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Monday, Mar 18, 2024

Conejo Chamber Raises Funds for Disaster Relief

The Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce contributed $50,000 in donations for recovery efforts following the Woolsey and Hill fires, and the Nov. 7 shooting at Borderline bar in Thousand Oaks. In an announcement on Dec. 19, the chamber thanked a variety of local businesses and corporate members for contributing to the cause, including Amgen Inc., CBRE Group, Union Bank, Express Employment Professionals and Los Robles Regional Medical Center. “We were able to donate to five outstanding nonprofits, who have expertise in helping those who need it,” Jill Lederer, president of the chamber, told the Business Journal. The nonprofits that received the money are: Ventura County Community Foundation ($5,000 for each tragedy); Cal Lutheran Tragedy Assistance Fund ($10,000); Rotary Club of Westlake Village Foundation (for Borderline tragedy assistance, $10,000); Pepperdine Strong Fund (both tragedies, $10,000); and Little Angels Veterinary Foundation (free medical care for animals impacted by the fires, $10,000). “There will be great need for a long time to come and we encourage others to do the same,” Lederer said. Throughout the fires and beyond, the chamber has been posting links on its website where people can contribute to assist victims of the November events. The chamber is based in Westlake Village, and has about 950 members. Hilton Foundation Grants The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation has awarded more than $38 million in grants in the final quarter of 2018, including more than $7 million to Los Angeles agencies. The Agoura Hills-based foundation awarded nearly $7.4 million to five Los Angeles County nonprofits to support foster youth, survivors of domestic violence, residents who are homeless as well as an initiative launched by Catholic nuns. “Together with our partners, we can fulfill our mission of improving the lives of the disadvantaged and vulnerable throughout the world,” said Peter Laugharn, chief executive of the foundation, in a statement. Two local Hilton Foundation grants went to support foster youth services. They include $1.05 million to the Children’s Law Center of California, based in Monterey Park, to expand a program to help foster kids involved in the juvenile justice system. The downtown-based Coalition for Responsible Community Development received about $1.13 million to increase college and career readiness for those “aging out” of foster care in South Los Angeles. Two local grants and investments went to downtown L.A. organization to support residents who are homeless. They include $570,000 to the Downtown Women’s Center to help domestic violence survivors experiencing homelessness and $1.13 million in a combined grant and investment in affordable housing by the GenesisLA Economic Growth Corp. The foundation awarded another $3.5 million to USC, which will serve as a monitoring and learning partner in support of a foundation initiative to enhance the vitality of Catholic sisters and their work to advance human development world-wide. Kaiser Mental Health Kaiser Permanente pledged nearly a half million dollars in grants to Valley area nonprofits to expand community and mental health services. The donations are part of two separate initiatives announced by Kaiser Permanente Southern California on Dec. 3 and the Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center on Nov. 29. Kaiser Permanente Southern California awarded $80,000 to each of three mental health agencies in the Valley area. They include Tarzana Treatment Centers Inc., Mental Health of America of Los Angeles – Antelope Valley in Lancaster and Village Family Services in North Hollywood. The donations are among the initial grants given as part of a $6 million initiative to bolster mental health services throughout Southern California. “The prevalence of mental illness is significant and growing in Southern California and across the country,” said John Yamamoto, Kaiser Permanente Southern California’s vice president of community health, in a statement. “For adults and youths affected by mental illness, the effects can be devastating.” Kaiser Permanente Panorama City Medical Center’s donations totaled $250,000 and were awarded to 26 community nonprofits providing health care and social services in the Valley area. Some of the organizations include the Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley in Pacoima, California State University –Northridge Foundation and the Valley Economic Development Center. Staff Reporter Ethan Varian can be reached at (818) 316-3130 or [email protected].

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