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Children’s Resource Network of the Central Coast reported that it received more than 670 Christmas gifts. “We were able to give to every single child brought to us in need of Christmas presents,” organizers reported in a media release. “A big hug and thank you to all of our sponsors and the community for your support,” officials said. “Thank you for making 2013 such a success and we look forward to celebrating 2014 with you as we continue to grow together as a team. Thus effectively helping as many children and youth as we can with love, compassion, dignity and with an abundance of great resources.” The organization held its first annual Christmas Toy Giveaway in Arroyo Grande at the new McDonald’s in partnership with the SLO County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, SLO County California Highway Patrol, McDonald’s, the Migrant Education Program, and the Five Cities Fire Authority Fire Chief, who was Santa Claus, officials reported. “We had a fantastic turn out with a line of families that wrapped around the block. Families came from as far as the Santa Maria Valley and the North Coast of San Luis Obispo. Both the Sheriff’s Deputies and Highway Patrolmen personally handed out toys to over 300 children,” officials reported.

The second annual Christmas Toy Giveaway in San Miguel was held in the heart of the poorest community in partnership with the SLO County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, SLO County Highway Patrol, the Foodbank, the Migrant Education Program and Assemblyman Katcho Achadjian, who was Santa Claus, officials reported. “The beauty of this event happened when we pulled up on the side of the dirt road, early to set up for the event, and the community came out to help us set up. It truly embodied the spirit of Christmas,” officials said. “Congresswoman Lois Capps came and joined us, which was a wonderful addition to the event. We had a fantastic turnout with a line just as long as our Arroyo Grande Christmas event. We provided Christmas gifts to 302 children.” Sixty eight special children and families received Christmas presents, officials said. They included two different sets of families whose children just lost their mother; a little girl with cancer whose mother is on an oxygen tank; children of a mother who has limited mobility due to being paralyzed; and an isolated single mom of two toddlers who is a farm worker. “Our team of guardian angels delivered the special care packages of gifts gently wrapped with love to all the special-needs families on our radar,” officials said. “Special thank you Sheila Stetson, Betty DeArman, Olivia Ray, Darren Smith, Sheriff Ian Parkinson, Trust Automation and New Thought Chiropractic.” Children’s Resource Network of the Central Coast provides disadvantaged children and at-risk youth in San Luis Obispo County and Santa Barbara County with free clothing, blankets, books, backpacks, school supplies, diapers, toiletries and other items to meet their educational and personal basic needs. Support and resource availability at the current phase of their life is critical for developing their self-confidence and self-esteem. It enables them to excel in school and achieve their educational goals to realize their full potential. A strong foundation ensures that as adults they will be caring, responsible and productive community members. Visit http://www.childrensresourcenetwork.org for more information.

The Stuart Foundation has approved a $100,000 grant to Ventura County Community College District to support the persistence and college completion of more than 700 foster youth enrolled at Moorpark College, Oxnard College, Ventura College, and California State University, Channel Islands, the Ventura County Community College District reported in a media release.  “This grant will have a significant, positive impact on our foster youth students by making it possible for this at-risk population to stay in college and succeed in higher education,” said Dr. Jamillah Moore, chancellor, Ventura County Community College District. “We are grateful to the Stuart Foundation for partnering with the District to invest in the future of foster youth in our community,” said Art Hernandez, board chair. The board looks forward to accepting the grant funds at its public meeting in January.”  The Stuart Foundation is dedicated to the protection, education and development of children and youth. The foundation works toward ensuring that all children grow up in caring families, learn in vibrant and effective schools, and have opportunities to become productive members of their communities.

 Trina Pena has joined the United Way of Ventura County’s staff as community impact associate, the organization reported in a media release. The organization also announced that Susan Walker has been promoted to vice president of investor relations and Eve Liebman has been promoted to senior director of community investment. Pena comes to the United Way after years of experience in the banking industry, as an assistant manager for a local restaurant, and as a paralegal. While Pena was attending school, she became a Loaned Executive with United Way. “Since the first moment I became a Loaned Executive, I knew that I wanted to be part of something so positive in our community,” Pena said. “I am proud to now be a full-time member of such an esteemed organization and look forward to this journey.” Pena’s responsibilities include keeping all workplace accounts current, preparing and implementing workforce campaigns, managing the donor acknowledgement process and assisting members of the Community Investment team. Walker joined United Way in 2007 as director of planned giving and investor relations. She has more than 15 years of nonprofit experience. In her new role, Walker will oversee all of United Way’s revenue-related activities for corporate, individual and endowment giving while developing new strategies to enhance United Way’s revenue streams outside the annual campaign and increase the visibility of the agency’s community work. “We face significant challenges as a community, yet I know from experience that Ventura County is a vital, caring and resourceful community capable of addressing complex issues,” Walker said. “United Way has a longstanding heritage and clearly identified goals and strategies to help shape the community’s response to these needs and make a lasting impact. It is with a great sense of privilege and excitement that I look forward to serving in this new role alongside a talented staff, a committed and illustrious board, and our many dedicated investors and volunteers.” Liebman’s new responsibilities are to provide leadership in broadening and deepening campaign relationships to raise financial resources in support of the United Way’s focus in the areas of Education, Income and Health. Liebman has worked at United Way since 2000 and will manage and implement all fundraising functions within assigned portfolios of workforce accounts in order to maximize potential results and reach desired goals. She will also communicate, interact with and support all departments within United Way in order to enhance fundraising and year-round engagement opportunities. “I am very pleased to be part of the United Way of Ventura County organization over the years and am delighted to continue growing the campaigns, working with the staff and developing new account relationships to benefit United Way,” Liebman said. “We couldn’t be more pleased with our selection of Susan, Eve and Trina. They each have the integrity, professionalism and heart to take United Way of Ventura County to the next level of excellence,” said David M. Smith, president and CEO.

