NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR AWARD 2022
Award Recognition by Senator Henry Stern
VCC was given the honor of being named NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR 2022 honored by Senator Henry Stern which was awarded at a lovely luncheon on the capitol lawn in Sacramento, Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
The event was at the capitol under a huge tent in front of the capitol. We had a great table at the outskirts of the tent, which was cooler and easy access. Senator Stern was not able to be with us because he tested positive for Covid the week before, but we had his Chief of Staff Brendan Murphy be his representative. We were also in the company of our friends Assemblywoman Suzzette Valadares and Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel.
This award is such an honor for VCC and its volunteers - it recognizes us as a truly valuable and legitimate nonprofit organization by the state of Califonria and will assist us in future grants to further our cause of changing the mindset of littering in Americans.
Thank you to all the volunteers of VCC for doing the work that was recognized by the Senator honored by the state of Califonria! You are all the best! What a bright future we have in front of us!
Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel
Assemblywoman Suzette Valadares
Assemblywoman Suzette Valadares
Don Larson, Jesse Gabriel and Jill Mather at the luncheon for Nonprofit of the Year 2022 given in Sacramento at the capitol.
Assemblywoman Suzette Valadares
Assemblywoman Suzette Valadares
Assemblywoman Suzette Valadares
Suzette Valadares, our Assemblywoman, and Jill Mather at the nonprofit of the year event .
RECOGNITION AWARDS TO VCC
CITIZEN OF THE YEAR 2022
WHAT A GREAT EVENT
DON LARSON & JILL MATHER GET CITIZEN OF THE YEAR AWARD! VCC had a booth at the event in order to solicit more volunteers to our events and we got 2 full pages of people interested in joining us for events, school projects, etc. Very exciting. It was a great event - they had not had this event for two years because of Covid - and it was refreshing to see everyone enjoying this Nature Preserve area. There was a wonderful ceremony dedicated to Mother Earth. Then Councilman John Lee presented Don and myself with Citizen of the Year awards! Very humbling and grateful for this. See the video that Mark Hovater made of the ceremony. We were given a medal from the Chatsworth Community Coordinating Council, Senator Henry Stern, Councilman John Lee, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, Senator Brad Sherman and Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares. The event was from 10-2pm - a gorgeous day, but windy. We had a volunteer show up to get school credits, so we taught him how to pick up trash - that is what we do - and he got 2 big bags during the day along Valley Circle along the fence line.
VCC RIBBON CUTTING
WHAT AN HONOR!
Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce asked us to have a RIBBON CUTTING in order to announce our organization to the community and we were honored to have this event.
The event was from 4PM - 6PM: VCC hosted a HAPPY HOUR after the ribbon cutting at the Chamber in order to allow people to socialize and enjoy the event. VCC provided wine (Chardonnay of course - but other varietals as well), beer, soda and water - sandwiches, chips and dip, fruit and veggie platters and mini cupcakes for snacking.
What a turnout! Dignitaries included representatives from Brad Sherman's office, Jesse Gabriels's office, Suzette Valladares office, Myrka from John Lee's office, Tessa from Shiela Kuehl's office and Mayor of Granada Hills, John Ciccarelli.
We had so many VCC volunteers - Steve and Rachel Hirschber Nancy Tanner, Jennifer Romero, David Weisberg, Audrey Stevens, Steve Lee and his wife, Marc Rassman, Diane, Ann and Ray Vincent, Marianne King, Kamesh Aysola, Nick Montano, Ann LaManna, Paula, Corey and Sarah from Shepherds Church, Medene from Notre Dame, Emile and Frank Koster, Marianne Stein, Danny, Dwight Wheeler, Lenny, Mary Turner, Yvonne and Liane from Granada Hills Chamber, Lucie who is running from Congress, Brad from the VFW in Granada Hills, Bonnee Lolluze from Granada Hills, Mark Hovater who took the video and pictures and Barbara Malin who is a great advocate. Huge group that actually overran the office.
We had a wonderful ribbon ceremony, a great happy hour party and an amazing celebratory event for VCC.
Thank you all for being part of it.
RECOMMENDED FOR A DONATION BY A VCC VOLUNTEER
Patrick, who hikes with us on Monday's - a good friend of David Weisberg, recommended VCC for a donation by a group that he serves on the board - Networking Plus.
They invited me to Rosie's on Corbin for a breakfast meeting to give a presentation about VCC and to receive the donation. What a nice surprise and so grateful for them thinking that we are an organization that they would like to donate to..
They meet for breakfast every Thursday and have lots of networking events where people can promote their business, etc. and meet new friends.
I was given a chance to introduce VCC to the group with a 15+ minute speech - and got great reception and thank yous from the group. They really appreciate what VCC is doing for the community.
I was handed a $500 check to VCC. Thank you so much!
RECOGNITION FROM WEST VALLEY WARNER CENTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
VCC was presented with two certificates.
First from California State Assembly Certificate of Recognition for the 9th annual Earth Day by Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel.
The second from Diana Williams, President of the West Valley Warner Center Chamber of Commerce - a Certificate of Recognition Earth Day Cleanup on Ventura Blvd.
COUNCILMAN JOHN LEE'S CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION
At the ribbon cutting event at Granada Hills Chamber of Commerce there were numerous certificates of recognition given - one being from our Councilman John Lee.
He always recognizes us a the group who have gotten citizens out of their houses and helping to be good stewards of earth!