Last week, VICA celebrated another successful year of service to the San Fernando Valley at our 72nd Annual Meeting! VICA culminates every successful year with this celebratory program for some of the Valley's finest volunteers, business leaders, scholars, and public officials. VICA honored a few of these outstanding individuals with awards for their service and commitment to the community. VICA also swore in our 2022 Board of Directors, Executive Committee, and our newest Chair, Victor Berrellez of US Bank, who will lead the most powerful business group in the region into our 73rd year.

Among the award recipients was VICA Board Member Pamela Marcello (Hollywood Burbank Airport), who was presented with the 16th Annual President's Award, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross. The President's Award is given to the VICA volunteer who goes above and beyond in service to VICA throughout the years.

The 29th Annual Harmon Ballin Community Service Award, sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal, was presented to Mark Davis (Sun Hill Properties/Hilton Universal City) for his outstanding contributions to the community through long-term service activities.

VICA also recognized three distinguished students who are not only scholars, but represent the ideals of entrepreneurship and scholarship. We are proud to have presented scholarships to the following students: Giovanni Divaia (Los Angeles Valley College), recipient of the 6th Annual Rickey M. Gelb Scholarship; Aroa Kim (Granada Hills Charter School), recipient of the 6th Annual Melvyn A. Kohn Memorial Scholarship; and Abigail Pangilinan (California Lutheran University), recipient of the 7th Annual Marvin R. Selter Memorial Scholarship.

VICA's 72nd Annual Meeting was presented by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal and the Southern California Gas Company, and was co-sponsored by Chevron Products Company, Los Angeles Daily News, The Garland, and Mission Community Hospital. A big thank you to all of our sponsors, elected officials, and members for making the 72nd Annual Meeting, and VICA's 72 years of service to the Valley, such a success!

The Los Angeles County Redistricting Commission officially moved forward with a map that upholds many of VICA's requests, including a supervisorial district that has a 72.6% majority of San Fernando Valley constituents. The maps were confirmed on Wednesday, December 15th. Though our goal was to have a Valley-only district, we are pleased with the map the Commission has approved. The Valley has not been receiving the attention we deserve as a region that 1 in 5 Los Angeles County residents call home, and we hope that these districts will require our representatives to direct more time, resources, and staffing toward our communities. We are proud of the effort VICA members have put in over the past several months, and the map selected is a testament to this work. The time and effort that our members spent calling in to ensure that the Commission respected the San Fernando Valley communities has paid off and will now allow for us to advocate and continually improve economic interest throughout the Valley.

Silver Member:

Sponsored by The Garland

VICA's regular advocacy trips to the state capitol are crucial to ensuring the voice of the business community is heard by legislators. These member-only trips allow direct advocacy with state officials.

IN PERSON: VICA Office

Thursday, January 20

All Day

Live Event

The White House has announced a diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, saying the U.S. will not send any government officials to the Chinese capital for the Winter Games.

With most of the state gripped by extreme dryness, some conditions are better, some worse, than the last record-breaking drought. Over-pumping of wells hasn’t stopped. But urban residents haven’t lapsed back into water-wasting lifestyles.

Democrats’ vast social and environment package was stuck in the Senate on Thursday as leaders’ hopes for an accord with holdout Sen. Joe Manchin and approval of their flagship domestic measure in the year’s waning days seemed all but dead.

Alberto Carvalho, the longtime superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, has been tapped to lead the Los Angeles Unified School District, following a months long search.

Hotel bookings in Los Angeles returned to 100% of their pre-pandemic levels in October and November 2019, considerably above the national average, as many innkeepers scrambled to keep up their standards amid staffing challenges.

Wading into an emotional debate about equity, climate change and grid reliability, California utility regulators Monday proposed slashing the credit given to hundreds of thousands of homeowners for the excess power they generate from their rooftop solar panels.

David Prentice started his Journey in Human Services with The Midnight Mission on Skid Row in 2012. Beginning as a Counselor for drug and alcohol addiction, through the years he has grown and served in various leadership roles, most recently as Director of Philanthropy. David has been instrumental in introducing addiction recovery programming, improved case management, and organization to The Midnight Mission. David also serves as the campus pastor at Midnight Mission on Sundays. David’s background includes 10 years in the Army (Armor) and being a top salesman in the yachting industry. David was raised between Dallas TX and Boston MA and has a deep love of good food. He has a degree in Biblical Studies and has received numerous service awards and recognitions for his work with the those suffering from addictions, mental health issues and persons experiencing homelessness.

The San Fernando Valley Rescue Mission is comprised of three separate programs. At our Home Again Family Success Center in Northridge. Our family shelter offers families the opportunity to recover from the devastating effects of homelessness by meeting the basic needs of food, clothing, and shelter while identifying the underlying reasons for becoming homeless and establishing a plan of restoration. Our Renewed Hope Recovery Program serves homeless men living with issues of substance abuse and other self-destructive behaviors. In addition to shelter, food, clothing, and case management services, participants receive classroom instruction and individual and group therapy sessions. Residents also receive vocational training that provides valuable work experience that often leads to full-time employment upon graduation from the program. We engage the unsheltered homeless on the streets through our Survival Outreach Services program, providing hot showers, clothing, hygiene products, haircuts, and meals. The mission’s mobile shower unit travels to churches strategically located throughout the San Fernando Valley to meet the needs of those living on the streets. Delivering showers and meals to our homeless members of the community helps build relationships that lead to positive steps toward addressing the root causes of their homelessness and setting them on the path to recovery.

The acquisition of a new facility in Northridge which will allow us to more than double our capacity of persons seeking help with life issues including but not limited to Alcohol and drug abuse, all services will be provided for free. The new site will be opening in the first quarter of 2022 and is located just minutes from our family program.

As a new Director in the San Fernando Valley the relationships obtained by attending VICA events have been invaluable both as a conduit for volunteers and financial donations but also getting our name out in the valley. Not to mention some great friendships.

VICA has been a connection of support during COVID, It has allowed us to communicate with our community both for help and to be able to help others. During COVID we were able to help several families that were referred to us from VICA members and we are grateful to be part of this wonderful organization.

VICA members can promote their business, events and news in VICA Weekly. Member messages are available for $50 per week or $175 for four weeks. Messages are text-based and may not contain more than 70 words. A logo may be added for an additional $5 per week. For more information or to schedule your member message, contact cathy@vica.com or call (818) 817-0545.