New Wells Fargo branch opens with community fundraiser

Celebrating its grand opening, the Oak Park branch of Wells Fargo is throwing a party from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and inviting the community to join in and support not only the bank, but a fundraiser as well.

Entertainment will be provided by the L.A. Avengers and TD the mascot; complimentary food and beverages will be available, and a variety of organizations and businesses will have booths in the parking lot. Participants include Girl Scouts, the Triunfo YMCA and the Ventura County Sheriff's Department, as well as a wealth management group and home mortgage services.

In addition, the community is invited to stuff a stagecoach during the celebration to benefit Red Oak Elementary School in Oak Park.

A replica of a stagecoach, Wells Fargo's corporate symbol, will be parked in front of the bank at 604 Lindero Canyon Road at the intersection of Kanan Road. Participants are invited to fill the stagecoach with art supplies such as paper, colored pencils, watercolor paint, scissors, markers and crayons for children ages 5 to 11. The materials will be donated to Red Oak.

The bank has also made a $1,000 donation to Friends of Oak Park Schools, a nonprofit organization that provides the Oak Park Unified School District with private funding to supplement public funding.

"Oak Park is one of those communities that we've learned is very family oriented. We want to acknowledge and support that," said Jeremy Canchola, branch manager and assistant vice president.

Red Oak Principal Jon Duim expressed his appreciation for the benefit.

"At a time of state funding shortfalls for education, programs such as art instruction are in danger of being cut or eliminated. The extra support provided by Wells Fargo helps to free us to make the best use of our limited resources," Duim said. " We welcome Wells Fargo to our community and their efforts to foster strong ties between the bank and our school district."

The bank will remain open for business during the event. Free financial reviews with a personal banker will be offered. Several dignitaries, including Ventura County Supervisor Linda Parks and Oak Park Municipal Advisory Council Chair Jay Kapitz plan to attend.