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Tuesday, Mar 19, 2024

Kaiser Permanente Awards Grants to Local Nonprofits

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. Kaiser Permanente has given more than $500,000 in grants to local nonprofit organizations last month. The health care giant awarded the grants to more than 40 groups in the San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita Valley and Ventura County. The grants, awarded by Kaiser Permanente’s Woodland Hills and Panorama City medical centers, ranged between $5,000 and $20,000. Officials from Valley Community Clinic in North Hollywood, one of the award recipients, said the grant will allow the clinic to expand its Comprehensive Adolescent Medicine program. “This program helps teens receive the total mind and body health care they need to navigate the difficulties of adolescence,” said Judi Rose, the clinic’s vice president of development and government affairs. Officials from the California State University Northridge Foundation, another recipient, said the grant will help the foundation build a physical activity paracourse for students and the community. Northeast Valley Health Corporation officials said they plan to use the funds to maintain two full-time diabetes care coordinators at the organization’s Pacoima Health Center. The grants were offered to groups active in expanding access to care for low-income and uninsured people, working toward community-driven policy change and strengthening health care workforce development. Donation Part of Dole Road Trip Dole Food Company Inc.’s traveling Fruit Stand Truck made a visit to its Westlake Village headquarters, one of the last stops of a summer road trip that benefited food banks. On Aug. 1, Dole’s truck stopped at its headquarters to deliver a donation of 10,000 Dole Fruit Bowls to FOOD Share, Ventura County’s regional food bank. The stop was part of the company’s “DOLE Fruit Bowls Across America Road Trip,” during which the truck visited 12 cities across the United States. The truck gave customers an opportunity to sample Dole’s product and benefit Feeding America food banks throughout the country. FOOD Share is a member of the organization’s network. “We are very grateful for Dole for their generous support of FOOD Share,” said Bonnie Weigel, the food bank’s CEO. “Their donation will help us provide delicious and nutritious food to an ever-increasing number of hungry friends in Ventura County.” The company also agreed to donate an additional 10 fruit bowls to Feeding America for every check-in and “give” click it receives on its Facebook page, where customers were able to follow the road trip. Malls Donate to Schools Local Westfield shopping malls are gearing up their school donation programs as the start of the school year nears. Westfield and the Westfield Family program announced the start of its “Give Back to School” campaign. The shopping mall company will donate $2,500 to one school in each of 23 communities. The funds will be used to school programs as arts and music, sciences, physical education, libraries and technology resources. Through the program, shoppers will also be able to vote for their school, and also donate new and gently used clothing or backpacks through local community partnerships with their Westfield shopping centers. Westfield Valencia Town Center is participating in the program, mall representatives said. The Westfield Topanga and Westfield Promenade malls in Canoga Park and Woodland Hills and the Westfield Fashion Square mall in Sherman Oaks are holding similar a program called “Earning for Learning,” said officials from the malls. The Westfield Topanga and Promenade program runs from October through March, said Bernice Lee, the centers’ marketing coordinator. At Westfield Fashion Square, the program runs throughout the school year, said Juliet Mothershed, the mall’s director of marketing. “It’s a great way to give back directly to the community and to the schools and teachers that are making such a great impact on not only the families that shop here, but the kids that come with them,” she said. —Compiled by Jessica Vernabe

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