This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. The Encino-Tarzana Hospital Charitable Foundation handed out $120,000 in scholarships at two ceremonies on June 11 and June 12. The funds, said Dale Surowitz, CEO of Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, were meant to help address one of the biggest challenges facing healthcare today: a shortage of nurses. “We are graduating half as many people as we need to,” said Surowitz. “We need 10,000 to 11,000 and we’re only graduating about 5,000 per year.” Of the 100 scholarships awarded, 91 were presented to students pursuing nursing degrees in various colleges throughout the area including Pierce College, Valley College, Moorpark College and California State University, Northridge. The remaining nine grants were given to graduating high school students who participated in the Encino Hospital regional occupational program (ROP) or volunteered at either facility. The Encino ROP works with local area high schools to help youth from lower-income homes get exposure to, and learn about, jobs in the healthcare industry. The Foundation has been increasing the awards annually. This year it gave out nearly double the number awarded just three years ago. Scholarship funds are generated by sales in the Medical Centers’ gift shops, boutiques and coffee carts and from a variety of other fund-raising activities throughout the year. Surowitz said he hoped the size of the Foundation’s award would encourage other hospitals to follow suit. “We need to really incentivize people to pursue these careers,” said Surowitz. “That’s one of the reasons we have more than 200 teenage volunteers that come through here on any given year: so they can be exposed to healthcare and to get them interested in healthcare careers.” Early Release for Good Behavior Rose Goldwater, community relations liaison for Western Commercial Bank, was one of 30 Valley business executives and community leaders who were arrested and locked up on June 5. It was all for a good cause, though; nearly $22,000 were raised in the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s annual Telethon Executive Lock-Up. The “jail birds” were arrested at work by MDA volunteers and sent to the “maximum appreciation jail,” located at the Sagebrush Cantina in Calabasas. Paddy wagons were donated for the occasion by Neftin Westlake Volvo, Bob Smith BMW, Hertz Rent a Car and the Woodland Hills Marriott. Their sentence: to raise bail of $1,600 by calling business associates, friends and family members. The bail amount covers the cost of sending two local children affected by muscular dystrophy or other neuromuscular diseases to an MDA summer camp. Those who weren’t able to raise the total bail necessary were released on their own recognizance to continue fundraising for another 30 days. Fulfilling a Pledge The Boeing Company awarded a $1 million grant to TreePeople, the nonprofit organization with an 818 area code but a 90210 zip code (they’re located up on Mulholland near Coldwater Canyon.) After wildfires destroyed property and scarred hills throughout the southland last October, employees and retirees contributed $700,000 to the American Red Cross in support of those suffering throughout the region, said Blythe Jameson, a spokesperson for Boeing’s environmental communications. At the time, the company made a commitment to donate $1 million of its money to launch a California wildfire reforestation initiative, said Jameson, adding, “This grant is the fulfillment of that pledge.” There are more than 1,300 Boeing employees working in the San Fernando and Antelope valleys. Compiled by Linda Coburn
