The 31st anniversary of Smart-A-Thon, with 32 teams representing local organizations and businesses, will be held on Wednesday, March 27, at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital at 11:30 a.m.
The event will include audience interactions, special presentations, musical entertainment and the popular trivia contest.
There will also be a tribute to leaders who helped establish the Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund, which began with $1,200 and now has $550,000. Since its formation, the fund has given out $400,000 in grants to education programs in the Crescenta-Cañada Valley. The fund is administered by the Community Foundation of the Verdugos, where Edna Karinski serves as CEO.
Members of the Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund Board of Advisors include Rick Dinger, Robin Goldsworthy, Jo Loomis, Bobbi Parker, Mary Pinola, Julia Rabago, Teri Rice, Patty Steur, Eleanor Wacker and Chris Waldheim.
Among the 130 “good sports” representing the community are teams from Glendale Unified School District, Crescenta Cañada YMCA, Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station, the office of state Sen. Anthony Portantino, USC Verdugo Hills Hospital, Crescenta Valley Insurance and J’s Maintenance.
There will be a $500 drawing, and two nonprofit organizations will each win in the drawing.
The emcees will be Lt. Ryan Vienna of the Crescenta Valley Sheriff’s Station and Michael Smith. Entertainment will be provided by former CV Sheriff Capt. Dave Silversparre.
For more information, call Mary Pinola at (818) 292-7912.
First published in the March 23 print issue of the Glendale News-Press.
