Support these local nonprofits dedicated to the betterment of people, pets and the community. Whether you volunteer your time, make a donation or attend a fundraising event, your efforts make a lasting impact and have a ripple effect on the community for years to come.
100 Women Who Care Conejo Valley
Members of 100 Women Who Care Conejo Valley meet for an hour each quarter to learn about local nonprofits. At the meeting, three different organizations are presented for consideration. After the presentations, the membership votes on which one will be the recipient of their quarterly donation. Each member of the group commits to donating $100 per quarter. The organization with the most votes is the winner and all donations for that quarter go directly to them. The group supports four organizations each year.
Currently, it’s Harbor House and its effort to support those who struggle in the Conejo Valley. Harbor House aims to help all people in the community find hope, gainful employment, affordable housing and a sense of personal well-being.
Past recipients include James Storehouse, Bumblebee Foundation, Fit 4 the Cause, Safe Passage, Art Trek, Assistance League of the Conejo Valley, Conejo Schools Foundation-Hero-Up, Big Brother's Big Sisters and so many more! Since their inception in 2016, they have supported the Conejo Valley with over $172,000 in donations.
Membership is open to any women who are interested in committing to supporting local charities in the Conejo Valley for a period of at least one year with a quarterly donation of $100.
To get involved, visit 100WomenWhoCareConejo.com and fill out a simple online application. They will then be added to our outreach and notified of upcoming meetings, currently being generously hosted at Holdren's Steak & Seafood in Newbury Park at the end of the month in January, April, July, and October each year.
“The goal,” says Kara Nelson, who cofounded the Conejo Valley Chapter with Kara Knell, “is 100 Women X $100 = $10,000 for a local charity!! #ThePowerOf100!! Prior to Covid, we hit $10,000 two times! Currently, we have about 62 contributing members... I hope to hit 100 or MORE, soon!” 100WomenWhoCareConejo.com
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County supports local youth by providing mentors to help shape a young person’s future for the better by empowering them to achieve their individual goals. “Bigs” and “littles” spend time having fun together, sharing activities and exploring new opportunities together. Community members can also help by donating funds to support the careful one-to-one matching and ongoing professional mentoring unique to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Attending an event is another great way to support this organization’s mission. This month, save the date for Bags, Bling & Bubbly, taking place Thursday, November 9 at the Four Seasons Westlake.
BBSVC’s most sparkling event features a champagne luncheon with black-tie ushers, live and silent auctions, designer bags, jewelry, spa packages, vacation experiences and more! All are welcome to enjoy an afternoon of impeccable style and taste. Special guests share how their mentors inspired them to achieve success, with a spotlight on the Big & Little of the Year. BBSVC.org
Boys and Girls Club Greater Conejo Valley
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley are thankful for their generous volunteers, donors and staff. The Clubs provide safe and fun environments for kids in kindergarten all the way to the 8th grade with before, after and during school programs. Summer programs expand to include children as young as 3 and as grown up as 17! These amazing programs depend on the support of the community. There are many ways to get involved with the Clubs, from volunteering to donating and fundraising.
Incredible volunteers serve in both ongoing mentorship roles and short-term event volunteering. Work a club program, tutor a student, plan an event or offer support to the staff while taking in an incredible experience! Generous donations from the community and funding partners include monetary contributions, in-kind donations, sponsorship and so much more.
Invest in the future of the community by donating to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley. Every contribution helps provide a safe and nurturing environment for young people to learn, grow and thrive. Fundraising events not only provide an opportunity for the community to gather in the spirit of giving, but also to have a great time supporting amazing causes while creating lifelong memories. The recent Stand Up for Kids annual gala raised $670,057 for the youth and families in our community! BGCConejo.org
Bumble Bee Foundation
The BumbleBee Foundation was established in memory of Jarren Donatini, who at the age of 4 passed away from a very rare form of liver cancer (Hepatoblastoma). During his 18-month battle with cancer, Jarren’s family was directly impacted with the overwhelming costs and emotional stress associated with caring for a pediatric cancer patient.
Jarren touched the lives of many, but the families that rallied around him and his family, providing love, faith and hope during a time of great need, left such a profound impact that his parents immediately knew they were called to start an organization that would offer this same attitude of love and support for all families suffering from pediatric cancer.
With a mission to inspire hope and faith by providing support to the overall well-being of pediatric cancer families, the Bumblebee Foundation aims to empower volunteers, fundraise and assist pediatric cancer families through the many challenges of cancer.
A $25 donation allows the foundation to include a gift card in a cancer kiddo's handwritten birthday (BEEday) card; $50 helps cover transportation costs for many families who must travel in excess of 60 miles one way for treatment for their child; and $250 helps pay a utility bill for a pediatric cancer family so they can focus on the health of their child. BumbleBeeFoundation.org
Cancer Support Community Valley/Ventura/Santa Barbara
An independently governed and funded nonprofit and an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community, CSCVVSB serves an average of 2,000 adults and children impacted by cancer each year with programs throughout Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, and West San Fernando Valley. Programs are provided at no cost to participants.
