In December 1979, the Agoura Santa food drive helped three local families in need. As of December 2004, thru monetary donations and contributed turkeys, nonperishable groceries, grocery store scrip, toiletry items and other gifts, the annual Santa Comes to Agoura and Beyond event has helped over 20,000 families. The recipients of everyone’s generosity were families in Agoura, Agoura Hills, Oak Park, Westlake Village, Calabasas, East Los Angeles, Canyon Country, Santa Monica, Camarillo, Oxnard, Fillmore and Goleta. Other beneficiaries have included battered women and children and AIDS victims in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties, Optimist Boys and Girls Home, Rancho San Antonio Boys home in Chatsworth, Guadalupe Center Food Pantry, Manna Food Pantry, Children of the Night, and the servicemen and women in Iraq. Shelters to feed the homeless also have been provided, and more. We wish to acknowledge the following for their generosity and total support: Agoura Las Virgenes Optimist Club Adelphia Cable Television: Allan McDaniel, Carlos Williams, Terry Williams, Erik Sorensen, Carmen Gomez and their entire staff Westlake Village City Council: Jim Bruno, Bob Slavin, Councilwoman Sue Mc Sweeney City of Westlake Village Agoura Hills Councilman Dennis Weber Ventura County Supervisor: Linda Parks Los Robles Medical Center: Kris Caraway Bowman, Joyce Goldstein Westlake Village Costco: Dick DeKalb, Peter Mannino Kurtz Food Services: Ed and Bernie Kurtz Agoura Valley Woman’s Club Agoura Hills 4-H Club Agoura Hills Do-It Center: Jess Ruff, Mike Mauck, Ken Lorenzo Agoura Equipment Rentals: Mel Adams Sr., Ruth Adams, Mel Adams Jr., Larry Adams Starbucks Agoura Hills Western Bagel, Westlake Village: Phil and Kathy Black and family Carol and Howard Rosenberg Woflson Family Foundation Whizin Enterprises: Pat and Vance Moran Phil Black Attorney at Law Albertsons Grocery Store Calabasas: Ed Mc Killop, Kevin Till, Paul Konish Albertsons Public Affairs Manager, SoCal Region, Lillia Rodriguez State Farm Insurance: Don and Mary Liebman Trader Joe’s Westlake Village: John Kuhlmann Farmers Insurance Co: Steve Bonifede Ann and Bob Houseal Whitehouse Properties: Susan Stone Patty Wolfson Girl Scout Troop 1028 and the Boy Scouts Joe and Mary Annino; Frank, Kim, Josephine and Meagan Annino; and Amy Annino The Fonseca Family The Pfizer Corporation: John and Carol Preston Ed and Colleen Cass Agoura Oak Park Chamber of Commerce: Alex Soteras The Tangkilisan Family John and Mary Lou Hurford Qdoba Restaurant, Westlake Village: Terry Harrick Big Valley Real Estate First Federal Bank of California, Agoura Hills: Carol Salgado Joanne and Stan Benson Dr. Steve Iceland Mary and Steve Soelberg Dr. Laurie Robinson U-Haul Agoura Hills Dole Food Company: David Murdock, Monica Spiro Los Hills Sheriff’s Dept. Dr. David Halpert T.H.Q. Calabasas: Dana Balwin Digital Graphics Photographics Inc. Ralph’s Grocery Store Agoura Hills: Denise Spaulding and the Raph’s employees Birthday Buddies Money Wise K-Swiss, Inc.: Joyce Hochberg Conejo Valley Congregational Church Edward Jones Financial Services: Jack Dvir Carol Cusanovich St. Maximillion Kolbe Catholic Church: Lorena Billig The Church of Jesus Christ Later Day Saints in Newbury Park and Oak Park YMCA Indian Princesses: Gary and Randee Paller Wood Ranch BBQ We also wish to thank the following schools for instilling the benefits of community service to their students: St. Jude’s, Buttercup, Born Learners, Willow, Sumac, Yerba Buena, Red Oak, Brookside, Oak Hills, Lindero Canyon Middle, Medea Creek Middle, Oaks Christian, Agoura High and Oak Park High. Also, Joyce Thompson and the Brookside Elementary School Chorus The blessing of the food and gifts was provided by children from our local churches and synagogues. Jim and Lisa Rule and the entire staff of the Acorn Newspaper have always been extremely generous and sincere. Thank you for everyone that became involved. You did make a difference in everyone’s lives by showing your compassion. The Santa Comes to Agoura Staff: George and Charlotte Annino, Frank and Rose Annino, Louis and Maryann Annino, Ann Houseal, Steve Bonifede, Mary Jane McGraw, Lynda Hoffman, Cindy Rushing, Michelle Baxter, Bill and B.J. Parisi, Laura Rivetti, Patty Wolfson, Laura Lenininger, Kameron Johnson and Aggie and Peter Winston
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