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Celebrated Volunteer Harnesses Experience For Festival Of Trees

khts_inthecommunity2Philanthropy is addicting.  

When Anna Ott first moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in the 1980s, she became involved with the Boys and Girls Club, volunteering at its large Annual Benefit Auction.  

That was Ott’s first experience giving her time to the SCV, and although she took a leave of absence to raise a family and maintain her job outside the valley, Ott would consistently return to help the Boys and Girls Club.  


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About 10 years ago, Ott took her good will to the next level, starting the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley Foundation, where the sole mission is to raise funds for the organization’s three local clubhouses in Newhall, Canyon Country and Val Verde.  

The foundation has since grown to 60 members, consisting of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.  

Last year, Ott was appointed to her first term as the Foundation’s president, making her the first woman to ever hold the position.  

Although her term will end this year, Ott plans on staying with the Foundation. As Foundation President as well being the owner of Bellasports, a women’s sports apparel retailer, Ott said she’s needed cut down on the number of foundations she’s volunteered with.  

Ott, who previously served on the Michael Hoefflin Foundation, has also been a member of the Child and Family Center for more than a decade.  

She also has a large part in the organization of the Dancing with Our Stars event, which brings together numerous nonprofits from the community for a night of dancing and fundraising.  

“I’ve kind of scaled back because trying to run the (Boys and Girls Club) Foundation took a lot of my time,” she said. “I wanted to give it my best.  

“The Boys and Girls Club is very near and dear to my heart. I’ve been involved with them for years and I always will be,” she said.  

Ott cites the Festival of Trees as one of her proudest experiences during her work with the Boys and Girls Club.  

Now in its eighth year, the event features more than 50 elaborately decorated Christmas trees, which are available for purchase. Taking place November 18-21, attendees will be treated to live music, a holiday boutique, an arts and crafts table and photos with Santa.  

“There was a small group of us that had to roll up our sleeves and get out there and work on it,” she said. “It’s been a big hit ever since.”  

Ott said she’s very excited to see children partake in the event as children embody the Christmas spirit.  

Seeing them at the Festival of Trees reminds her of the feeling she gets working with children at the Boys and Girls clubhouses, she said.  

“My reward is watching these kids, helping these kids and trying to build a future for them, because they are our future,” she said. “You watch them grow up, leave and come back as great citizens. It’s just unbelievable – such a great feeling.”

 

 

Celebrated Volunteer Harnesses Experience For Festival Of Trees

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