Continuing its annual tradition of bequeathing money to support local causes, the Pacific Palisades Junior Women’s Club (PPJWC) awarded $74,350 to 38 local schools and organizations at the Woman’s Club on Tuesday night. ‘We wouldn’t have this money if we didn’t have the support of the community coming to our main fundraiser,’ said PPJWC President Alyssa MacMiller, referring to the November Home Tour and Boutique. ‘We faced economic challenges, as so many people have, but it was a successful home tour, and we want to thank our sponsors: Michael Edlen, Designer Rug Resource, W.I. Simonson and Structure Homes.’ On Monday, MacMiller learned that Edlen had donated an additional $4,098 for the club to give away. The local Coldwell Banker realtor is now donating a portion of his home sales or purchase commissions involving Junior Women’s Club members, their family and friends. MacMiller called Tuesday’s gathering her favorite meeting of the year because after all the hard work is done to raise money, ‘we see how excited and grateful the recipients are, and it reminds us that this is why we do everything we do.’ More than 60 organizations applied for grants, but according to a Junior Women tradition, only those based in or serving the Palisades were awarded money. In deciding whom to fund, each member votes on whether to give money to the applicant, and then what percentage to award. Some of this year’s recipients, like Movies in the Park, have been supported by PPJWC grants for the past six years. ‘The Junior Women’s Club was an early supporter. They shared our vision,’ said co-founder Brad Lusk. ‘Their ongoing support in these challenging economic times is all the more impressive. David [Williams], John [Wirth], Andy [Frew] and I are so appreciative of their generosity.’ Nine groups were first-time recipients, including Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera, Will Rogers Ranch Foundation, Palisades Village Book Friends, Pali Blues Soccer Club, AARP, Safe Westside, La Senora Research Institute de Rancho Boca de Santa Monica, Young Angels of America and Every 15 Minutes Program. The latter program is a two-day driving education safety program, which will be held for the first time at Palisades High this spring. ‘We’re so grateful to the Junior Women for supporting teen driving safety in our community,’ said spokesperson Cindy Freedland. ‘With the LA Sol [professional women’s soccer] folding, all grants and donations are important in keeping the Pali Blues in existence,’ Blues General Manager Jason Lemire said. His players plan to visit local schools and make presentations on the value of hard work and teamwork, on and off the field. The 38 recipients were divided into four categories: beautification; education; arts and recreation; and community and charitable groups. PPJWC distributed $7,000 for beautification to Palisades Beautiful to purchase parkway trees, Palisades Garden Club to work on a project at Fire Station 23, the Village Green Committee to renovate the lawn and repair the sprinkler system, Sunset Beach Association for the triangle at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and PCH, and the Santa Monica Canyon Civic Association to preserve and improve the historic eucalyptus grove. For education, $18,000 was given to five schools. Palisades Charter High received money to help fund a SAT prep course and senior awards night, Paul Revere Middle School to finish the outdoor learning center, Palisades Elementary for a kindergarten handball court, Marquez for specialists (librarian and art teacher) and Canyon Booster Club for a new part-time office position. Eleven groups received a total of $24,260 for various arts and recreation purposes. They include Palisades-Malibu YMCA to help replace items stolen from a storage shed on its property in December, Movies in the Park for a new projector, Chamber Music Palisades to sponsor its fall concert, Palisades Symphony Orchestra for stipends for the conductors and soloists, Calvary School for a field scoreboard screen, Palisades OomPaPa Band for maintenance and repair of instruments, Camp Josepho for two fire-fighting stations, ‘Field of Dreams’ to install shades over the bleachers at the Recreation Center, Pacific Palisades Art Association for various shows as well as supporting a venue in a vacant store for art to be hung, Maggie Gilbert Aquatic Center to help finish the pool, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Opera in order to subsidize local performances and keep them affordable, Will Rogers Ranch Foundation to improve the visitor center and Palisades Village Book Friends to help fund author evenings. Community and charitable groups received $25,090 and include the Palisades Woman’s Club for building maintenance, Palisades Americanism Parade Association for costs involving bands and equestrian teams, Chamber of Commerce for its Chrysalis street cleanup, Disaster Preparedness to update the town’s survival guide, Fire Station 23 for beautifying the station area, Meals on Wheels West to sponsor meals for one senior for a year and Palisades Cares to provide bike racks (which will allow them to sponsor a car-free day in the Palisades). Aldersgate Retreat Center received money to improve its entryway, the Palisades AARP Chapter to fund publishing its monthly newsletter, SafeWestside to pay for private training of security officers who are handling radar surveillance on Palisades Drive, local Girls Scouts for a STEM program (which focuses on piquing girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math), La Senora Research Institute to improve the historic grave site and Young Angels of America to support dances for teens in underprivileged areas. Other activities undertaken by Junior Women members include the Love Walk, delivering Meals on Wheels to Palisades residents, sponsoring the Halloween window-painting contest and hosting an annual birthday luncheon for residents who are 90 years and older. The club is currently looking for new members, and there is no age requirement. Applicants must live in the Palisades or the vicinity. ‘We welcome every woman in the community who’s interested,’ MacMiller said. Visit: www.PPJWC.com
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