2016 Smart-a-Thon

“You can tell how smart people are by what they laugh at.” – Tina Fey

Being smart is not a prerequisite for enjoying the 2016 Smart-a-Thon but having a sense of humor is.

Some of you may be thinking, “What the heck is the Smart-a-Thon anyway?” It’s the clever brainchild of one Mary Pinola, past honorary mayor of the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce and current Grand Poobah of the Mary Pinola/CV Chamber Education Fund. Ms. Pinola puts her heart and soul into maintaining this endowment, helping it to grow every year by convincing others to sponsor and walk alongside her in the Los Angeles Marathon, by drumming up prime silent auction prizes and, most ambitiously, by pulling together the annual quirky quiz-fest called the Smart-a-Thon.

At the Smart-a-Thon, teams made up of various community movers and shakers, attempt to make it through a multiple choice, multi-page test with questions like “On average, how many eggs does an adult hen lay in a year?” or “True or False: Pouring brownie batter into an 8-inch round pan will give you thicker brownies than if you use an 8-inch square pan.” (Actual 2015 test questions.) It’s useless information that may or may not be stored in your brain. If you’re one of three teams lucky enough to know (or guess) the most right answers your non-profit organization could win $500!

The Smart-a-Thon is also a great place to network. Some of the agencies already signed on are Congressman Adam Schiff’s office, Bob Smith Toyota, CV Sheriff’s, “The Real Principals of La Crescenta,” the Rotary Club and the Glendale Educational Foundation. USC Verdugo Hills Hospital not only has a team, they are generously donating the facility for the event.

There’s still time to be a part of it. It’s $35 per person to participate (lunch included) or $200 to sponsor a table for four. Single players welcome! Your money will be going to a great cause – providing grants to local educational programs such as the CVHS Music Department, the YMCA, the library, the Rose Bowl Aquatics Center and all area public and private schools.

The event will be hosted by the always charming Captain Bill Song of the Sheriff’s Dept. – CV Station and Mike Smith of Bob Smith Toyota. This will be the Smart-a-Thon’s 28th year.

“The first year saw 13 teams,” said Pinola. “Last year there were 40. We’re hoping to top that number again.”

“We always kick off the festivities with fun games,” Pinola went on to say. “This year will be particularly exciting because a robot will be involved.”

She wants people to know the Smart-a-Thon is mainly about fun.

“And there will be lots of surprises,” she said. “Surprises and prizes.”

Call the Chamber office for information and tickets. We hope to see you at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital on March 16 at 11:30 a.m. for the 2016 Smart-a-Thon.

Upcoming Events
Ribbon cutting at Caspian Services and Ohanian  & Associates, 3959 Foothill Blvd., Suites 204 and 210, La Crescenta on Friday, March 18 at noon.

  Lisa DUPUY