Valley Economic Alliance Secures Money to Repair Fernando Award Monuments

Valley Economic Alliance, under the leadership of Randy Witt, has secured $10,000 from L.A. City Councilmembers to repair to two San Fernando Valley monuments at Warner Center in Woodland Hills and at Van Nuys Civic Center. The funds will go toward repairing an obelisk in Warner Center Park which honors winners of the Fernando Awards and the Fernando Award statue in Van Nuys, as well as the addition of a bronze plaque at the latter site. “Randy’s relationship with Councilman Gregg Smith has proven successful and we all appreciate his role in shepherding our request,” VEA member David Honda said in an email. “They both need some minor repairs and clean-up and updating,” Witt told the Business Journal. “That’s what the members of the City Council have decided to contribute to this fine organization.” Witt explained that Gary Thomas, a Fernando Award-winning member of the board of the Woodland Hills Boys and Girls Club whose father also won the Fernando, told him that the Warner Center monument may have incurred some damage, which Witt suspects could be from lawnmowers during landscaping. “To some degree, some normal wear and tear,” Witt said. Witt told the Business Journal that he asked a longtime friend, Councilmember Gregg Smith, if there was some funding that could be earmarked toward restoring the two sites. “We’ve been friends for a long time,” Witt said. “I called and I asked if there was any chance that the City Council could help us with the repairs.” Witt received word that the monuments would receive the funding on Aug. 6. According to Witt, Smith and several other of the Valley’s councilmembers, including Councilman Bob Blumenfield, decided to contribute toward the restoration cost from their respective budgets. Smith’s staff will prepare the paperwork necessary for such an expenditure. The Fernando Award is the highest award for volunteerism and philanthropy in the San Fernando Valley. The 61st Annual Fernando Awards ceremony will be held Sept. 27 at the Skirball Cultural Center in the Sepulveda Pass.