Though the economy is on the rebound, nonprofit organizations are still feeling a financial pinch. While this is stressful, it also allows the organizations to rethink their goals and perhaps stretch their creative muscles.
On Monday afternoon, CV Weekly hosted coffee and conversation with Assemblymember Mike Gatto at Montrose Bakery. We were delighted to pack Henry’s café with over 40 constituents of the assemblymember. They all came to either present problems or ideas and to listen to Assemblymember Gatto’s thoughts and plans.
One of the attendees was a member of the La Crescenta Woman’s Club. The club recently celebrated its 100th anniversary of serving the community. But after years of raising money that they give to others – mainly in the form of scholarships to local students – the members now need to look inward to raise money for the ailing clubhouse.
The clubhouse, located in the 4000 block of La Crescenta Avenue, is a fixture in the community. Built with local stones in 1925, the building hasn’t changed much over the years (to see a photo of what it looked like back in 1925 check out the CV Weekly annual Discover magazine. Also take a look at all the information the Historical Society of the Crescenta Valley offers). The clubhouse has weathered storms, droughts, earthquakes and floods, and now needs the community’s help (mainly in the form of dollars) to bring the building back to the standards of the LCWC. Assemblymember Gatto told the LCWC member to contact his office to get information on several sources of financial assistance.
But the ladies are not just sitting idly by. They recently held a casino night at the clubhouse that brought in some bucks and some new faces. On Dec. 6, the LCWC junior section is having its popular Breakfast with Santa event. Tickets are $10. Email lcwcjuniors@gmail.com for more information. CV Weekly will also continue to keep our readers apprised of news going on with the LCWC and how they can help this organization while having fun.
Also during Monday’s meeting, Prom Plus received a donation of $1,000 from Assemblymember Gatto. He explained that though politicians don’t generally have the funds available to make financial contributions to nonprofits, sometimes constituents will ask for direction in donating to a good cause. Thankfully, he thought of Prom Plus.
Prom Plus is the after prom event held for CV High School seniors and their guests at the Crescenta-Cañada YMCA. The event costs about $25,000 per year to pull together and offers attendees a wide variety of activities. These include a mechanical bull, gyroscope, climbing wall, bungee run, casino games and laser tag. Food is prepared all night long, much of it donated, and students can have their portrait drawn by a caricaturist, or get a balloon creation to take home. Prizes are drawn at the end of the event – about 4:30 in the morning – before the kids leave exhausted but with memories that will last a lifetime. Assemblymember Gatto’s donation will help offset those costs.
Like all nonprofits, Prom Plus has had to refine its fundraising over the years. On Saturday, the organization is kicking off the holiday season by hosting its annual holiday boutique at St. Luke’s of the Mountains at the corner of Rosemont and Foothill. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., shoppers will not only have the chance to jumpstart their holiday shopping, but will be treated to a performance by the CVHS Charismatics, an award-winning acapella group. Guests will also enjoy musicians from Rosemont Middle School playing throughout the day, an opportunity drawing for some fabulous prizes, a bake sale and, of course, the knowledge that this will all benefit our local seniors.
Hope to see you on Saturday at St. Luke’s – I’ll be there!

  crescenta valley, La Crescenta, montrose