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Thursday, Mar 28, 2024

Providence St. Joseph Gets Two Major Donations

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank received two donations for its specialized centers serving patients with cancer and neurological conditions. Sheri and Roy P. Disney gave $1 million for an integrative medicine center in the Roy E. and Patricia Disney Family Cancer Center. Roy P. Disney is the son of Roy E. Disney who is the nephew to animation and theme park pioneer Walt Disney. The Sheri and Roy P. Disney Center for Integrative Medicine will provide complementary therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicine, yoga, meditation and tai chi that have shown to be effective in helping cancer patients when used in conjunction with conventional treatments including chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. The couple chose to support integrative medicine to highlight the importance of the holistic approach to treating cancer patients. “All of these new approaches are coupled with doctors who have access to many of the latest tools available,” Sheri Disney said. The cancer center is under construction and scheduled to open this year. The Hycy and Howard Hill Neuroscience Institute received a $300,000 gift from NBC Universal as part of the media company’s ongoing support of Providence. The Providence Saint Joseph Foundation is currently raising $11 million for the institute, which focuses focus on care and treatment for an expanding neurologically involved patient population including victims of stroke, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and brain aneurism. “We are proud of our partnership with Saint Joseph and the vital contribution the Medical Center makes to the health and growth of our community,” said Cindy Gardner, senior vice president of corporate affairs at NBC Universal. “In the face of current economic challenges, we know that it is more important than ever before to continue to do our part.” Golf Fundraiser Four charities in the San Fernando, Conejo and Antelope valleys received funds raised by the 11th Annual Golf Classic and Client Appreciation Day hosted by commercial real estate broker Lee & Associates LA North/Ventura Inc. The event raised $18,000 and the money was distributed by Lee brokers to Circle of Care Leeza’s Place, Sherman Oaks; MyStuff Bags Foundation, Westlake Village; Boys and Girls Club of Conejo & Las Virgenes; and Boys and Girls Club of the Antelope Valley. It has been a tradition of the firm to select organizations in the communities that Lee serves, said President and Managing Principal Mike Tingus. “It’s remarkable to see what these groups accomplish with limited resources and a mostly volunteer staff,” Tingus said. Equipment Donation Steel Casey donated metal lateral file cabinets to Hillsides, a foster care children’s charity in Pasadena. The $5,000 in equipment gives Hillside more capacity and safety and ease with which to work. “I love them,” said John Sterner, the charity’s chief financial officer. “We don’t get things for the business office very often.” Steel Casey, a second-hand industrial office supply store in Studio City, even made sure the cabinets came in the requested color of paradise blue, which adds to the high standards of the business office, Sterner said. “Donations like these from Steel Casey help us meet our business goals while creating safe places for our children,” said John Hitchcock, the executive director of Hillsides. DreamWorks Supports San Jose State DreamWorks Animation SKG Inc. in Glendale committed $420,000 over a three year period to support the animation/illustration program in the School of Art and Design at San Jose State University. The animation/illustration program serves 400 students annually. Rex Grignon, head of character animation at PDI/DreamWorks, has been named the program’s first Distinguished Scholar. Grignon has taught character animation classes at San Jose State, Cogswell College and the Academy of the Art University in San Francisco. He is an inductee into the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ animation branch. DreamWorks has collaborated with the animation/illustration program for 10 years through student special classes and workshops. Vons Grant Funds Arts Education The Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley received a $10,000 grant from the Von’s Foundation to support an arts education program. The grant was initiated by a Von’s employee who recognized the value the Boys and Girls Club brought to the west Valley. The money will fund a theater arts enrichment program to teach basic theater workshops, introduction to Shakespeare, playwriting and performing. The Von’s Foundation has been a past supporter of the Boys and Girls Club, founded in 1995 as a response to the local need for safe, healthy, productive activities for youth during non-school hours. “Vons has a long-standing commitment to give back to the communities we serve”, said Daymond Rice, director of government relations and public affairs for Vons. Six Flags Hosts Arthritis Fundraiser Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia hosted a kick off dinner and program for The Arthritis Foundation on March 5. The park was kept open until evening hours for attendees of the event. Park President Jay Thomas will be among the hundreds of people participating in this year’s Santa Clarita/San Fernando Valley Arthritis Walk on May 3 at Magic Mountain. The annual walk brings together thousands of children and adults suffering from arthritis, as well as members of the residential and business communities. Many Valley businesses form teams and walk together, sporting their company logos on hats or shirts. Children of all ages, walking or in strollers, and friendly dogs are welcome. The funds raised in the annual Walk will support research in the prevention, control and cure of arthritis. Arthritis affects more than 2,400 children and 480,000 adults just here in the San Fernando Valley.

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