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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

USI Supports Foothill Police Through Holiday Program

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area business people and companies. USI Insurance Services showed its support for LAPD’s Foothill Division through its annual donation program. The Woodland Hills-based insurance firm collected a variety of gift items and a monetary donation of $2,100 from individual participants as well as from local USI clients. Donations are distributed by the Division to Foothill to citizens and families in need. Lenelle Duecker, senior vice president of USI, said the company has partnered with the Division for more than 15 years. “It’s important to us to support the police in a positive way,” Duecker said. This year, Valley companies such as OPI , Imperial Toy LLC and John Paul Mitchell Systems of Santa Clarita participated with donations of toys, hair products and nail polish. CSUN Collects Items for MEND California State University, Northridge announced it had collected more than 16,000 items for MEND (Meet Each Need with Dignity) during the third annual food and clothing drive held last month on campus. The event was organized by the university’s volunteer program, United We Serve. In a prepared statement, Vicki Allen, assistant director of the Matador Involvement Center, said the campus’s staff, faculty and students were working to make a difference in the San Fernando Valley. “This shows just how committed this campus is to giving back.” Richard Weinroth, MEND’s food bank director, said the assistance the agency gets from organizations such as CSUN’s United We Serve, helps provide food and clothing to thousands of people each month. “CSUN is the best. We couldn’t do it without you,” Weinroth said. Nonprofit Hosts Toy Wrap Nonprofit organization Children’s Hunger Fund this month held its annual Toy Wrap. About 2,000 volunteers participated in wrapping 70,000 toys. The event was held at CHF’s new 66,000-square-foot distribution center in Sylmar. With the inclusion of its additional regional distribution center in Texas and Illinois, the organization wrapped a total of 150,000 toys for children across the country. For 20 years, the local nonprofit has helped serve the needs of needy children worldwide through its community service programs. Dave Phillips, president of Children’s Hunger Fund, said this year’s Toy Wrap was “twice as exciting.” “Not only are we giving hope to children, but we are doing it from our new home,” Phillips said. Local Dentist Offers Discounts This month, North Hollywood dentist, Dr. James Kahng is giving discounted dental services to help residents who have lost dental coverage due to job loss. Services including x-rays, dental cleanings and oral examinations will be offered for $39, with proceeds going to the Valley Food Bank. A recent report in the New York Times on the growing number of needy Americans struck a cord Kahng, inspiring him to reach out to his community. The month-long program will be a dual effort to ensure Americans are staying healthy as well as support the hungry by sponsoring the food drive. “In a troubled economy that affects many Americans, the spirit of giving to others is needed more than ever,” Kahng said. The community discount program will conclude on December 31. Firm Hosts Pet Adoption Campaign On Dec. 17, Ortho Mattress in partnership with LA County Animal Care & Control, the City of Los Angeles and Found Animals hosted its Winter Wonderland event, where 16 LA County animal shelters hosted pet adoptions, including three in the Valley. Participating Valley shelters included Burbank Animal Shelter, East Valley Shelter in Van Nuys and the West Valley Shelter in Chatsworth. The event is part of the company’s animal rescue campaign, in which it pledged to donate Los Angeles-made pet beds for all animals adopted during the holiday season. More than 500 beds are expected to be donated, company officials said.

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