The weather wasn’t frightful, although LA had just experienced some horrific winds.  On December 2nd,  Sweet Charities San Fernando Valley descended on ONEGeneration in Reseda and proceeded to decorate trees.  We were joined by many other volunteers from various organizations located in the valley.  The trees were to be auctioned off the next day and the proceeds given to M.A.P.S Charities (for Seniors) and ONEGeneration a thriving senior center.

Whereas some tree decorators started off with a specific plan, that yielded spectacular results, the Sweet Charities tree spent a good bit of time in dis-array.  Ornaments had been donated by the dozen in every shape and color.  Finally we managed to put together a fun and amazing tree complete with a pouffy bow on top.

On December 3rd, all the trees were in place along with a multitude of vendors offering unique handmade gifts.  We were in charge of the Sweets table.  It was called the Sweet Charities Sweet Shoppe.  Homemade cookies and bakery goods along with coffee and cocoa were being eaten and enjoyed all day . . . and night.

The Sweet Charities  dressed in our signature pink and black bowling shirts with matching pink Santa hats.  Below are just a couple of shots from our event.

Rebecca Olkowski, Renee Harvey and Robyn Cottier

Star Tomlinson with The Drain Company Tree

Gail Lara of  Made in the Valley – The Valley Girls Grew Up and Star Tomlinson

Gail Lara (right) and friend

Kristine Cherry who was also a vendor who featured  handmade parasols and jewelry

More pictures coming.  Check out our Facebook Page.

celebrates the joys of the holiday season and supports SFVMAPS Charities and OneGeneration.

A visit to the Festival is a great way to kick-off the Holiday Season. Come see many trees, uniquely decorated by talented individuals or groups from local communities.  Stroll among Trees, Wreaths,  Gingerbread Village, and hand made Hanukkah items all for purchase, while you enjoy the varied entertainment, make a wish with Santa, create in the Kids Korner or enjoy Holiday Food & Drink, all to benefit these special Charities that help our local Seniors. Before you leave, make sure to stop in our delightful gift Boutique. Choose something as a memento of your day, reminding you that your contributions to the Festival of Trees go directly to assisting Seniors and their families within the San Fernando Valley and surrounding communities.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

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Festival of Trees Poster

3pm – 10pm

at

ONEgeneration Senior Enrichment Center

18255 Victory Blvd, Reseda, CA 91335

Tickets online at

www.sfvfestivaloftrees.org

Adults $5 ($10 after 11/27/11)  Children and Seniors $5  Children under 2 free

Do you make unique handmade gifts and would like to be a vendor at this event.  If so, please fill in and return the following document

Vendor Application for Festival of Trees

Sweet Charities SFV found out from non profit expert Laura Levinsky,  that a video submission to ABC7 could potentially earn a local charity $7,000.  It was decided on our Thursday meeting 5/5 that we would produce a video for Smile On Seniors. The problem?  Submission was due in by 5/12.  That did not leave us much time.  However, the Sweet Charities came through.  We met at Linda Bruskoff’s house on Monday 5/9 and scheduled a shoot the next day at the home of Sharone Rosen.  Robin Kellogg, our resident copywriter, etched out an outline.  Doug Knapp, a 35 year camera operator in the motion picture biz, volunteered to shoot the video.  Gabe Bruskoff, a film student, who had a short film presented at a recent film festival, came on board to edit.  Sharone Rosen, a local radio announcer (chiropractor, cantor +), Laura Levinsky, Robin Kellogg, Star Tomlinson (The Drain Company) and Rebecca Olkowski (Sharp Biz Image – WordPress Blogging Help) all participated.  By Thursday, the day the submission was due, the video was ready.  See the finished product below.  Not bad for just a couple days notice.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Please support SMILE ON SENIORS!

http://www.smileonseniorsnorthridge.org

If you missed our Operation Cover Those Toes Sock Hop at the Westfield Topanga mall on January 25th, you missed a fun event.  Sweet Charities San Fernando Valley raised over $1200 in cash, and collected hundreds of new or slightly used shoes and brand new packages of sock that were donated to benefit M.E.N.D.

Sean Lee of Masters of Ceremony was MC and dance instruction was provided by Dance 10.  Members of the Pierce College Swing Dance Team helped out with the dancing.  Art Rebel, a Topanga mall store provided a crafts table for the kids.  There were hula hoops, games and many raffle prizes.

Cookies were deliciously baked by Delicious Bakery, Rachel’s Goodies (Rachel Bruskoff) and Sharone Rosen.

