Housing Trust Fund Ventura County (Housing Trust Fund VC) begins 2024 by announcing $88,000 in new funds for the development of affordable housing in Ventura County. The funds come in the form of $85,000 in grants from U.S. Bank, First Citizen’s Bank and PennyMac Financial Services as well as $3,000 in year-end contributions from private donors. The amount will be applied toward the increased need for affordable housing funding as the staggering need for housing continues to grow.

U.S. Bank has awarded Housing Trust Fund VC a General Operating Home Grant to assist the organization in addressing the region’s need for affordable housing. The funds are to be used entirely to increase affordable housing options for low- and moderate-income families, seniors, veterans, transitional age youth and special-needs populations throughout Ventura County in alignment with U.S. Bank’s HOME Pillar. “Every dollar we receive is an opportunity to assist in addressing one of our county’s most pressing issues,” said Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of Housing Trust Fund VC, “These funds will significantly impact the lives of county residents by creating more affordable housing choices for all.” Housing Trust Fund VC received additional support in the form of $3,000 in year-end donations to wrap up 2023.

Housing Trust Fund VC will also receive a grant of $25,000 from the First Citizen’s Bank Community Development grant. The grant is a one-time award which will be used to support affordable housing to low- to moderate-income individuals, families and communities including transitional age foster youth, veterans, farm workers, and the homeless, with the intention of promoting economic development and opportunities for revitalization and stabilization throughout the county.

PennyMac Financial Services has also approved a charitable grant request for Housing Trust Fund VC. The grant is part of the PennyMac Corporate Giving Fund in Memory of Stanford L. Kurland. The PennyMac Corporate Philanthropy Program prioritizes its giving to organizations that align with the corporation’s culture, core values, vision and philanthropic focus areas. “It was an honor to attend the 2023 Compassion Campaign to learn more about the great work that Housing Trust Fund Ventura County does,” said Kisha

Parker Croom, Managing Director, Corporate Sustainability for PennyMac. “PennyMac recognizes the positive social impact that

Housing Trust Fund is making in Ventura County, and it is our hope that this contribution will help further that impact.”

Housing Trust Fund Ventura County – Launched as a 501c3 nonprofit corporation in 2011, Housing Trust Fund VC is the local trusted leader in helping to increase affordable housing options throughout Ventura County by leveraging public-private partnerships to provide low-cost, flexible loans early in the housing development cycle. As of December 2023, Housing Trust Fund VC has committed to investing $28 million through its Revolving Loan Fund, creating 1,177 affordable apartments and homes for very-low, low- and middle-income employees, transitional age foster youth, veterans, farm workers, and the homeless.

The Ventura Council of PTAs was one of just eight PTAs from across the country selected to receive a grant from the National PTA’s Center for Family Engagement. The program is part of the National PTA’s efforts to advance family-school partnerships to best support students along their educational journey.

The grant will be used to support implementation of the National PTA’s updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships.

“Strong partnerships between families and schools are critical to support our students’ success academically, socially and emotionally, and there could not be a more urgent time for this,” said Yvonne Johnson, president of National PTA. “We are thrilled to provide funding to the PTAs to help advance meaningful and effective strategies for strong partnerships that will make a real impact for students, families and schools.”

“I’m incredibly grateful to have our schools chosen for this grant,” said Cherie Egbert, Ventura Council PTA President. “We’ll all get to improve the ways we surround our students with what they need to succeed, at home, school and in the greater community.”

The Ventura Council PTA coordinates information exchange and support for the 16 PTAs that operate in Ventura Unified School District as well as Santa Paula Unified School District.

Last year, National PTA released its updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships, which provide guidance for building strong partnerships between families, educators, and schools to support student success. The updated PTA National Standards incorporate research and best practices including increased focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion; and expand the approach to student success to include whole child development. For resources to support implementation of the standards, visit PTA.org/Standards and watch the association’s Transforming Family-School Partnerships Webinar Series.

“Our updated National Standards for Family-School Partnerships provide critical guidance and best practices for strong, meaningful partnerships between families and schools,” added Nathan R. Monell, CAE, National PTA executive director.

National PTA® comprises millions of families, students, teachers, administrators, and business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. PTA is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit association that prides itself on being a powerful voice for all

Ventura, Calif. (January 16, 2024)–Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is introducing its Visionaries Circle LEAGUE² (Leaders in Agriculture United for Educational Excellence) membership to recognize its premier donors who have shown support for SEEAG’s youth agricultural and nutrition education programs and Farm Day community education and outreach events. SEEAG’s focus is to educate students and the public about the farm origins of food, healthy eating, and the importance of local agriculture. Many of these donors have been involved in SEEAG since its first program was introduced almost 16 years ago.

