Westlake Village Women's Club gives funds locally

The Westlake Women's Club began its annual distribution of funds to local charities at its meeting Tuesday at the Westlake Village Inn. The club is a federated, all-volunteer organization that raises money for charity through its many community fundraisers.

The groups that received allocations at the meeting included Hospice of the Conejo, the Wellness Community, Conejo Valley Adult Literacy Education, and Conejo Valley Senior Concerns.

"The Westlake Women's Club's fundraising philosophy has always been that what is raised local stays local," said Cate Brown, club president. "We also donate regionally and nationally, but the bulk of what our group works to bring in benefits our neighbors right here at home."

Other nonprofits given funds from the club this year include the Thousand Oaks Volunteers in Policing, the Stagecoach Inn Museum, the Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village libraries, the Pacific Festival Ballet Company,

Westlake Village Meals on Wheels, Support for the Kids, CASA, Ventura County Search and Rescue, National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, New West Symphony and Wish Works.

In addition to supporting nonprofit organizations, the club awards more than $10,000 annually to graduating high school students of merit.

The Westlake Women's Club has slated two fundraisers for the 2006-07 club year: the 25th annual Holiday Fantasy at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village on Thurs., Nov. 30 and Fashions on Parade on Fri., April 27, 2007 at the Hyatt Westlake Plaza in partnership with The Oaks mall.

Club meetings are open to the public and held at the Westlake Village Inn on the second Tuesday of every month at 10 a.m., September through June. New members are welcomed.

For more information, call Shirley Cobb, club media information chairman, at (805) 484-5901.