Biz Buzz
Below is a selection from the December 5 issue of Biz Buzz. Read the full story on the VC Reporter website.
Wildfires
Amgen Tour of California in partnership with the LA Kings and AEG Sports donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross in honor of the first responders and those impacted by wildfires in the state. Red Cross volunteers are supporting evacuation centers to provide safe refuge for those who have been impacted by the fires, and they are also providing meals, health services, spiritual care comfort and other support. … The Arterie Art Studio will host Make for Malibu, an ornament-making workshop to support the Malibu Wildfire Educator Fund, developed to support the teachers of Malibu who lost their homes in the Woolsey Fire. The event will take place at Vintage Grocers at 140 Promenade Way in Westlake Village (The Promenade) on Dec. 16 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Participants choose an hour time slot to enjoy four ornament-making stations and all materials to create a variety of ornaments to keep or gift. For more information, visit www.thearterie.org/calendar. … Wells Fargo & Company donated $1.5 million to several organizations throughout California to support in the ongoing recovery and relief efforts resulting from the wildfires. The recipients (including $100,000 to Ventura County Community Development Corp. and $25,000 to the Ventura County Community Foundation) are able to help with housing and disaster recovery, mental health assistance, firefighter and first responder support, small business recovery and community relief. Wells Fargo customers in California can make donations to the American Red Cross through Wells Fargo ATMs; to date, almost $81,000 has been collected. Go Far Rewards customers have donated more than $8,000 through its rewards accounts. … The Ventura County Coastal Association of Realtors (VCCAR), Santa Barbara Association of Realtors and the Ojai Valley Board of Realtors donated over $650,000 to residents affected by the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslides. The Realtor associations launched a fundraising program on May 25 through Sept. 14 and recently distributed the funds, with 278 families receiving grants of up to $3,000 to cover a month’s rent or mortgage payment. 226 Ventura County families received a total of $526,990 and 52 Santa Barbara County families received a total of $126,844.