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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

REM Eyewear Hires High Schoolers for the Summer

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area business people and companies. Sun Valley-based eyewear company, REM Eyewear is employing several Burbank high school students to support its operations team this summer. REM is participating in HIRE LA’s YOUTH Summer Jobs + 2012 program, created by the City of Los Angeles and led by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Workforce Investment Board and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce (LAACC). The campaign focuses on connecting L.A.’s youth to employment opportunities. Private sector employers are encouraged to extend entry-level job opportunities to underserved urban youth by the LAACC. Company officials said an increase in business “has demanded skilled staff to support the wholesale distribution segment, where the students will learn the eyewear trade from daily fulfillment to meeting quarterly goals.” Don Alecock, vice president of operations for REM Eyewear, said he was impressed by the maturity and eagerness the young employees possess. “Although much of the work is routine, these students know how to work and have had an immediate positive effect on our daily shipping output,” Alecock said. “It’s a pleasure to have them on-board and this first work experience should prove to be mutually beneficial to both REM Eyewear and the students as they prepare for the next steps in their school and work endeavors.” Van Nuys Nonprofit Partners with Groupon The San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center Inc. and Groupon Grassroots this month partnered on a campaign to raise money to give hygiene kits to homeless individuals. From May 28 through June 3, the Van Nuys nonprofit and the philanthropic arm of Groupon invited the public to participate in the Hygiene Kit campaign through Groupon Grassroots’ collective action model. Groupon subscribers pledged support in increments of $10, with each $10 providing one hygiene kit. All of the proceeds of the Groupon Grassroots program went to purchasing the kits, which were distributed to homeless individuals through the Center’s Cornerstone Program. Local Publishing House Donates to School Libraries Thousand Oaks-based SAGE Publications and Corwin, a SAGE company, selected 10 schools from Santa Barbra and Ventura Counties to each receive a $1,000 grant to support their libraries. The donations are part of SAGE’s Books for Schools program, which allows local K-12 public schools to apply online for the awards. This year, the Valley recipients were Bridges Charter School in Thousand Oaks, Santa Susana High School in Simi Valley and Sequoia Middle School in Newbury Park. “Libraries are at the core of SAGE’s business and something we highly value,” said Blaise Simqu, president and CEO of SAGE. “To support the libraries in our neighborhood not only makes sense, but reinforces our commitment to helping further education.” DC Entertainment Partners with Musician Burbank-based DC Entertainment has enlisted musician Chris Daughtry and his band to be ambassadors for its WE CAN BE HEROES campaign which aims to fight hunger in the Horn of Africa. Launched in January, the program helps in raising funds for three aid organizations in Africa — Save the Children, International Rescue Committee and Mercy Corps. DC Entertainment, known for its iconic superhero brands such as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, is matching up to $1 million in total donations, and 50 percent of the purchase price from WE CAN BE HEROES products, to help those organizations. As part of their support of the campaign, Daughtry and his band recorded a new version of their song “Rescue Me” from the album “Break The Spell.” The song will be launched on iTunes this summer and proceeds will go the campaign. “Chris Daughtry is not only a true comics fan, but he has a real passion for helping others, which makes him a perfect partner for WE CAN BE HEROES,” said Diane Nelson, president of DC Entertainment. “We are excited to have such an influential advocate helping raise awareness for this initiative.” Vons Foundation Donates $15,000 to New Horizons Last month, New Horizons, a North Hills-based nonprofit, received a $15,000 donation from The Vons Foundation. The organization, which supports adults living with developmental disabilities, was presented with the gift by several store managers and management staff from Valley-area Vons supermarkets. Carlos Illingworth, manager of public affairs and government relations for Vons, a Safeway company, said the company was proud to support the nonprofit by providing job training and placement services to disabled individuals. “We have been working with New Horizons for 20 years and currently employ 15 of their clients at our stores,” Illingworth said. “It’s a win-win for all.”

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