The Greater San Fernando Valley Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals recognized individual donors, volunteers and organizations at its National Philanthropy Day luncheon on Nov.15. at Valley Presbyterian Hospital. Honorees included the Ahmanson Foundation, Galpin Motors, Wells Fargo Foundation and California State University — Northridge. David Fleming, the former attorney and founder of Los Angeles County Business Federation, was awarded “Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year.” Other honorees included Harvey Diamond, president of the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation; Adam Pilder, director of development at AbiltyFirst; and Malcom Katz and Sally Weber, volunteers with the International Myeloma Foundation in Sherman Village. Presenting sponsors of the event included Valley Presbyterian Hospital, AbilityFirst, L.A. Valley College Foundation and Winnetka-based nonprofit Valley Village. Olive Alchemy Swap Olive oil tasting room Olive Alchemy in Calabasas held a free clothing swap for residents affected by the Woolsey and Hill Fires. The store, at 4774 Park Granada #5, began accepting donations of new or gently used clothing on Nov. 14. Co-owners Selena O’Connor and Margot Lederer decided to hold the swap after O’Connor was forced to evacuate her home when flames came within 1,000 feet of her property. “She knows what it would have been like for her if she had not been spared,” Lederer told the Business Journal of O’Connor, who is her daughter. The shop donated 20 percent of sales the week of Nov. 12 to the Humane Society of Ventura County, which is housing displaced pets until their owners can find a permanent home. Mending Kids Auction Mending Kids, a Burbank-based children’s charity, is holding an online auction through Nov. 30 to support its medical mission programs. The Woolsey and Hill Fires forced the nonprofit to reschedule its annual fundraising gala until next year because many of its employees were directly affected by the blaze. The auction aims to make up for the fundraising loss, with proceeds going to sending surgical teams to treat children from 63 countries. During the blaze, Mending Kids worked with Malibu resident Dr. Phillip Frykman to gather medical supplies for local residents. “We are very fortunate to have supplies available because of generous medical companies that provide for our medical missions, and supporting our local community is imperative,” said Chief Executive Chris Johnson in a statement. Farmers’ Donation Farmers Insurance Group donated cars to four military families at its headquarters in Woodland Hills on Nov. 20. The donation was made through a partnership with Caliber Collision Centers as part of the National Auto Body Council’s Recycled Rides program, which provides restored vehicles to military service members and veterans. “Farmers Insurance is passionate about giving back to the communities in which our employees and agents live and work,” said Tim Felks, head of property claims for Farmers. “Farmers celebrates the brave men and women who have served our country, including the honorable opportunity to gift members of the military with a vehicle to help them support themselves and their families.” The Recycled Rides program was founded in 2007 and has donated more than 1,300 vehicles to individuals and service organizations. Golfers Drive Charity About 150 golf aficionados hit the links at Woodland Hills Country Club on Oct. 29 to support Tee It Up’s Annual Celebrity Invitational, which supports Folds of Honor, a nonprofit providing educational scholarships to relatives of fallen and disabled military service members. Lifelong San Fernando Valley resident and event Chief Executive Alan Gottfried — who co-founded the fundraiser with wife Marge Gottfried and son Adam Gottfried and who hosts the golf radio show “Livin’ the Good Life” — organized and hosted the 18-hole tournament. “We just sent a check off to Folds of Honor for $25,000,” Gottfried told the Business Journal after the event. He also said that “100 percent of folks supporting our event also support our troops.” Gottfried himself is a U.S. Air Force veteran, as was his father, Jerome Gottfried, who served in the Pacific theater during World War II under Gen. Douglas MacArthur. Celebrity Invitational attendees included Maj. Ed Palido and Maj. Dan Rooney of Folds of Honor, and longtime local supporters such as Northridge-based realtor Jerry Gooze of Pinnacle Estate Properties; Russ Diamond, who owns Snyder-Diamond in Santa Monica; Calabasas resident Craig Sheftell of Fallbrook Credit Finance; and volunteers Chase Carpenter, Sal Maron and Blake Pick, plus Gottfried’s daughter Allyson Gottfried and daughter-in-law Amanda Gottfried as well as many veterans. The buffet dinner included steak, salmon, pasta, drinks and dessert. “We’re set for Veteran’s Day 2019,” said Gottfried, who is already planning next year’s philanthropic hole-in-one for Oct. 28 at Wood Ranch Golf Club in Simi Valley. –Michael Aushenker Staff Reporter Ethan Varian can be reached at (818) 316-3130 or [email protected].
