On the Town: Campbell clients donate holiday gifts to children
For the first time, clients of the Campbell Center collected holiday gifts for children of families served by the Glendale chapter of the Salvation Army.
The project was part of the Salvation Army’s Angel Tag program. Campbell clients divided into 20 teams, each with four clients and headed by a staff member. Children put their wish lists on tags, and Campbell teams picked a tag and purchased items on their selected list. More than 50 toys were collected and donated to 26 children.
“I felt very good about being part of this project,” said Eddie, a Campbell client who donated a gift he personally chose. “I felt that the children need a friend and, by donating a gift to one of them, I was being a friend.”
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The Campbell Center was founded in 1954 as a nonprofit organization by Phyllis and Jerry Campbell, parents of a daughter with Down syndrome no school within the Glendale school system would accept because of her disability.
The center has evolved into an agency whose mission is to partner with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, empowering them to gain independence.
For more information, visit TheCampbell.org.
Ascencia thanks supporters
Ascencia’s board of directors and staff held an event last month to celebrate supporters who helped Ascencia surpass its three-year “Advancing Ascencia” capital campaign $7.45-million goal by $340,000 to raise a total of $7.79 million.
By achieving that goal, Ascencia has purchased and renovated an 11,500-square-foot access center and 40-bed emergency shelter that provide assistance to the homeless, as well as a nearby nine-unit supportive-housing apartment building for chronically homeless households, and the expansion of services to homeless individuals and families in northeast Los Angeles.
David Ho Jr., president of Pacific BMW, spoke on behalf of the S. H. Ho Foundation, which donated the initial $2-million grant that was matched by the city of Glendale and matched with funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
“This campaign has been a perfect blend of government officials and departments working alongside the private sector, together to make real change happen in the city of Glendale,” Ho said.
During the event, Ascencia’s commercial kitchen was named in honor of former L.A. County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich, who secured a contribution to the campaign. Hundreds of volunteer chefs prepare hot meals for more than 14,600 shelter residents each year in the kitchen.
Additional areas named in the building include the Pacific BMW and David L. Ho Jr. Lobby, and the W.M. Keck Conference Room. Also unveiled was a permanent donor wall recognizing all who contributed to the campaign.
Ascencia provides the homeless with employment assistance, trauma therapy, addiction recovery, mental-health services, securing housing, as well as practical needs including laundry, showers and mail service.
It serves 1,200 men, women and children annually through its access center and coordinates services with partner agencies in northeast Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Burbank and the San Fernando Valley.
Project recognizes club’s contributions
Members of the La Crescenta Woman’s Club recently gathered for a dedication ceremony to thank Boy Scout Troop 317 and Eagle Scout Kevin Tom for his Eagle project, which was building a historical bench and burying a time capsule in commemoration of the club’s more than 100 years serving the community.
Members coordinate numerous fundraisers throughout the year to benefit students, individuals and groups in the Crescenta Valley and beyond. Their clubhouse is often used by groups in the community.
Troop 317 Scoutmaster Richard Toyon, an Emmy-winning TV and film production designer and art director, created the concept for the bench and coached Kevin and the Scouts in building it. The bronze plaque was a joint project of the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley and the history section of the woman’s club.
Woman’s club members said they are most grateful to former L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich for helping the club receive a grant to finance a major renovation of the clubhouse and parking lot, including a ramp to make the building accessible to the disabled.
“So we can go on for another 100 years of giving while making friends and having fun,” said club member Danette Erickson.
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JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.