Mall to Award Cash to West Valley Schools

On Wednesday, Fallbrook Mall will award one West Valley school $5,000.

That is the top prize in the “Cash Back for Schools” contest in which students, parents and employees of participating elementary, middle and high schools are awarded points for every dollar spent at the West Hills shopping mall.

The school accumulating the most points from Oct. 15 through May 3 will receive the top prize, said Kelly Schachner, marketing director at Fallbrook Mall, the contest organizer.

Points were also awarded for community activities, said Schachner, who cited, as examples, toy and food drives and the distribution of Easter baskets to local homeless children.

A total of $16,500 will be distributed Wednesday to 10 area schools.

They are Canoga Park High School, Christopher Columbus Middle School and Capistrano Avenue and Hart Street elementary schools in Canoga Park; Hamlin Street, Pomelo Drive and Welby Way elementary schools in West Hills; Lockhurst Drive and Woodlake elementary schools in Woodland Hills, and Topanga Elementary School in Topanga.

At the contest’s midway point in January, the mall distributed $3,500 to the participating schools, bringing the total outlay to $20,000, Schachner said.

“Because of state budget cutbacks, such simple staples as books, computers and even lights are badly needed and the prize money will go a long way in helping the local schools pay for those things,” Schachner said.

The cash prizes were donated by the city Department of Water and Power, Pepsi, Time Warner Communications, Rocketdyne of Canoga Park, Woodland Printing of Woodland Hills and Sign-A-Rama of Chatsworth, she said.

The awards ceremony will take place at 6 p.m. at the mall, 6633 Fallbrook Ave., West Hills.