“SEEAG has been extremely fortunate to have a dedicated, loyal donor base whose contributions have made a real difference in SEEAG’s ability to offer the cost-free programming we do. Without them, we would not be able to reach thousands of students every year,” says Mary Maranville, the nonprofit’s Founder and CEO.

SEEAG educates over 8,000 students annually in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Activities include classroom presentations, farm visits and nutrition assemblies for elementary-age students, and career pathway programs for local middle, and high school students–all 100 percent free.

“The information and experiences children receive stay with them. They become life-long ambassadors for agriculture, making healthy food choices and overall wellness,” says Maranville.

SEEAG Programs

Farm Lab. Geared for third graders, Farm Lab builds awareness and appreciation for agriculture, following the journey of food from farm to table. Hands-on learning includes classroom presentations and a trip to the farm with an emphasis on soil science, plant science, water cycles, and entomology.

Youth Wellness Initiative. Educates inspires and empowers third-grade students to eat fresh fruits and vegetables and cultivate connections to surrounding farms.

STEM Career Pathways in Agriculture. For sixth through 12th graders, the program teaches students about the diverse job opportunities available in agriculture.

Farm Day In Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Farm Day is California’s largest agricultural education and outreach event, attracting over 13,000 visitors annually. It is held separately in Ventura and Santa Barbara in the fall. Farm Day allows the public to visit local farms, ranches, wineries, and agricultural organizations and take part in tours, produce tastings, giveaways, and other activities at no charge.

Visionaries Circle LEAGUE² members include The Edwin & Jeanne Woods Family Foundation, Santa Barbara Foundation, Mission Produce, Gills Onions, Al Lowe Construction, Innovative Produce, Santa Maria Berry Farms, and the Scott Family Foundation.

As LEAGUE² members, donors have their logos featured on the SEEAG website and student resource bags. They are recognized in SEEAG marketing, participate in annual members-only events and tours, and receive fresh holiday trees and other merchandise.

To learn more about the LEAGUE², go to https://www.seeag.org/visionaries-circle-league or contact Maranville at 805-746-0606, [email protected].

Founded in 2008, Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that aims to help young students understand the origins of their food by bridging the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming. SEEAG’s “The Farm Lab” program teaches schoolchildren about the origins of their food and the importance of local farmland by providing schools with classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms. Through this and other SEEAG programs, over 100,000 elementary school students in Central and Southern California have increased their understanding of the food journey. For more information, visit www.seeag.org or email Mary Maranville at [email protected].

by Shirley Lorraine

Usher the New Year with Laughs

In what has become a New Year’s Eve tradition, the Ventura Improv Company will be presenting a fun-filled, audience participation evening at the Rubicon Theatre. Designed to be family friendly, the event will begin with doors opening at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. performance, and end by 10:30 so families can get home and put the kids to bed, or festivities can continue at your leisure. Ringing in the new year will occur at 9 p.m., (midnight, EST). Imagine – you can toast the New Year twice!

This year’s extravaganza is dedicated to long-time improvisor and well-known actor/musician Gary Best, who passed away earlier this year. Best was a staple player and instructor at the Improv for many years. He was a songwriter and guitarist, often seen in Ventura area venues.
The Ventura Improv Company has been making people laugh and enhancing the talents of local performers since 1989. Under the guiding hands of Tom Mueller, Best and others, the company has gained recognition for ongoing excellence not only in Ventura, but on a widespread basis. These days, the award-winning company performs at NAMBA theater space, the second Friday of each month.

The evening will feature short scenes, theater games and music and an evening of spontaneous hilarity. If you have not experienced these improvised evenings yet, this New Year’s will be an enjoyable time to start.

The company also provides opportunities for learning through classes and introductions to expanding your mind and talents through improvisation techniques. These skills are useful not only on the stage, but in day-to-day situations. Quick thinking and engaging improvisation are true art forms. This company of players make it look so easy. You will be amazed at the performers’ abilities to make up scenes, sometimes even operas, on the fly. Even the musicians are improvising.

Hurry though – tickets are going fast – contact the Rubicon for availability. (805) 667-2900, www.rubicontheater.org.

May your new year be filled with love, laughter and theater.