MGA Entertainment Supports Medical Research with Dolls

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area business people and companies. Van Nuys-based consumer product company, MGA Entertainment launched new hairless versions of its popular doll brands Bratz and Moxie Girlz. Available in June, the dolls will be sold at Toys ‘R’ Us stores and toysrus.com under the banner “True Hope.” For each “True Hope” doll sale, MGA will donate $1 to City of Hope, a center dedicated to the research, treatment and education of cancer, diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. In a prepared statement, MGA’s CEO Isaac Larian, said the company takes its responsibility and commitment to children very seriously. “The Bratz and Moxie Girlz ‘True Hope’ dolls are designed to support and comfort young girls and boys who so bravely endure cancer treatments,” Larian said. “MGA also wants to be an active supporter in the fight to develop lifesaving treatments for children.” Steven Martin, vice president of marketing for City of Hope, said the dolls offer an opportunity to raise funds for lifesaving research. “The support of MGA Entertainment will help our researchers in their drive to discover new and improved treatments,” Martin said. Van Nuys Hospital Receives $30,000 Grant Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s Stroke Center received a $30,000 grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation. “With this gift, we can further advance the essential care we provide to patients in our stroke center and continue to move forward with the latest in advanced telemedicine to make certain stroke patients will have the immediate access they need to care,” Gustavo “Gus” Valdespino, CEO of the hospital, said in a prepared statement. A stroke occurs when a clot blocks the blood supply to the brain or when a blood vessel in the brain bursts. The Centers for Disease Control report that 795,000 Americans have a stroke each year, and 137,000 of them die. Valley Presbyterian’s stroke center was designated as a Primary Stroke Center in June because of its ability to provide effective and timely care to stroke victims. The designation provides area residents with a closer location to quickly access stroke care. The center uses the latest in telemedicine, including a two-way communications system called RoboDoc. The system is one reason the hospital achieved Primary Stroke Center certification. The two-way audio and video communication makes it possible for the physician to be at another location and examine and speak directly to the patient, receive input from the resident medical team and then advise the medical team on treatments and therapies. The S. Mark Taper Foundation is a private family foundation that supports the work of nonprofit organizations in Southern California. S. Mark Taper was a real estate developer, financier and philanthropist. “We are very grateful to the S. Mark Taper Foundation for this generous gift and for its recognition of Valley Presbyterian Hospital’s exceptional efforts to foster better outcomes for stroke patients,” Valdespino said. Local Grandma Receives Refurbished Car The North Hollywood branch of Caliber Collision Centers, the Automobile Club of Southern California and other local businesses donated a refurbished Ford Focus to Debra Loyd, a retired crossing guard and grandmother of two. The donation was part of the nationwide program Recycled Rides, which is a collaboration of auto body repairers, insurers, parts suppliers and other vendors to refurbish and donate vehicles to needy families. Loyd was nominated for the Recycled Rides vehicle by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Los Angeles, an organization in which her grandsons are participants. Since being diagnosed with cancer, Loyd has had to rely on public transportation to make her doctor’s visits, which are typically three or four times a week. She and her grandsons have also had to take the bus to go grocery shopping and attend church. “Reliable transportation is so important and our hope is that this Recycled Rides gift will ease the burden for a loving grandmother who is doing her best, single-handedly, to give her grandsons a safe, secure and stable life,” said David Goldstein, vice president of operations for Caliber Collision. Valley Community Clinic Receives Grant Valley Community Clinic, a North Hollywood-based nonprofit organization, received a $150,000 grant from The California Wellness Foundation in support of the VCC’s new Prenatal Center. Launched in February 2011, the Prenatal Center provides services low-income women. The grant will allow for enhancements and expansions to be done to the center as well as to provide prenatal care to its patients. Founded in 1970, VCC has average more than 60,000 patient visits annually and offers services such as primary medical care, optometry, women’s health and nutrition counseling. According to VCC officials, The California Wellness Foundation has been a strong supporter of the Valley Community Clinic and its programs for the past 20 years. Children’s Hunger Fund Hosts Event This month Children’s Hunger Fund collected more than 1,500 pounds of food through its Souper Bowl of Caring event, which ended Feb. 4. The Sylmar-based nonprofit partnered with radio stations in San Antonio, Texas and Chicago, as well as 26 Chick-fil-A restaurants in an effort to help feed needy children in Central Texas and Chicago. Program participants accessed the Souper Bowl of Caring page available on the Children’s Hunger Fund site and chose items to purchase from a grocery list provided. Grocery items consisted mostly of canned goods such as tuna, chicken and vegetables as well as additional items such as dried fruit, cooking oil and peanut butter. Participants dropped off items at one of the participating Chick-fil-A restaurants. Chicago, which had five drop-off stations, collected 500 pounds of food while San Antonio collected 1,000 at its 19 participating stations.