HEALTH CARE

On Dec. 17, the Padrinos Guild of Valley Children’s Healthcare presented a donation of $40,000 to Valley Children’s Healthcare as a special gift for the holidays. This is the men’s group’s largest gift to Valley Children’s Healthcare to date. Funds raised were thanks to the generous sponsors and participants for the Padrinos 4th Annual Clay Shoot event at Sun Mountain Gun Club in Coarsegold. Padrinos Guild is the only all men’s Guild of Valley Children’s Hospital. It was revived in 2014.

“Padrinos Guild is so proud to make this gift that is more than double its donation last year! We hope that this donation encourages other men, like ourselves in the Valley, to join our cause” said Michael Mahoney, Padrinos Guild President.

AGRICULTURE

On Dec. 18, at the Tulare City Council meeting, International Agri-Center CEO Jerry Sinift presented a $10,000 check to the Tulare Police Department in memory of Canine Officer Bane. Officer Bane was killed in the line of duty on Dec. 9.

“At the International Agri-Center® board meeting held last week, there was a unanimous vote to donate $10,000.00 in memory of Canine Officer Bane. We would like to present this check for $10,000.00 to the Tulare Police Department Paws for the Cause Foundation,” said Sinift. “We want to see Tulare grow and prosper. Even though we are at the extreme end of Tulare, we are still part of this city, and want only what is best for our community.”

Four members of the Farm Credit System – American AgCredit, CoBank, Farm Credit West and Fresno Madera Farm Credit – are five years into establishing a program called Multicultural Scholars of Agriculture. It gives support to students considering a career in agriculture.

EDUCATION

West Hills Community College District will welcome a new deputy chancellor during the New Year. Dr. Richard Storti will take the reins on January 14. Storti comes to WHCCD from Pasadena City College, where he has served as assistant superintendent/vice president and vice president of business and administrative services since July 2016. There, Storti oversaw fiscal management, budget development and planning, contract and grant administration, and facilities planning.

Board members of State Center Community College District (SCCCD) elected Deborah J. Ikeda as board president at its Dec. 11 board meeting.Eric Payne was elected vice president and Annalisa Perea was elected secretary.SCCCD is governed by a board of seven trustees.The executive committee is joined by Trustees Richard Caglia, Magdalena Gomez, Bobby Kahn and John Leal.Fresno City College, Reedley College, Clovis Community College, Madera and Oakhurst Community College Centers and the Career and Technology Center make up the State Center Community College District.

NONPROFITS

Valley Center for the Blind has received a $70,000 grant from the Isnardi Foundation that will help fund job development training and a portion of the VCB Jobs Facility.Valley Center for the Blind has long sought to provide people with vision loss the chance to live independently and have opportunities. Individuals with vision loss often have no other disabilities outside of their visual impairment and many have a significant investment in being employed. VCB’s own team provides amazing examples of the incredible asset that a visually impaired employee can provide a company with 54% of the staff is legally blind and nearly 30% are completely without sight. Established in 2006 in Fresno, the Isnardi Foundation has generously supported regional nonprofit organizations that improve the quality of life and wellbeing for those in the community.