Community Center of La Cañada announces best-ever results for fundraisers

More than six months after the Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge replaced its long time executive director, the organization on Monday reported a strong 2012 fundraising performance.

Several of the center’s flagship programs also experienced their best ever results, including the spring sale and holiday sales, which brought in nearly 1,000 shoppers to purchase the works of local ceramic artists, netting $27,000 and $40,000 in gross sales, respectively, this year.

The Community Center of La Cañada Flintridge appointed Deborah Jordan as executive director in May after Megan Nordvedt was asked to step down after 12 years in the position. Board President Ara Aslanian said this summer that Jordan was hired because of her proven ability to grow an organization and increase fundraising.

Miriam Balcazar, who heads up the ceramics department, said she was “thrilled with the immense turnout from the community.”

“The event helps to better establish our local artists and solidifies our first-rate reputation as a ceramic art studio,” she said.

The center also announced that its 19th annual Thanksgiving Day Run and Food Drive saw its best turnout yet, netting $50,000 in sponsorship donations and registration fees. More than 1,200 runners participated in the 5k run.

Aslanian said the center was thrilled with the way the year had ended.

“Our partnerships within the community are thriving,” he said.

-- Daniel Siegal, Times Community News

Follow Daniel Siegal on Twitter: @ValleySunDan