YMCA tastes success with Oak Park pancake fundraiser

MICHAEL COONS/The Acorn BATTER UP-Steven Gutterman of Oak Park serves flapjacks at the fifth annual Triunfo YMCA pancake breakfast and carnival on Saturday at Oak Canyon Park in Oak Park. Hundreds of people came for the all-you-can-eat food, games and prizes. The event serves as a fundraiser for the YMCA's summer camp financial assistance program. See additional photo on page 33.

The Triunfo YMCA hosted its fifth annual Pancake Breakfast Carnival last Saturday, serving hundreds of local residents. Served this year at Oak Canyon Park in Oak Park, proceeds from the event directly benefit underprivileged families through the YMCA’s Summer Scholarship programs.

A preliminary estimate said that the YMCA’s Pancake Breakfast raised more than $10,000 this year, which will provide more assistance to nearly 50 families.

The Pancake Breakfast Committee of Mike Sowa, Gene Spies, Steve Sanders, Todd Myers and Aaron Butters helped secure many local businesses and private citizens to donate goods and services to help the YMCA’s fundraising endeavor. John Thorsen at Trader Joe’s of Westlake Village took over as primary donor and sponsored the event by donating all food items. Other sponsors included El Pollo Loco, G. I. Rubbish, Stu Miller’s Christmas Trees, Agoura Equipment Rentals, Knotts Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain, Disney, and Mann Theaters. Donations provided by these businesses aided in the overall success of the event.

Local dignitaries including Agoura Hills City Councilmember Dan Kuperberg attended as VIP flippers to assist more than 300 volunteers.

"Overall, I think the event was a complete success," said YMCA Program Director Jon Layton. "We not only fed a lot of people, but we helped raise money and community awareness to those less fortunate."