Reseda Man Gets His Star on AIDS Walk L.A.

There’s no slowing down Marty Adebowale, a Reseda resident and collections supervisor at Time Warner Cable Inc., the largest cable TV provider in the San Fernando Valley. The 60-year-old father of seven just participated as a “star walker” in the AIDS Walk Los Angeles for the 18th year in a row. To qualify as a star walker, participants must raise at least $1,000. Adebowale has raised nearly $20,000 over the years. He is so dedicated that his colleagues at Time Warner’s Hollywood office, where he works, are familiar with his efforts, and many donate to the cause each year. “I’m proud to work with good associates at Time Warner,” Adebowale said. “They rally around and donate generously.” Brent Colby, director of communications for the walk, said that Time Warner helped out this year beyond its cash donations from employees. After the walk’s advertising space on some city buses was taken away due to new regulations that reserved space for commercial advertising, the cable system promoted the walk in TV public service announcements. “They’ve been a fantastic partner this year,” Colby said. The Oct. 14 walk raised $2.9 million for AIDS Project Los Angeles and other area agencies serving AIDS and HIV patients. About 30,000 people participated, with about 300 from Time Warner. Adebowale said that most of the bigger walking teams come from area hospitals, so he gets excited when other types of businesses participate, his employer included. “This is a company I want to work for, one that supports the community,” he said. In the Trenches Everyone knows a bank can lend you money to fix up your home, but a team from local U.S. Bank offices went further at the Burbank home of a Vietnam veteran and his wife. About 40 bank employees teamed up with Habitat for Humanity San Fernando/Santa Clarita Valleys to lend a helping hand to restore the home. David Depew, who is legally blind, and his wife Pat were grateful for the help they received. Volunteers installed a new washer and dryer, helped with yard work, painted in the kitchen and tore down a room on the back of the house that was a safety concern. “We were just a small part of the plan, because there was still a lot of work to be done once we left. But we accomplished a lot,” said Rita Dean, a spokesperson for the bank’s employee development network. “We were like a bunch of busy little bees all day. It went very, very well.” This was the third home restoration project that area U.S. Bank employees participated in this year, and the company plans to do at least one more similar project in 2013. “I know we’ll definitely continue to work with Habitat,” said Jill McCullough, community affairs manager for the greater Los Angeles region of U.S. Bank, which is headquartered in Minneapolis. The project was funded by a $5,000 grant from the U.S. Bancorp Foundation. Running off Pounds Want to do more than just gobble down turkey and stuff yourself this Thanksgiving? The Community Center of La Canada Flintridge has the solution with its 19th annual Thanksgiving Day Run & Food Drive at Memorial Park in La Canada Flintridge. Proceeds from registration will benefit the community center, which operates a preschool and youth sports leagues and hosts local organizations and clubs for their events. An estimated 1,500 people are expected to participate in the 5K race, as well as a fun run for kids. Ross Stores Inc. is the presenting sponsor of the race. An area McDonald’s will donate water for runners and La Canada Flintridge restaurant Los Gringos Locos will provide fruit. “It’s a really great community event,” said Deborah Jordan, the community center’s executive director. “The businesses around here really do help out.” The 5K will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Thanksgiving, Nov. 22, and the kids mile fun run will begin at 9:30 a.m. The fundraiser is paired with a food drive, which began on Oct. 16 and will continue through race day. About 45 food collection sites are located at banks, restaurants, and schools in the La Canada Flintridge area. Donations can also be dropped off at the race. Registration for the 5K is $35 until race day, or $40 at the race; kids’ race registration is $15 until race day, or $20 at the race. Individuals can pre-register for the race through the community center’s website, cclcf.org. Staff reporter Bailey Brewer can be reached at [email protected] or (818) 316-3123.