Around Pleasanton: Fundraisers show area's giving spirit

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Nov 6, 2009 | by Susan Hayes

THIS YEAR'S SEASON of giving may prove to be one of the area's most successful yet -- if separate efforts by a Foothill High School student, a Foothill High booster club and Olde Towne Antiques Mall are any indication.

Making birdies count

Foothill High sophomore Travis Rowney, spent his summer on the American Junior Golf Association tournament tour making sure his birdies counted toward more than his score.

Travis participated in the "Birdies for Charity" fundraising program, part of the AJGA's "Playing it Forward" initiative.

He accepted flat fee and per-birdie donations throughout the summer. With 54 birdies and one eagle to his credit, he raised $725. In accordance with the program, he donated half the money raised to the AJGA Foundation and the other half to a nonprofit recipient of his choice.

On Oct. 8, Travis donated his funds to the First Tee of the Tri- Valley, a group that strives to make golf accessible to all interested youths.

"Being able to raise money doing something I enjoy was a lot of fun," he said. "I loved making birdies and realizing it was benefiting others."

For information on these organizations, log onto www.thefirstteetrivalley.org or www.ajga.org. [

Fashion, poetry fest

Though the budget crisis is affecting teachers and students in classrooms at every grade level, it has also inspired some creative fundraising efforts.

Foothill High School's Academics and Activities Booster Club will host the first "True Blue Fashion and Poetry Festival" from 2 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday in the school's multipurpose room. Proceeds will benefit Foothill's students and teachers.

More than 45 Foothill students will attend the event, which will feature original student poetry and a fashion show with clothing provided by Plato's Closet.

Food will be provided by Faz restaurant. Tickets are $20. For more information, contact Terri Maxoutopoulis at 925-366-7956 or at tmaxout4@yahoo.com.

Food drive

Olde Towne Antiques Mall will host a "Thanks4giving Food Drive" to benefit the Alameda County Community Food Bank from Saturday through Nov. 15.

Checks made out to ACCFB and canned and nonperishable foods can be dropped off at 3440 Stanley Blvd., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the drive. Donors will receive a 15 percent discount on any regularly priced item during the drive. And there will be discounts during a food drive open house Nov. 13 to 15. For details, call 925- 484-2446.

Holiday skating

Construction will begin Monday on "Sharks Winter Ice at Pleasanton" in the parking lot next to City Hall and the library, 400 Old Bernal Ave.

Portions of the lot will be closed during construction, but extra parking for library and ice rink patrons is planned on-site and nearby. Parents who use the library as a pickup location for their children may need alternate plans.

Join San Jose Sharks announcer Randy Hahn and team mascot S.J. Sharkie for opening ceremonies at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19 and enjoy a skating exhibition, welcoming remarks and ribbon cutting. The rink will open for public skating at 7:30 p.m. and operate daily through Jan. 10.

Skate lesson sign-ups are taken online at www.sharkswinterrinkatpleasanton.com., where you'll also find skate rental prices, hours, and other information.

Reach Susan Hayes at aroundpleas@aol.com.