The community held out a generous hand to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley on Fri., Oct. 22.
The Agoura Hills-based organization received a pair of $1-million gifts from local benefactors, plus thousands of other dollars in live and silent auction donations during its 14th annual Stand Up For Kids gala event at the Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village.
One of the large donations came from John Notter, a Westlake Village founding father and owner of Westlake Properties, Inc. (Westlake Inn, Bogies, Mediterraneo and Stonehaus), that will be used to complete the construction of a club at Redwood Middle School in Thousand Oaks.
The John L. Notter Family Club at Redwood is named after the Swiss immigrant who came to the United States with his family in 1941 when he was 7.
“I learned at an early age how critical education is for kids,” said Notter, now an 84-year-old international financier who is also chairman of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and board member of the Conrad Hilton Foundation.
“There’s a common theme in all the things I’ve been involved in and one is higher education and the other is health.”
Notter received the clubs’ 2016 Celebration of Philanthropy award.
He and his wife, Doris, recently celebrated 60 years of marriage. They have 12 grandchildren.
Elizabeth Grossman gave a $1-million donation to the clubs on behalf of the Dr. Richard Grossman Community Foundation. She is the wife of the late Dr. Richard Grossman of the Grossman Burn Center in West Hills.
“We love to fund organizations that stand the test of time,” Grossman said.
The Boys & Girls Clubs provide programs to 4,300 youth each year on nine public school campuses from Calabasas to Newbury Park. The Chaparral Club in Calabasas is the busiest and serves an average of 280 children a day. The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley chapter has won the parent organization’s Gold Award five years in a row for top membership growth.
The gala audience of 600 people included former chairman of the board Mark Bagaason, who received the Cal Johnston Service Award. Johnston is the local clubs’ founder. Bagaason joined the board in 2011 and has served in a number of capacities.
The 2016 Youth of the Year character and leadership awards went to Newbury Park High School senior Caitlin Marsa in the 14-years-and-older category and Gus Gress in the 13-and-under category.
Caitlin, who had divorced parents and an ill mother while growing up, overcame many hurdles on her way to becoming a bright and promising young lady.
“There will always be obstacles to bring you down, but you can’t give up,” she said.
Boys & Girls Clubs were there when she needed it, Caitlin said.
Other donations to the organization that were applauded at the gala include a $150,000 gift from Bud Marley, the former Las Virgenes schools superintendent. Marley’s donation will help open the organization’s newest club at the Agoura Hills/Calabasas Community Center.
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