Ford Dealership Donates Van to Boys & Girls Club

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. Woodland Hills-based dealership Vista Ford donated a 12-passenger van to the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley, giving the group another resource for transporting children, the non-profit organization announced. Vista Ford made the donation after its owners, Jon and Tori Shuken, learned that an additional van was needed due to the group’s growing membership. The van will be used to transport children from local schools to afterschool programs at the Main Clubhouse in Canoga Park. With the donation, the Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley now has six vans, allowing the organization to serve more children, said Jan Sobel, the group’s president and CEO. “We can pick up approximately 30 more children every day,” Sobel said. “Additionally, it allows us to take more field trips during the summer. So, obviously, we’re very excited and very grateful.” Non-profit Gets New Leader The Circle of Care Foundation has a new CEO, the Sherman Oaks-based non-profit organization announced. Linda David is now heading the group that supports the needs of patients, caregivers and their families in Los Angeles County. “In Linda David, we’ve found the perfect person to move forward,” said Ron Goldie, the organization’s incoming chairman. “Her skills in managing vast and varied operations of major companies, including most recently Lupus LA, make her the ideal CEO to forward our agenda. We have much to do – raise money, spread awareness and increase services to a vast population of caregivers.” Programs supported by the foundation include the memory disorder support center called Circle of Care Leeza’s Place, the geriatric care program called S+AGE at Sherman Oaks Hospital, the Grossman Burn Center in West Hills and the Grossman Burn Center in Santa Ana. Princess Cruises Helps The Princess Cruises Community Foundation donated $15,000 to Single Mothers Outreach of Santa Clarita to help single-parent families during the holidays, the outreach group announced. “Our parents are working to move forward and better the lives of their children,” said DeAnne Smith, executive director of Single Mothers Outreach. “This gift provides encouragement and hope.” The Princess Cruises Community Foundation, which is affiliated with the Santa Clarita-based company Princess Cruises, supports charitable causes around the world and provides grants to organizations that are dedicated to children, education and more. Insurance agency e360 collected more than $5,000 worth of children’s toys and gift cards for those in need during the holidays, the Van Nuys-based company announced. The toys and gift cards were donated to the Los Angeles Children’s Hospital. Each member of the agency reached out to others for donations. “Every child deserves to have a great holiday,” said Michael Separzadeh, co-owner of e360. “We are so grateful to get such a strong response from our friends, family and clients. We plan to do this for years to come.” Northrop Grumman Volunteers Employee volunteers from Northrop Grumman Corp.’s Navigation Systems Division recently sponsored two events for families in need during the holidays. Last month, the company’s Adopt-A-Family organization celebrated its 20th year of holiday donations by distributing grocery certificates and gifts to 25 disadvantaged families in the local community. Adopt-A-Family also donated 20 gift certificates to Lutheran Social Services to distribute to children. Adopt-A-Family holds events at Northrop Grumman’s Woodland Hills facility throughout the year to raise funds and encourage employees to volunteer their time in support of the organization’s mission. In another outreach effort, the company’s African-American Task Group donated holiday gifts to three families facing financial hardship. The task group is a volunteer employee resource organization. Transporting Supplies Dole Food Company Inc. recently shipped its sixth 40-foot container with medical equipment for communities in need in South and Central America, the Westlake Village-based company announced. The medical supplies were donated by non-profit organization MedShare and shipped from Dole ports in the United States using the Dole Ocean Cargo Express. The containers are delivered to municipal governments and non-profit organizations that run small public health clinics in Ecuador and Honduras. The shipment included items such as ultrasound equipment, hospital beds, centrifuges, generators, crutches, walkers, needles, and other medical supplies. “The contents of these containers will literally support the healthcare of thousands of people living in poverty,” said A.B. Short, MedShare’s CEO and co-founder.