CLvFFie Awards canceled

After seven years of presenting the CLvFFie (pronounced "cliffy") Awards, the Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation has canceled this year's Nov. 22 event.

The CLvFFies recognize individuals and groups who make a difference in the arts, education, healthcare, public safety, youth leadership, business and other areas.

"We found that now there are many other groups in the community who are already recognizing these same people," said Jeff Blum, a trustee for the foundation and a CLvFFie coordinator. Chambers of Commerce present awards to businesses; the arts community has its own awards, and several associations and organizations present awards to top educators, Blum said.

Fran Brough, the foundation's executive director, said the eighth annual event was "placed on hold" in order to revamp the celebration so it reflects the changing focus of the foundation, which is considered a regional think tank. The current focus, she said, is on whether the region needs permanent housing for the visual arts.

"We still gather from and bring information to the community that addresses the quality of life of our citizens," Brough said.

As a think tank, the foundation identifies regional needs and opportunities for residents and industry, which is followed by efforts to "lay the groundwork for advancement of projects," Brough said.

Foundation Chair Carl Herman sees a connection between these efforts and the organization's community recognition program. "We are evaluating how to morph the CLvFFies into something that better reflects the current objectives of the foundation," Herman said.

"Stay tuned," Blum said. "It's our job to look into the future, and we'll be back with something new and exciting."