Other sponsors included:

Westfield Topanga (Tammy Billings, Bernice Lee and Cynthia)

Outback Catering

Chicos

Cesar Hilario Photography

Juliet Mothershed

Lanza Fitness

Michael Scott

Shammy D

Rachel Bruskoff – Rachel’s Goodies

Laura Levinsky

Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids at the Topanga Mall

Spa Escapes – Deana Cobey

Sweet Charities San Fernando Valley members also provided Gift Baskets and certificates  for raffle prizes.

Sisters, husbands and many other volunteers helped out with lifting, decorating etc.  It was a wonderful day for all.

Operation Cover Those Toes is an ongoing project.  If you have new or slightly used shoes, packages of new socks or cash to donate, please contact Star Tomlinson at 818 -602-5959.

Even though it is only 1 day before the New Year, Sweet Charities members met to discuss a fundraising plan for Mend, an organization that services the homeless.  Sweet Charities SFV is planning a January end event that will be the biggest in the group’s history.

The event will be a Sock Hop at a local mall.  Details will be announced this week.

Sweet Charities SFV recently created a Facebook Page for the group itself as well as one with updates for Operation Cover Those Toes. We hope you choose to LIKE both pages and subscribe to our mailing list for updates and announcements.

Heidi Mankoff, a small business strategist and marketer, who has vast experience running large fundraisers, has taken the lead to organize the event.  She is the owner of Tall Ideas LLC.

Star Tomlinson, who originated the idea for the fundraiser, has local locations where packages of socks as well as new and slightly used shoes can be dropped off.  Star is the owner of The Drain Company. Please contact her at (818) 344-1114  if you have shoes and socks to drop off.

Other members have signed up for various tasks and all are excited about the event.

If you are a local community member and would like to donate a raffle prize, please contact Rebecca Olkowski at 818-515-7880.

Sweet Charities meets every Thursday morning at 7am at Panera Bread in Northridge.

19662 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91324-2421

Star Tomlinson, of The Drain Company, is heading up a drive to collect shoes to aid the homeless in the San Fernando Valley.  It is called Operation Cover Those Toes.  We are looking for all sorts, including dress shoes that can be used for job interviews.

If your closets are filled with unnecessary shoes, why not consider donating them to this noble cause.

We are looking for slightly worn pairs.  As winter sets in with the possibility of rain, water proof varieties would be needed as well.

Drop off your shoes at Dream Dinners in Granada Hills on Thursday from 3pm – 9pm.

11852 3/4 Balboa Blvd
Granada Hills, CA 91344

You may also drop them off at MSM Consulting Group in Northridge on Tuesdays.  Contact Marcia Marcus at 888 434-1015

Non tennis shoes will be donated to Safe Passages, for their Dress For Success Program to aid those who are victims of domestic violence.

So ladies, don’t horde your shoes like Imelda Marcos.  Give them to someone who is less fortunate.  In today’s economy, more and more people are taking to the street including women and children.  Your gift of shoes will be much appreciated.

For More Information, call Star at (818) 344-1114

Sweet Charities SFV recently donated $100 on behalf of San Fernando Valley Business owner Adam White of Middleman Leads to help him in his run for Actor’s and Others For Animals.  Adam was able to raise over $1400 for the cause.

Adam says:

I did this for animals because in our ever-expanding world, animals area actually losing theirs. Over population has rendered animals, land and sea, virtually helpless and under our mercy.

The organization helps prevent over population in the pets and subsidizes spaying and neutering.

Adam, unfortunately, lost several toe nails in his efforts but felt that it was more than worth it.

Actor’s and Others for Animals is located in Burbank, CA and some of its celebrity supporters include:  Joanne Woodward, Robert Vaughn, Burt Reynolds, Clint Black, James Brolin, Christy Brinkley and a host of others.

Sweet Charities SFV is a group of San Fernando Valley business women, whose purpose is to be a leading support organization for community-focused charities in the San Fernando Valley.

Sweet Charities SFV currently meets each Thursday Morning 7am at:

Panera Bread

19662 Nordhoff Street
Northridge, California  91324

We invite you to join us in making a difference by improving the lives of those in need, for those causes that do not necessarily get the most attention, but are critically important to all who are involved.

If you would like more information about Sweet Charities SFV please call Rebecca at 818-515-7880  EMAIL

Kenneth Spector receiving his check for Smile on Seniors

by the members of

Sweet Charities SFV