The organization’s recent Celebration of Hope Garden Party & Awards Dinner was a heartfelt success for supportive cancer care in Ventura County. Presented by AMGEN and supported in part by the Bill & Joanne Miller Charitable Trust, UCLA Health, Cassar Family Foundation and Seagen, the event was attended by more than 250 friends, colleagues, physicians, loved ones and supportive community members who gathered to connect, share stories and to honor the 2023 Oncology Heroes: Meghan Cleary, RN of Los Robles Regional Medical Center; Heather Kellis-Young, RN of Dignity Health Infusion Centers; Shauna A. Lotz, RN of Radiation Oncology Centers of Ventura County; and Kayo Matsumoto MS, LMFT of Cancer Support Community VVSB. CancerSupportVVSB.org
Community Conscience
With the mission to provide a single location where human services programs are available and accessible at no cost to recipients and to maximize coordination among agencies, Community Conscience provides space for 13 social service agencies to operate rent free in their 22,000-square-foot building. The approximately $300,000 in savings on rent each year can be used to deliver services to those in need.
Tenants include Conejo Free Clinic, Hospice of the Conejo Valley, Senior Concerns and Youth Employment Services. One government social service agency—County of Ventura Human Services Agency, is also a tenant.
Generous community support allows Community Conscience to continue its service. Nominations are currently open for the 2024 Mardi Gras King and Queen, nominated for their volunteer service in the community and recognized at the annual Mardi Gras Ball. Attend next year’s ball on February 10, 2024, and make a tax-deductible donation to support the cause. CommunityConscience.org
Food Share
Since 1978, Food Share has been feeding the hungry in Ventura County. It all began when eight friends banded together to provide food to those in need under a bridge in Ventura. The early philanthropic movement started in a family garage, quickly outgrew a donated fire station in Saticoy and now operates in Oxnard, with three warehouses with a combined 46,000 square feet.
Today, staff and volunteers distribute nearly 19 million pounds of food, providing 16 million meals annually to people in Ventura County through its hunger programs and 190 pantry and program partners. As Ventura County’s regional food bank, Food Share provides food for 250,000+ hungry friends and neighbors annually. Food Share is a member of Feeding America, the nation’s largest hunger-relief network of food banks, as well as the California Association of Food Banks.
Food Share is dedicated to leading the fight against hunger in Ventura County, where 1 in 4 people experience food insecurity. Food Share relies on donations of funds, food and time in order to feed the hungry of Ventura County. For every $1 donated, Food Share is able to turn it into three meals.
Food Share distributes millions of pounds of healthy food every year both through our own programs such as the drive-thru food box distributions, Senior Kits (CSFP) and Kids’ Farmers’ Market, as well as through distribution via our partner agencies. FoodShare.com
Housing Trust Fund
The Housing Trust Fund is the local trusted leader in helping to increase affordable housing options throughout Ventura County by leveraging public-private partnerships to provide low-cost, flexible loans early in the housing development cycle.
Over $28 million in funded or committed loans since 2013, ensuring 1,177 affordable apartments and homes are available to individuals and families throughout Ventura County. The Housing Trust Fund Ventura County provides below-market interest rate loans to developers who create new affordable housing within Ventura County. Priority is given to projects that serve veterans, transitional age foster youth, homeless individuals and families, farmworkers and low to extremely low-income individuals and families.
Since 2013, the organization has provided over $26 million in committed or funded loans and 1,120 affordable apartments and homes for individuals and families throughout Ventura County. HousingTrustFundVC.org
Kids Stream
Since starting as an idea shared with a few close friends around a kitchen table, Kids Stream has grown from a vision to an emerging children's museum, which will be located on the site of the former Camarillo Public Library, at 3100 E. Ponderosa Drive. With the mission to provide an engaging environment where kids explore, play and discover, Kids Stream’s vision is to inspire and empower kids to become critical thinkers, innovators and life-long learners.
Currently working with local design teams and contractors to convert a 2,500-square-foot footprint into over 30,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibit space and focused hands-on STREAM learning, kidSTREAM has already reached over 55,000 children and families around Ventura County since becoming a nonprofit organization. Donate today to help fund the vision. KidStream.org
Operation Blankets of Love (OBOL)
A leading animal welfare and emergency relief nonprofit organization since 2008, OBOL's mission is to support shelters and rescues by providing much needed food, aid and comfort supplies. With this support, OBOL contributes to the health of homeless and distressed animals along their journey to find a forever home.
In 2022, the organization provided life-saving items to 14,400 dogs, cats, rescue groups, farm and wildlife animals, donating $2.5M of pet supplies, food, comfort and care items to 2,000 homeless, veterans and struggling families.
To help OBOL, donate new and gently used blankets, pet beds, toys, collars, leashes, stainless food and water bowels, wheelchairs and pet strollers for disabled dogs, towels, crates and carriers, medical and grooming items, cat litter and more. OBOL.info
Shelter Hope Pet Shop
Shelter Hope Pet Shop, Thousand Oaks (SHPS TO) is a not-for-profit, charitable, volunteer-based organization devoted to aiding in and facilitating shelter and rescue pet adoptions; promoting education and awareness within the communities it serves; and making a positive impact in the lives of shelter and rescue animals and their adopters, as well as local shelters.
Created to aid shelter pet adoptions, Shelter Hope Pet Shop is the first and only volunteer humane pet shop partnering with companies such as NewMark Merrill, which donate storefront space in busy shopping locations in order to assist with community outreach and shelter pet adoptions. The unique, large scale business model aims to eliminate puppy mill pet shops in malls across the nation.
Shelter Hope Pet Shop provides a fun, friendly place where visitors and volunteers can meet and interact with animals needing adoption. Shelter Hope Pet Shop also sells pet merchandise and profits go directly back to help save the lives of homeless pets.
Volunteer, visit, donate or adopt a pet today! ShelterHopePetShop.org
