Celebrating the Season  and the Gift of Giving

I hope you all are enjoying your holidays as you celebrate with your loved ones and friends in celebrating the season of giving. This time of year is such a magical time that seems to bring the best out in everyone. I believe it truly is more blessed to give than to receive. When I give a gift, it brings me great joy and puts a smile on my face. A gift is an item given that is bestowed voluntarily to someone without the expectation of anything in return. Every year at our Installation and Community Recognition Awards Banquet we want to honor businesses, organizations and people who are “gifts” to our community and celebrate the people who understand the power of giving. As you will see, these award winners give of their time, talents and resources not expecting anything in return.

Our Business of the Year is Andy’s Transfer and Storage. Here are just a few of the things they do: They provide storage and delivery of 65,000 cases of Girl Scout cookies for the city’s of Montrose, La Cañada, Pasadena, Burbank, La Crescenta, Alhambra and Rosemead, donate storage boxes to various charities and organizations in the area like the Glendale Elks toy and food drive, sponsor a team for the Crescenta Valley Little League, sponsor a soccer team for the AYSO, sponsor many of the events that the Montrose-Verdugo City and the Crescenta Valley chambers of commerce host, donate silent auction items to many of the local schools and charities, donate a storage unit to the Special Olympics and help raise money for the Special Olympic winners to compete in other events. Wow! That’s giving!

Our Business Person of the Year is Julie Kay Stallcup, owner of Revolution Dance Center. She gives back to the community in so many different ways. One of the biggest ways is by teaching her students the “power of giving” to those who are less fortunate. She gets her students involved in helping serve the needy in various ways by giving of their time, talents and resources. Julie Kay also gives to many school and charity auctions, teaches classes for special needs children pro bono and takes her kids to dance at senior homes. Just a side note, Revolution Dance Center is the largest children’s dance studio in the western U.S.! Go, RDC!

Our Volunteer of the Year Award goes to La Crescenta resident Steve Goldsworthy. Steve is the current president of the Crescenta Valley Fireworks Assn. that puts on the fireworks show every year in La Crescenta. He is also a volunteer with the CV Sheriffs station, and is a member of the Montrose Search & Rescue team. MSR is one of eight non-profit, volunteer rescues teams affiliated with the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Dept. The men and women of the team, dedicated volunteers from the local community, are trained and ready to respond to virtually any wilderness emergency 24 hours a day. Averaging between 65-100 calls per year, the Montrose team just had their busiest year in their 67-year history with over 120 calls for service.

Steve was a founding member and former president of the CV Sheriff’s Support Group, was a council member and vice president of the CV Town Council, and has volunteered for many other organizations including the Montrose Christmas Parade, Prom Plus, the Fire House, and he served on the board of the CV Alliance. Thanks, Steve!

Remember to shop local and shop Montrose.

Our office is closed through Friday, Jan. 2 and will reopen on Monday, Jan. 5.

Melinda Clarke

Executive Director

Montrose-Verdugo City Chamber of Commerce

3516 N Verdugo Road

Glendale, CA 91208

(818) 249-7171

www.montrosechamber.org

  melinda clarke