Mayor Gives $1,100 to 5 Local Charities

As he traditionally does at the end of each election campaign, Simi Valley Mayor Bill Davis donated part of his remaining campaign money to local charities.

As 1998 ended, Davis divided $1,100 among five groups.

Sarah’s House, which helps pregnant young women, received $500.

Care and Share, which provides donated food to needy families, and Meals on Wheels, which delivers food to seniors, each received $200. The Police Department’s program to provide holiday baskets to needy families and the city’s Police Foundation each received $100.

“I picked those that I know something about,” Davis said.

The donation to Meals on Wheels will go toward the nearly $40,000 the Council on Aging needs to run the program, said Kathryn Medley, the senior center’s coordinator.

The program delivers one meal a day, five days a week, to 46 people.

Davis said he gave the largest donation to Sarah’s House to maintain a transitional home that was established in August to provide longer-term care for women who go through the support system.

“It was a great surprise,” said Cathy Given, the program’s executive director.

“It’s kind of expensive to start a new facility like that. It was a real blessing.”

The contribution is to be used to help pay for parenting classes, as well as food and other basic necessities, she said.

After the election, Davis also spent about $2,000 on a computer to replace his old one, which he joked was nearly worn out during the campaign.

He will use the computer to maintain his Web site and produce literature for hisnext mayoral race, and he is considering putting together a quarterly or biannual newsletter for his constituents.

Davis said Monday he had spent a total of $18,000 on his successful campaign.

Final City Council campaign finance statements are due at the end of the month.