MSN120220-final-lowres

18 | December 2, 2020 | MALIBU SURFSIDE NEWS MALIBU
malibusurfsidenews.com
For charitable efforts in Malibu, the need is greater than ever
BARBARA BURKE
Staff Reporter
The generosity of Malibuites
is legion and, once
again, as the end of the year
approaches, area charities
are seeking donations.
Philanthropic organizations
emphasize that the
need is greater than ever
this year because COV-
ID-19 has greatly affected
the local economy.
Malibu Surfside News
explored a variety of giving
opportunities so readers
can support others in the
community.
The Shark Fund: Helping
students carry on
“Community support is
needed now more than ever
to continue the excellent
programs and services at
Malibu Middle School and
Malibu High School,” said
parent Teresa Earle, discussing
the Shark Fund’s
efforts to support programs
helping students to love
school and thrive, such as
the Parent Teacher Student
Association, Arts Angels
and the Athletic Booster
Club.
Recently, programs benefiting
from the Shark Fund
included MHS’ Model
UN and Mock Trial team
as well as the Masque Art
show.
“After the Woolsey Fire,
the pandemic, and the
new normal of distancelearning,
we need the community’s
support to continue
these fundamental
programs.” Principal Patrick
Miller said.
Students note how much
the Shark Fund has meant
to their school experience
during COVID-19.
“The Shark Fund and its
support of Arts Angels is,
to me, the best way to see
right here in our community
the power of a charitable
donation,” said Frankie
Cloete, a senior. “As choir
president this year, I know
how important funding is
so we can keep our choir
singing. Performing with
the MHS choir has truly
been fundamental to my
growth and confidence and
has kept me going through
some tough times here with
the fire and more.”
Anyone interested in
donating should go to
thesharkfund.org.
Animals in need of help
“Giving a voice to the
forgotten, rejected, and
neglected” is the mission
of Chiquita’s Friends, a
charity spearheaded by
Malibuite Geraldine Gilliland,
which rescues and
provides sanctuary and veterinarian
care to dogs and
adopts them out to suitable
homes. Chiquita’s Friends
often takes in senior, special
needs and neglected
canines and also supports
other like-minded charities.
To view all adoptable
dogs or donate, go to chiquitasfriends.org.
Ways to help Woolsey Fire
victims
Malibuite Jacqueline Peterson
is tirelessly raising
funds to support Seminole
residents who were deeply
affected by the Woolsey
Fire.
Peterson’s charity, Sharing
Opportunities Assisting
Recovery (SOAR), aims to
help support those residents
as they seek to rebuild their
lives and their community.
“When such a large disaster
strikes, it takes an
individual at least three
years to get back to normal,
if that word still exists
for them,” Peterson said.
“Now, with COVID, comes
Jeremy Hunter, an indigenous artist from Perth, Western
Australia, is creating a mural to be donated to Jacqueline
Peterson’s SOAR campaign to help Seminole residents
who were deeply affected by the Woolsey Fire. SUBMITTED
PHOTO/RENEE BARKER
an extra burden in addition
to what they were already
going through.”
To donate, email jacquelinep@share-recovery.org.
Veterans outreach
opportunities
The Malibu Chapter
of the Daughters of the
American Revolution is
once again adopting up
to 10 families of veterans
who are transitioning from
homelessness by providing
them with gift cards and
donated items.
“I was filled with elation
from making the veterans
feel good about themselves,”
said Jennifer Meltzer,
librarian for the Malibu
DAR chapter. “They are
so appreciative and all talk
about their military duty
and their lives. Some have
been hurt physically. They
are so friendly, and could
not be more helpful.”
Donations in the form of
checks may be sent to Patricia
O’Neill, Treasurer, 817
21st Street, Unit 3, Santa
Monica CA 90403-3025.
Tennis donations for
disadvantaged youth
Pepperdine University’s
Crest Associates is serving
others by donating tennis
equipment and supplies
through Jan. 1, 2021, to
support Pete Brown’s Tennis
Program in Los Angeles,
which benefits disadvantaged
youth to support
their tennis development
and assist them in their
leadership skills.
Here’s what’s needed:
New and older used rackets,
even if they need restringing
or grip replacements,
string packets and
reels, unused replacement
or over-grips, new tennis
equipment and closed or
used equipment in good
condition and new tennis
balls.
For more information,
email martinparkes@pepperdine.edu
or call 813-
618-0466.
Efforts to support the
homeless
Homelessness is increasing
and this holiday season,
Malibu’s Amr Naeem
is partnering with Eliza
and Eric Roberts to support
homeless individuals
through the AMR Foundation.
“We intend to use existing
infrastructures such
as hotels to help homeless
persons transition from the
street,” Naeem said. “Eliza
and I envision developing
transitional housing situations
beyond hotel rooms
in venues where clients are
given evaluations to understand
their needs, medical
care and other supportive
services to meet their
broader needs such as job
placement services.”
Naeem also noted that
throughout the pandemic,
the foundation has transported
seniors when needed
and delivered groceries to
those who were in quarantine.
The backers’ vision for
the AMR Foundation is
expansive and they seek
donations to support the effort.
“It’s completely unacceptable
for people in
America to be living on
the ground with no showers,”
Eliza said. “We have
to stop accepting the unacceptable.”
For more information,
email amrfoundation10@
gmail.com.
The arts as a catalyst for
giving
A Call2Peace Foundation
employs music, poetry,
dance and painting to raise
awareness and support local
charities.
“We provide a platform
built from the arts to
highlight and support area
charities,” said Eduardo
Del Signore, founder and
president. “Particular attention
is paid to music and
education, animal rights
and providing sustenance
and shelter for the food and
housing insecure.”
Del Signore noted that
the charity’s last performance
before COVID was
at the Westchester High
School Auditorium to benefit
Armory of Harmony,
a Malibu-based charity
founded by Richard Gibbs
that melts and smelts decommissioned
and repurchased
guns from police to
make musical instruments
to distribute to schools
across America.
ACall2Peace is also
working with Food Cycle
LA, Hope & Heart and the
East Los Angeles Women’s
Center.
“Today, Duke’s Restaurant
Malibu donated 85
pounds of cooked turkey
to be distributed to the
shelters.” Del Signore told
Malibu Surfside News on
November 28.
For more information,
email info@acall2peace.
org.
Make donations stretch
Two local charities are
Please see GIVING, 24