This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. Collision repair shop Valley Motor Center and Mercury Insurance presented a refurbished vehicle to Woodland Hills-based Disabled American Veterans Chapter 73 on Nov. 22. The donation, part of the nationwide Recycled Rides program, was given to help the organization’s Transportation Network. Through the network, volunteers drive sick and disabled veterans to their VA medical and treatment appointments. The donation will be used to help veterans throughout the San Fernando Valley and Los Angeles regions. Through the Recycled Rides program, collision repair shops across the country donate vehicles to local charities or organizations during Thanksgiving week. Elected officials attended the event, which was held at Valley Motor Center in Van Nuys. Conejo Clinic Gets Grant The Conejo Free Clinic has been awarded a $22,000 grant by representatives of the Alcoa Fastening Systems’ Newbury Park division, the Thousand Oaks-based clinic announced. The grant from the Alcoa Foundation will be used to help offer free mammograms, imaging and lab testing to prevent breast, ovarian and cervical cancers for women without health insurance or financial resources, said Teresa Seely, the clinic’s executive director. “We are honored to receive our first grant from the Alcoa Foundation,” Seely said. “The Alcoa grant will help us meet an unprecedented 90 percent increase in the number of people turning to us for help, some who haven’t seen a doctor in years.” Alcoa – a producer of primary aluminum, fabricated aluminum and alumina – has two plants in Newbury Park, which produce nuts and engine bolts, according to the company’s Web site. “Alcoa operates in 200 countries around the world, so we’re particularly excited to be investing in the lives of our local Conejo Valley/Ventura County women who are vulnerable to several serious women’s cancers,” said Maria Calderas, Alcoa Newbury Park’s human resources manager. Store Collects Shoes Carmen Steffens in Westfield’s Fashion Square in Sherman Oaks benefited abused women and their children by collecting donated shoes in return for store credit, the high-end shoe, handbag and accessory store announced. From Nov. 12 to Nov. 21, the store held its “Giving Soles for the Holidays” charity campaign. During the campaign, the store offered donors $50 off any full-priced Carmen Steffens purchase of $200 or more, or $100 off any full-priced purchase of $300 or more, in return for gently worn shoes. The store also agreed to donate a pair of new Carmen Steffen shoes for every 10 pairs of used shoes that were collected. The store is donating the shoes to Safe Passage for the organization’s image makeovers for abuse victims and their children. The makeovers provide new clothing, shoes, and beauty and fitness products and services for the organization’s patrons. “It’s something that (the women) can feel good about when they go on that job interview and are able to have that confidence to regain their life back and get work,” said Trish Steele, CEO of the local organization. SAGE Donates Funds Publishing company SAGE recently presented a $10,000 check to the Ventura County AVID program at a ceremony at Newbury Park High School, the Thousand Oaks-based company announced. The Advancement Via Individual Determination, or AVID, program is a public school program that prepares middle school and high school students for four-year university eligibility. The donation will be distributed to Ventura County AVID schools through mini-grants. The funds will be used for tutors, college field trips, classroom projects, extra copies of AVID curriculum and the AVID summer institute. “As an academic publisher based in Thousand Oaks, we believe it is important to support local programs like AVID that provide opportunities to students who might not otherwise consider a college education as part of their future,” said Blaise Simqu, the company’s CEO. Amgen Provides Scholarships Amgen donated a graduate scholarship of $30,000 to California State University, Channel Islands for students wishing to enter the biotechnology field, the Camarillo-based university announced. The company provided the scholarship fund for the university’s MS in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics program, and to the MS Biotechnology and MBA dual degree programs. “In the last two years, we have received $125,000 of scholarship funds from Amgen,” said Dr. Ching-Hua Wang, director of the MS in Biotechnology and Bioinformatics program. “We are very grateful for Amgen’s continued support to our graduate students enrolled in our professional science master’s programs.” Santa Clarita Offers Donation The city of Santa Clarita has launched a section of its Web site dedicated to helping businesses and individuals identify local non-profit organizations for holiday donations, the city announced. The Web site section, called “Help for the Holidays,” features the names of the organizations, their contact information and a list of their most pressing holiday needs. Visitors of the Web site can contact the groups directly to make donations. Nonprofit organizations interested in adding their groups to the list can sign up online. Businesses and individuals can access the Web site’s special section by visiting santa-clarita.com/helpfortheholidays. — Compiled by Jessica Vernabe
GIVING: Repair Shop, Insurance Firm Donate Vehicle to Vets
