Kaiser Panorama City donated more than $1 million worth of surplus equipment this year to a nonprofit organization called Operation USA. The charity redistributes the items which include everything from chairs and tables to medical equipment, to other local nonprofits such as community medical clinics and social service agencies. A spokesperson said that the large amount of surplus was due primarily to the move into a sparkling new tower that opened earlier in the year. But it’s not the first time Kaiser Panorama has partnered with Operation USA. For the last six years, they have worked together to help meet the needs of community groups. Kaiser also considers the collaboration as a key component in their sustainability programs, helping to reduce waste generated by the facility. Fundraising Record Broken The 2nd Annual Golf Tourney of California United Bank benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley raised more money than any fundraising event in the charity’s history. The $150,000 in proceeds from the tournament surpassed last year by $13,000. The event was co-hosted by CPA firm Rose, Snyder & Jacobs and financial consulting firm The Salter Group. Mercedes-Benz of Encino sponsored a Hole-in-One Contest. Books for Kids The Boys & Girls Club also received a boost from Encino-based public relations firm Cooper Communications through its second annual Literacy Challenge. Children from the Club were asked to read an age-appropriate book and write a review; 96 were then selected by the Club’s staff to receive $25 towards the purchase of books during a shopping trip to Borders Books in Canoga Park. Members of the community, some of whom helped shepherd the kids during their visit to the bookstore, donated $2,400 dollars in support of the event. Northrop Employees Adopt Needy Families Employee volunteers from Northrop Grumman Navigation Systems Division in Woodland Hills have adopted 43 disadvantaged families for the holidays. Throughout the year, the company’s Adopt-A-Family committee holds events to raise funds and hosts toy and food drives to gather items that are distributed at year’s end. Northrop Grumman employees nominated 33 families and the other 10 were selected by El Centro de Amistad, a nonprofit agency in Canoga Park. Over 18 years, nearly 650 disadvantaged families have received gifts from Northrop volunteers dressed in Santa suits. Let Them Eat Cake and Peanut Butter Calabasas-based Cheesecake Factory has developed a corporate partnership with Feeding America, the nation’s largest network of local food bank. Throughout the year the restaurant chain donated unused and excess food to the organization through the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which in turn distributes it to a wide variety of local agencies including several in the Valley area. In November, Feeding America received more than $100,000, which came from a portion of the proceeds from each slice of The Cheesecake Factory’s 30th Anniversary Chocolate Cake Cheesecake sold since July 30. In October, the company also conducted a peanut butter drive in connection with Hunger Action Month. Employees and staff gathered nearly 45,000 pounds of the foodstuff for donation to local groups. Cheesecake Factory restaurants in Thousand Oaks, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks and Glendale all donate excess/unused food directly to food programs near their respective locations. Troop Care Packages Lockheed Federal Credit Union employees partnered with nonprofit organization For The Troops to assemble care packages in November that were sent to troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq in time for the holidays. Credit union employees and members collected goods for the care packages and also donated $1,500 to the organization. CSUN Center on Deafness Donation The Reseda Woman’s Club donated $50,000 to support scholarships for students in the California State University, Northridge National Center on Deafness. The gift established the Reseda Woman’s Club Endowment for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students. At least two scholarships each year will be awarded to promising deaf and hard-of-hearing students who meet the certain financial need requirements. Trees for Students Eighteen trees were planted on the grounds of Bret Harte Elementary School in Burbank thanks to Warner Bros. Studios. This is the eighth year that WB has chosen a school to receive trees and also gain a hands-on educational experience to teach kids about environmental issues. The entertainment giant has had a long history of taking a leading role in environmental initiatives and used its consultants to strategically select the locations for the trees to be planted. In addition to the educational aspects of the program, the trees will help shade the school, promoting energy efficiency and beautifying the school grounds.
