If you are near Von’s on Harbor by Seaward at the right time you can be entertained by Lori and John Redding with 91-year old dad Robert Hamilton collecting your needed donations for the Salvation Army. They have been entertaining at a Kettle for over 5-years. The Bellringer program is collecting donations for the Salvation Army through Christmas.

At its September 26 meeting, the Ventura College Foundation board of directors named Anne Paul King executive director of the foundation. King had been interim executive since July 2017 when she assumed the post vacated by Norbert Tan. King previously served as the foundation’s director of development.

“There are no words to describe how incredible of a leader Anne is,” says Rob van Nieuwburg, Ventura College Foundation board chair. “She’s committed, determined, focused and everything about her comes from the heart. Anne’s nonprofit knowledge and instincts set her apart from so many nonprofit leaders. We are so lucky to have her.”

King’s duties are to oversee the foundation’s $2.7 million annual budget, especially to build a solid donor base to increase for support student scholarships, academic program enhancements, equipment and other needs that build student success. The Ventura College Foundation is in its 12th year of its VC Promise program, which pays for the tuition costs of first year students at the college.

The need for foundation support is vital. Seventy percent of Ventura College’s 13,000 students live under the poverty line, 40 percent are the first in their families to go to college, 30 percent are food insecure and 18 percent are housing insecure. Many students hold multiple jobs.

“I am so proud to serve Ventura College students, many of whom face daunting daily challenges and still have the determination to attend school, so they can improve their lives and those of their families,” says King. “Through the VC Foundation and its donors, students have increased access to a Ventura College education, textbook lending programs, scholarships and grants. It’s our goal to remove the financial barriers that so many of our students experience.”

King, a Thousand Oaks resident, has 24 years of development experience in the nonprofit industry including local work to help found the Conejo School Foundation for the Conejo Valley Unified School District, and national experience as the director of affiliate advancement for Volunteers of America in the Washington D.C. area. Ventura College is the third institution of higher education that King has supported professionally.

Because of the new year happenings the next issue of the Ventura Breeze will be available on Thursday, January 3 instead of Wednesday, January 2. We know it will be difficult for you to wait an extra day but well worth the wait.

by Lee Sherman

Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association’s “Light Up a Life” event provides comfort, solace and an opportunity for those who have lost someone to honor their loved one’s memory. And the acts of remembrance extend far beyond Ventura County.

I first became aware of Livingston in 2013 when I attended one of their free bereavement and grief counseling group sessions. I lost my younger brother in a car accident many years ago, and it always seems to affect me in a big way around the holidays. In speaking about my loss in the group session and sharing in the grief of others, I found a way to cope with my feelings, improve my outlook and regain my holiday spirit.

Now I am Livingston’s on-staff grant writer and have had the opportunity to “pay-it-forward” by participating in this year’s “Light Up” at Pacific View Mall. This was especially meaningful to me as I lost two dear friends this year, one to prostate cancer and one to pneumonia and both under the age of 50. Unfortunately, due to the timing and circumstances of their deaths I was unable to attend either funeral as they were both in New York and previous family commitments as well as limited finances, made it impossible for me to be there in person. Feeling a bit isolated out here, away from friends and family, I was especially glad to purchase hand-written ornamental stars in honor of their memories and send them back to their families, who I know are going through a very tough holiday season themselves. And while neither of my friends lived in California, both had visited me on several occasions and would be pleased to know they were remembered here. Seeing their stars on the trees, hearing their names read aloud and viewing their photos in our memorial slide show brought me much joy and peace.

And it’s not just an East Coast – West Coast thing. At each “Light Up” event rocks are placed on the chairs in the audience to hold down our paper programs. Each rock has an inspirational word written on it such as “Peace”, “Love”, “Joy” and “Family”. Attendees are free to take them home at the end of the program. Casey O’Neill, daughter of our Director of Community & Professional Relations Mike O’Neill, took one of these rocks with her on her pilgrimage to Santiago Spain. As customary for the Camino de Compostela, she left the memento as an honor to her trek across the northern coast of Spain at the Cathedral of St. Stephen, blending our local tradition with ancient traditions of the past, half a world away.

For those we’ve lost near or far, recently departed or long gone, “Light Up a Life” is a thoughtful and heartfelt way to honor their memories and spread some joy this holiday season. All proceeds support and ensure the continuation of Livingston’s compassionate hospice and bereavement programs throughout Ventura County. If you would like to learn more please visit www.lmvna.org.

Four Seasons Cleaners and the Rotary Club of Ventura collaborate to implement The Coats for Kids Project. November 2018 marked the fifteenth year of this project and again this year the Rotary Club of Ventura South joins the effort. The clubs initiate the collection of coats at numerous locations. Four Seasons Cleaners cleans the coats and organizes their distribution.

Last year over 5,000 coats were given to needy children and adults in the Ventura and Santa Barbara communities. This year’s goal is to collect, clean and distribute 5000 coats and jackets.

Recipients of the coats include the Boys and Girls Clubs, The Salvation Army, Casa Pacifica, Project Understanding, churches and other service organizations.

Due to the extraordinary generosity of Sonny Shah, owner of Four Seasons Cleaners, in the past 14 years over 60,000 coats and jackets have been cleaned and distributed to those in need.

Each year the Downtown Rotary Club of Ventura distributes coats at its annual Holiday Party in December. This year the club plans to give coats and jackets to over 70 children from Lincoln,

E.P. Foster and Sheridan Way Schools.

Collection boxes were placed in businesses, schools and public parks in Ventura County the week of November 1. Members of the Downtown Rotary Club of Ventura and Rotary Club of Ventura South are collecting the donated coats and jackets and delivering them to Four Seasons Cleaners for cleaning and sorting. They will then be distributed to service organizations in the community. The project will continue until December 31.

The need for coats for citizens of our community continues to be critical. Making the world a better place to live, one coat at a time, is a goal worth achieving.

Coats for Kids is organized by the Rotary Club of Ventura and sponsored by Four Seasons Cleaners. Eyedentity Graphics, KVTA and Hilford Moving & Storage are the Media Partners.

More information about the project is on the Rotary website www.venturarotary.org . It includes an interactive map of the 54 collection sites throughout Ventura County, including both Trader Joes locations in Ventura, Lassens and Green Thumb International. The hashtag for Facebook and Instagram is #coatsforkidsventura.

Donate a coat and make someone’s life better!

On Dec. 14&15, the Ventura Harbor celebrated the season with its 42nd Annual Holiday Parade of Lights & Fireworks.The 2018 theme paid homage to all things 70’s. It featured a very colorful Boat Parade and Harbor Village festivities!