Alliance for the Arts names recipients of awards

The Alliance for the Arts, the official nonprofit fundraising arm of the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, will present the sixth annual AFTA Awards at a formal black tie dinner gala on Nov. 17 at the Janet and Ray Scherr Forum. The public is invited.

The event will include a concert in the Fred Kavili Theatre featuring "legends of rock 'n' roll" Frankie Avalon, Bobby Rydell and the Shangri-Las.

Andy Granatelli will be honored as Celebrity Philanthropist of the Arts. Granatelli is successful in the racing world as the entrepreneur of STP oil treatment products.

The city of Thousand Oaks will be recognized for Excellence in Private/Public Partnership for the Arts. . "It is only through this kind of exemplary community leadership and support from individuals and organizations such as our 2007 recipients that the Alliance for the Arts can fulfill its mission of sustaining and enhancing the visual and performing arts, as a very important benefit for the entire community" said Ron Plotkin, chair of the awards dinner.

Tickets for the event are $275 per person.

All proceeds from the gala will benefit the alliance and its programs including the Kids and the Arts school outreach program and grants for local performing arts groups who appear at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

For tickets, call (805) 4492590. For sponsorship opportunities, call Ed Lewis, vice president of development, Alliance for the Arts, at (805) 449-2582.