Taste of Montrose benefits Prom Plus
Crescenta Valley High School’s Prom Plus Committee is hosting its annual Taste of Montrose event from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today in the 2200 block of Honolulu Avenue. More than two dozen restaurants and culinary experts will provide a sampling of their fare.
Tickets are $20 and can be purchased on Honolulu Avenue.
The Taste of Montrose is a major fundraiser for Prom Plus, an after-prom event for Crescenta Valley High School seniors and their guests. Prom Plus was started after a CV senior was murdered at an unsupervised post-prom party in 1991. Prom Plus offers kids a safe, fun place to go after the prom that is drug- and alcohol-free. Participation in the Taste of Montrose event will help offset the more than $20,000 it costs to host Prom Plus. For more information, visit www.promplus.org.
Charity League welcomes new members
National Charity League Glendale had its New Member Orientation on April 16 at 12 Oaks Retirement Lodge.
The sixth-grade girls and their moms join a long line of NCL volunteers from the foothill communities serving those in need in the Crescenta Valley since the early 1950s.
According to Vice President of Membership Linda Roth, the girls in this year’s incoming class attend a variety of schools including Mountain Avenue, Verdugo Woodlands, Polytechnic, La Cañada Elementary, Balboa Elementary, Paradise Canyon, Palm Crest, Frostig School, St. Bede’s, Rosemont Middle School, Monte Vista, Salem Lutheran, Immaculate Heart and Lincoln Elementary.
Charity League’s purpose is to strengthen the mother-daughter bond while teaching members the skills and confidence to lead, nurturing through mentorship; inspiring a legacy of social awareness and compassion and providing support in local communities.
Last year the Glendale chapter donated 10,707 hours of hands-on service to 18 charities in the La Cañada/La Crescenta/Pasadena and Glendale/Burbank areas and provided $30,000 in financial assistance to seniors to allow them to remain living with dignity at the 12 Oaks Retirement Lodge in La Crescenta in addition to other local charities.
School hosts Red Cross disaster talk
Montrose Christian Montessori School’s PTO hosted Jennifer Lazo from the Los Angeles Region of the American Red Cross in a one-hour presentation on being disaster-ready in honor of Earthquake Month.
Parents, school administrators, teachers and even students heard about the benefits of making a plan beforehand. Lazo suggested to break down the preparation into small steps that you can accomplish in a few minutes, hours or a half a day.
“We learned it was easier than you think,” said Alison Johnson, a parent from the school. “One of the quickest things to do is to put a pair of old shoes, a flashlight, and some extra batteries in a bag under your bed, so they’re always ready. I’m doing this tonight.”
Adding one disaster-preparedness item or task to your weekly shopping can make the preparation nearly effortless, it was suggested.
Practicing your response to disaster is also essential, so that you react automatically. In an earthquake, “I will get under my desk, hold on and cover my head. That’s what my teacher told me,” said student Heather Campbell.
For more information, contact the school’s office at (818) 249-2319.
Blood donors come out for drive
The Armenian National Committee — Glendale Chapter drew a record number of contributors at its sixth annual Blood Drive held on April 17 at K&M Karamanoukian, Glendale Youth Center.
Organized in collaboration with the city of Glendale Week of Remembrance Committee, Homenetmen Ararat, AYF Glendale Chapter and the American Red Cross, the blood drive was held in honor of the 1.5 million victims of the Armenian Genocide. All blood units collected will be forwarded to local hospitals such as Glendale Memorial and Glendale Adventist.
“Parallel to our commitment in keeping the memory of the 1.5 million Armenians massacred during the Genocide of 1915 alive, civic participation and giving back to the community is an extremely high priority at ANC Glendale,” said Elen Asatryan, executive director of ANC Glendale Chapter. “ANCG, along with its partners, is grateful to all the community members who have helped make our annual blood drive a staple in the city of Glendale, saving over 1,000 lives in the past six years.”
The blood collected during the drive will help more than 150 patients in the region. Several volunteers were on hand to provide food and refreshments for all donors to help offset the occasional dizziness experienced by blood donors. Blood donors reproduce the donated amount of blood within a day, and all donors were encouraged to rest and eat healthily in order to promote blood production.
“The ANC blood drive surpassed its own previous record-breaking numbers for the most first-time donors we have received through any blood drive. It was amazing to see that more than half the donors were first-timers,” said Sherry Nikrik, senior account manager of the American Red Cross.
Beauty school donates $25,000 to Japan
Marinello Schools of Beauty recently presented the American Red Cross with $25,000 to help rebuild Japan after the earthquake and tsunami. The funds are a result of a companywide Cut-A-Thon fundraiser, which took place March 29 to April 2.
As part of the Cut-A-Thon, 45 Marinello campus locations offered $5 haircuts to the public and $2 wristbands with 100% of the proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross. Marinello’s Burbank campus came out on top, giving 241 haircuts. Coming in second place is Marinello’s Ontario campus, and third is its location in Layton, Utah.
“With all our campuses joining together for the greater good, we are pleased Marinello can help quake victims in Japan,” said Dr. Nagui Elyas, president and chief operating officer of Marinello Schools of Beauty. “We’d like to extend a thank you to the clients who participated in the Cut-A-Thon. We couldn’t have done this without their help.”
A check presentation to the American Red Cross took place on April 15 at the Burbank campus.
Volunteers needed for senior center
Burbank’s Retired & Senior Volunteer Program is seeking volunteers age 55 and older to be a host/hostess in the Mary Stoica Café at Joslyn Adult Center in Burbank. The volunteer would be part of a team to serve doughnuts and coffee, collect money, refill trays and replenish supplies as needed, and to clean the area at the end of shift.
The volunteer must be a people person, have the ability to organize, keep control, and work with public in a busy social setting. They must also be physically able to carry trays of pastries and to wash equipment at the end of the shift, which are from 7 to 11:15 a.m. Monday through Friday
Each volunteer works one day per week. Orientation and training is provided.
For more information, contact RSVP Director Dee Call at (818) 238-5370 or by email at dcall@ci.burbank.ca.us.