Our Story

At right: In 2023, the Education Fund and the YMCA of the Foothills celebrated the dedication of a state-of-the-art playground at the Verdugo Hills YMCA Learning Tree Preschool. The Education Fund provided $35,000 to support the project. Photograph provided by CV Weekly.

Photo of the dedication ceremony for a new playground at the Verdugo Hills YMCA

The Fund's Founders gathered for this portrait in 2013.

Back Row:

Julia Rabago, Warren Boehm, Patty Steur

Middle Row:

Eleanor Wacker, Jo Loomis, Mary Pinola, Bobbi Parker

Front Row:

Gene “Chip” Stone,

Jean Maluccio, Teri Rice,

Chris Waldheim

It all started in 1990...

A group of community volunteers who had been successful in raising funds for some pressing needs in educational programs came together to discuss how we could continue this work to benefit Crescenta-Canada Valley. We wanted to raise funds to support a wide-range of educational programs and innovations for all ages and all abilities. We envisioned supporting educational excellence wherever it may be manifested: libraries, hospitals, colleges, scouts, performing arts programs, robotics, bands, the Y, community clean-up campaigns, senior center, early childhood education and parent education, traditional and non-traditional projects.

Now, almost 34 years later, our group of leaders has remained dedicated to this cause. We have organized over 31 Smart-A-Thons held in the Council Room of USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, solicited sponsors for walking the LA Marathon, sought annual end-of-the-year donations from our families and friends, held silent auctions and sold homemade chocolate chip cookies and hand-knitted scarves. It has been a labor of extraordinary commitment to our community and our community has rallied behind us every step of the way.

In 1991, Tom Miller who was the Executive Director of what was then the Glendale Community Foundation assisted us in setting up a Donor Advised Fund. In sum, a donor provides funds which the Community Foundation manages. The Donors determine the non-profit organizations they wish to support with the benefits of their investment. We were proud to partner with Chip Stone and Jeff Peters of the Stone-Beck Group at Morgan Stanley. The room was filled with applause as Jean Maluccio, Mary Pinola, Chip, Jeff and Tom signed the agreement that made our cause official!

In 2008, we welcomed Edna Karinski as President and Executive Director of what is now known as the Community Foundation of the Verdugos. She has worked side-by-side with us to continue building the Fund so that as of 2024, we have been able to award almost $400,000 to our community while building our Fund to over $500,000. The Fund is now positioned to serve future generations with continued support!