran earmarked a portion of their $1 million donation for the planning of a new Campus Center to include a new bookstore, coffee shop, dining commons, and multiple learning resources. Jack and Carol Gilbert donated $1 million for renovations to the Pederson Administration Building and other existing facilities. Thousand Oaks business owners Joe and Pat Paulucci donated a gift of an undisclosed amount to construct a new facility for KCLU-FM, the school’s award-winning National Public Radio station. ,Compiled by Mark R. Madler
