SERVICE CLUBS: Golf tourney raises funds and spirits
Sunshine and a clear sky ideal for golfing marked the start of the Burbank Sunrise Kiwanis Club 10th annual Mayor’s Cup Golf Tournament on April 27 at De Bell Municipal Golf Course.
Established in 1997, the tournament brings golfers and spectators alike together in a day of fun and fundraising with 100% of the proceeds benefiting youth programs and organizations in Burbank.
The final tally is not in, but funds raised from this year’s event could reach $30,000, club officials said.
“There is a saying, ‘what goes around, comes around,’ ” said Michael Caggiano, chairman of the tournament, which has now become a Burbank tradition.
The club believes that the tournament does three things to exemplify that saying, Caggiano said. First, it honors the leaders of the community; second, it gives the golf participants a huge load of fun and prizes; and finally, it brings the business community into a fundraising partnership effort that supports early childhood and youth programs in Burbank and the surrounding communities.
“As a result, our community is the ultimate winner,” Caggiano said.
As part of the program, the club honored the very popular Blackie Winter, a longtime De Bell marshal who passed away last year. The club also honored the past mayors of Burbank in commemoration of Official Mayors Day in Burbank.
Former mayors in attendance included Todd Campbell, Jef Vander Borght, Marsha Ramos (the present mayor), David Golonski, Dan Remy, Mary Lou Howard, Bill Rudell, Vince Stefano, Larry Stamper, Lee Ayers, Tom Flavin, Bill Wiggins and David Laurell.
Congratulations to top prize-winning golfers from the Premiere Financial and The Walt Disney Co./ABC teams. Major car prizes and others were provided by Community Chevrolet, Toyota of North Hollywood, Galpin Ford, Mayberry Lincoln-Mercury and Billiards & Barstools.
Burbank Sunrise Kiwanis meet at 6:45 a.m. Wednesdays at De Bell Golf Course clubhouse, 1500 E. Walnut Ave. For more information, call Chuck Herron at (818) 771-7825.
CLUB DONATES $10,000
All of us can do our part in making our community the best it can be and the Aktion club exemplified that attitude recently at its meeting where club president, Helen Lopez, presented Fashion in Aktion honoree Steve Veres with a check for $10,000, representing funds raised from the recent Aktion Club Fashion Show and Luncheon at the beautiful La Bella Banquet Hall.
All funds will go to support the new cancer center fund, which is very close to achieving its $33-million goal.
“Raising this money and being able to give it to people who need it has shown us how we can make a difference,” Lopez said. The club also took the opportunity to thank and present several individuals with plaques and certificates of appreciation for their help in bringing the fantastic event to fruition, including Shirley Pratt, Paula Moody, Vahe Hovanessian, Betti Vincent, Diane Vincent and John Parker. The Aktion Club is a community service group for adult residents living with a disability.
Burbank Kiwanis For Fun meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of every month at the Hill Street Café, 3301 N. Glenoaks Blvd. For more information, call Linda Curtin at (818) 841-4667.
TEACHERS ARE TREASURES
Burbank schools are some of the best around and the teachers helping make that true are city treasures. To honor these wonderful educators, the Burbank Noon Kiwanis had its annual Teacher Recognition Day on May 2 at the Burbank YMCA.
Outstanding teachers from each school in the Burbank Unified School District were recognized, as well as teachers retiring from the district.
Chairman Loren Jonkey presented each teacher with their award, which included numerous certificates of commendation and gift certificates to Barnes and Noble that are to be used by the teachers to purchase items to be placed in their school libraries in their names.
The awardees are Yuki Yoshino, Angela Maden, Sandra Engel, Heidi Soto, Kiki Schlosberg, Nancy LeFebvre, Michael Hammell, Linda Lorenz, Sheryl Hambro, Connie Simonek, Susan Martin, April Evans, Karla Buffington, Heidi Sasaki, Diana Abasta, Martha Smith, Barbara Forletta and Trudy Israel.
Retiring honorees were Ron Hobbs, Judy Day, Eleanor Young, Tom Wilkins, Mary Margaret Kljunak and Barbara Forletta.
The club awarded on May 9 its Vocational Scholarships of $1,000 to one student each from Burbank, John Burroughs and Monterey high schools and Burbank Adult School to pursue their vocational careers.
The winners are Greg Fields, Kevin Lahaie, Monica Pardo and Ana Teresa Renteria. In addition, Sijin Park was awarded the E. Daniel Remy Scholarship for Outstanding Key Club Member.
Student Citizenship Awards were also presented to one student from each grade level at John Muir Middle School. The winners are Arpa Shahijanian, Sevan Shahijanian and Katie Westbrook. Kudos to our Burbank teachers and students.
The Burbank Noon Kiwanis meets at noon every Wednesday at the Burbank YMCA. For more information, call Loren Jonkey at (818) 842-0904.
FUN AT CAR SHOW AND FAIR
Burbank residents and visitors alike enjoyed a fantastic, fun-filled day at the Burbank Kiwanis For Fun Foundation’s eighth annual Car Show and Arts and Crafts Fair on April 29 at Johnny Carson Park.
About 250 cars of every color and type gleamed their polished best as guests compared notes on their favorite hot rods, Caddies and cruisers. Finger-snapping, toe-tapping live entertainment was provided throughout the day by Mercy and The Merkettes and The Original Bubble Gum Factory.
Visitors also enjoyed a delicious pancake breakfast and scrumptious barbecue for lunch. A silent auction, opportunity drawings, bake sale and scores of vendors offering beautiful products were enjoyed by all.
Funds raised are estimated to be more than $9,000 and will benefit BCR -- A Place to Grow, formerly known as Burbank Center for the Retarded, Salem Homes for the Handicapped, Ronald McDonald House, Hathaway House, School on Wheels, scholarship funds and local schools.
For more information on this event, call Donna or Tony Wade at (818) 846-8487, (818) 822-2903 or (818) 822-2901.
Burbank Kiwanis For Fun meets at 6:30 p.m. the first and third Thursday of every month at the Hillstreet Café, 3301 N. Glenoaks Blvd. For more information, call Isabel Adams at (818) 842-7359.
BURBANK JAYCEES GET PHYSICAL
The Burbank Jaycees are no strangers when it comes to volunteerism. Last weekend, members showed muscle and manpower with their assistance with the Burbank Temporary Aid Center’s Postal Food Drive.
With the drive being one of BTAC’s biggest food drives of the year, Jaycee volunteers played a vital role in making this year’s drive a success. Members helped take nonperishable foods donated by Burbank residents and collected by postal carriers off mail trucks and helped sort and place the food in BTAC’s storeroom.
An afternoon of hard work and camaraderie will help to assure that those in need in our community can receive the help they need. Do you feel like helping? Join the Jaycees for the annual Burbank Relay for life at 9 a.m. June 23 and 24 at Robert Gross Park, 2814 W. Empire Ave.
The Relay for Life is the American Cancer Society’s signature fundraiser, with more than 4,200 events nationwide and is an overnight team event that raises awareness of cancer, celebrates survivors, remembers those lost to the disease and raises funds to fight cancer through research, education, advocacy and patient services.
Teams are required to keep at least one team member walking the track during the 24 hours as an ode to the consciousness that cancer never sleeps. In addition to the relay, there will be various booths, displays and entertainment for the kids.
For information on how to join the team, donate to the cause or to learn more about the event, contact Teresa Sanchez at (805) 558-5896 or tmsanchez0608yahoo.com.