Mohammed A. Hasan, a prominent community leader in Ventura County, has joined the board of Focus on The Masters (FOTM) as a director. He has served in many nonprofit organizations in the county for 40 years. He was the centennial president of the Ventura East Rotary, president of Ventura Trade Club, Consult-net and the Villa Seville HOA. Hasan served as a board member of Tri County Easter Seals, Ventura Youth Employment and Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and as a committee member of Ventura Boys & Girls Club, Waterproofing Kids and the Ventura Chamber of Commerce. He was a judge at the Ventura County Science Fair and California Migrant Education regional debate and speech tournament. Hasan is the founder and instructor for free Longevity classes held in Ventura. He is also a volunteer at Catholic Charities food distribution and the Ventura County Fair. All the local newspapers have published an article or two about his passion for service to the community. FOTM is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) art appreciation program that documents, preserves and presents the works and lives of accomplished contemporary artists. FOTM emphasizes the importance of the arts to a healthy society. The FOTM archive includes oral histories, videotaped interviews, photographic portraits and examples of each artist’s work. “We incorporate our research into community outreach projects including our Learning To See Youth Outreach cross-curricular in-school program and monthly Meet the Artists interviews.”  FOTM is the only biographical resource project of its kind in the country. FOTM was founded by the current executive director, Donna Granata. The organization’s office, archive and library are located at 505 Poli Street, Suite 405, Ventura, CA 93001.  According to Granata, “Hasan’s insight and experience will be an asset to us all.” Board President James Easton reiterated, “He will be a great addition.” More information about the organization is available at the website: http://www.focusonthemasters.com/ Hasan is the owner and principal engineer of the Ventura firm of Hasan Consultants, which provides services in civil and environmental engineering, traffic and transportation, and surveying. For the past 29 years, Hasan Consultants has served both private and public sectors in design, specifications, reports, expert witness, permitting, monitoring and client consultation for water, wastewater, drainage, roads, remediation and land development. More information about the firm is available at hasanconsultants.com. The company’s office is at 2436 E. Thompson Blvd., Ventura. Hasan has been a Ventura County resident since 1974, living in the city of Ventura with his wife, JoAnn. They have two daughters.

GOCARE Inc., a charity headquartered in Ventura that provides educational support to adults and children living in Nicaragua, has received a $6,000 donation from Dr. Robert and Wendy Pazen. “The holidays are a great time to help the future of our children toward a successful path,” Jan Lindsay, founder of GOCARE Inc. stated in a media release. “We want to help make these children’s dreams come true through our comprehensive educational programs.” Dr. Robert Pazen is an award-winning optometrist and member of the Medical Reserve Corp of Ventura County. He is also a member of the Ventura Chamber and many other organizations. This is the second year the Pazens have made a generous offer to GOCARE, officials reported. The monetary donations will help benefit the charity’s adult education courses in reading and math, as well as pre-school, day care, computer instruction, English instruction and vocational training. “We really appreciate what GOCARE is doing for the people of Nicaragua. They’re helping so many children and adults by providing them with the power of education,” Robert Pazen stated in the release. “We believe in the benefits of education and understand the impact it has on one’s life. We hope to see the continued growth, and we’re thrilled to support this wonderful organization.” GOCARE has agreed to name the community center library in Pantanal that carries mostly textbooks, computers for students and a place to do their homework after school, in the Pazens’ honor, calling it The Bob and Wendy Pazen Library. To learn more about the charity’s efforts and to make a difference, visit www.gocarekids.org.

For the sixth year, Vista Ford of Oxnard and Radio Lazer teamed up to host La Navidad de los Ninos (Christmas is for Kids) and distribute free toys to the children in their community, the businesses reported in a media release. More than 1,000 children and families visited the Centerpoint Mall on Dec. 4 and received the early holiday gift. “Vista Ford of Oxnard is proud to share the holiday spirit with the families and children in our community,” Ed Myers, Vista Ford general sales manager stated in the media release. “Our goal is to ensure that no child experiences Christmas without having a brand-new toy to play with.” More than 200 toys were also donated to the children at Casa Pacifica and VCMC Pediatric Oncology unit. Women’s Economic Ventures (WEV) is accepting applications for its next 14-week Self-Employment Training Course beginning in February. The course is offered twice a year, February and September, one night a week for three hours and two full Saturdays. Classes are taught in Santa Barbara, Camarillo and Ventura. In Santa Barbara County, free one-hour orientation workshops will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7 in Santa Barbara; from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 15 in Santa Barbara and from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 in Buellton. In Ventura County, the orientation workshops will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 8 in Ventura; from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9 in Oxnard; from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 14 in Oxnard and from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 16 in Camarillo. The 56-hour Self-Employment Training (SET) program is designed for women (all services are open to men) to provide guidance on how to start, operate and expand a business.  The program provides week-by-week training in the most important aspects of organizing, financing, marketing and managing a small business. Topics include personal leadership skills, personal finances, marketing and sales, public relations and advertising, legal and insurance issues, record keeping, cash flow projections and writing a business plan. Visit http://www.wevonline.org for more information.