Harley-Davidson Helps Raise Funds for Library

This regular feature focuses on philanthropic activities by Valley-area companies and businesspeople. Camarillo-based Ventura Harley-Davidson held a fundraiser to benefit Camarillo’s new library. The goal for the city to complete the project to provide building materials as well as books has been set at $1 million. This latest drive is expected to bring it closer to meeting that goal with another $50,000 donated for the event. Camarillo’s recent council meeting was the location of the official kick-off for the campaign named Bikers for Books by Tom Elsaesser, owner of Ventura Harley-Davidson. “Money is one thing, but energizing the community is something, too,” Elsaesser said. The business is offering matching donations from its customers to help furnish the library with about 40,000 books and other necessary materials. The City of Camarillo is looking to eventually have 200,000 items to fill the 65,000 square-foot facility. The estimated cost of the new library is $25 million slated for an early 2007 opening. Wellness Tour Westlake Village was the locale of the Wellness Community Valley/Ventura’s 15th Anniversary Holiday Homes Tour, the charity’s biggest fundraiser of the year. The tour consists of individuals guiding themselves through beautiful homes including a new estate on the former Roy Roger’s ranch. Among the greater Valley businesses involved in the event were D & #233;cor Store of Simi Valley; Canfield Persons of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village; Zender’s of Thousand Oaks; Deforest’s Patio, Fireside and Christmas Shop of Woodland Hills. Also held to raise funds was a holiday boutique at the Willow Elementary School in Agoura Hills. The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura provides mind/body support, educational workshops, classes on nutrition and exercise for people affected by cancer. Hospital Benefit The Henry Mayo Newhall Memorial Hospital celebrated its recent successful fundraiser to benefit laboratory services at the facility. A fashion show, luncheon and boutique were among the attractions at the event which had record-setting donations of more than $112,000. Among the greater Valley-based sponsors were La Via Bella of Santa Clarita; Legacy Private Academy of Valencia; Howard Custom Boats of Valencia; Teagle Optometry of Valencia; Valencia Acura; Heys Plumbing of Valencia; Newhall Land of Valencia; Magazine of Santa Clarita Valley; Shield Health Care Centers of Valencia and Union Bank. Diabetes Fundraiser The Woodland Hills location of uWink restaurant celebrated its grand opening with a benefit event to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Combining dining and digital technology, uWink offers the opportunity for customers to use table-top touchscreen terminals to order food, play and interact with other tables, if desired. “We are so excited to be able to leverage the buzz and excitement around the opening of the first uWink restaurant to help fight a disease that has personally touched so many families, including my own,” said Nolan Bushnell, chief executive officer of uWink Inc. Bushnell is also founder and former CEO of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. “We hope that by joining with the JDRF we’re able to help these kids get one step closer to a cure,” said Bushnell. Toy Drive Valley residents and holiday shoppers will be asked to keep in mind those less fortunate as they donate toys to be distributed to the needy. Northridge Fashion Center is currently hosting the California Highway Patrol Toy Drive where shoppers may bring a new toy to the mall donation area through December 22. The toys will be delivered to underprivileged children through locally recognized non-profit agencies throughout the San Fernando Valley. Providence Volunteers Employees from Burbank’s Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center and Mission Hills’ Providence Holy Cross Medical Center recently traveled to Tijuana for four days to build homes for families in need. Dubbed “Team Providence”, hospital workers including administrators, managers and staff members worked in conjunction with the non-profit organization, Esperanza International. The charity is instrumental in assisting poor families to help themselves build their houses and schools. Esperanza International also encourages the families being helped to assist other families construct their homes.