Taking part in Sowing Seeds for Life project were University of La Verne students, from left, Matt Sustayta, Armando Capia, Lane Jackson, Albert “Pablo” Acosta, Jayden Earlywine, Ted Brestow, Cassandra Egan and Adriana Navarro. Far right is academic advisor Michelle Kechichian. Credit Marilee Goodwin

By Larry Stewart

Volunteerism was alive and well in Glendora on Martin Luther King Day. Probably the best example of that took place at the Glendora Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 770 N. Glendora Ave.

Eight students from the University of La Verne spent most of the day planting 20 orange trees on the church property and five more in a nearby backyard at the home of longtime Glendora resident Marian Reich.

The project was arranged through Sowing Seeds for Life, an East San Gabriel charity founded and headed by Glendora resident Vicki Brown, who is also CEO and president of DPI Labs, an aerospace company in La Verne.

Sowing Seeds for Life, or SSFL, provides food directly to some 6,000 needy people per month and a variety of other services. Planting trees is just one facet of the multi-faceted charity, which also operates a community farm at Falcon Ranch, a 45-acre spread owned by John Defalco in the foothills of the San Dimas Canyon.

 Brown said not only will the orange trees provide fruit for her charity but the trees also improve the environment. “Trees produce oxygen and just two trees provide all you need to breathe,” Brown said.

The trees planted by the La Verne students were donated through the courtesy of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Brown said the Fruit Tree Foundation, another non-profit charity, contacted the food bank’s Andrea Ramirez, who in turn contacted her.

 In November, the L.A. food bank named Brown the 2011 winner of the Tony Collier Award because of her dedication to the fight against hunger. The Fruit Tree Foundation connected Brown with the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, which donated the trees.

Greg DeSmet, Paul Bown and Jorge Montero of DPI Labs transported the trees to DPI Labs at 1350 Arrow Highway, where the University of La Verne students gathered Monday morning.

 The La Verne group included six members of the La Verne track team plus graduate assistant coach Jose Linker, two female students from Phi Sigma Sigma sorority, academic advisor Michelle Kechichian and school chaplain Zandra Wagoner.

The members of the track team, all distance runners, were junior Matt Sustayta, sophomore Albert “Pablo” Acosta, freshmen Lane Jackson, Ted Brestow, Armando Capia, and Jayden Earlywine.

 The two sorority sisters were senior Adriana Navarro and sophomore Cassandra Egan. Linker said Pat Widolff, La Verne’s head track coach, encouraged members of the team to participate.

 It was strictly on a volunteer basis – there was no school credit involved. Mike Downard, the owner of Rainbow Gardens Nursery in Glendora, served as planting consultant, working closely with SSFL member Mary Moody.

Other SSFL members playing key roles in the project were sisters Marilee Goodwin and Carolu Every, whose mother is Marian Reich, the Glendora resident who agreed to have five orange trees planted in her backyard. Muriel and Dennis Foster, the grounds managers for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and Steve Leonard, who provided an auger to dig holes, were others helping put the project together.

Mary Moody recited a Martin Luther King Jr. quote that sort of summed up the day: “Everybody can be great because anybody can serve . . . You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.”

Celebrities from years past have included Laker legends Jerry West, Bill Sharman, James Worthy, Elgin Baylor, former Laker assistant coach Frank Hamblen, former Dodger shortstop and manager Bill Russell, legendary track announcer Trevor Denman, former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick, UCLA football announcers Chris Roberts and Matt Stevens, former Denver Bronco receiver Michael Young and the L.A. Times’ Bill Dwyre.

Tickets, Raffle, Helicopter Ball Drop, & Dinner Only Tickets

Individual Entry…………$200

 

Foursome………………..$750

 

Contest Package………$35

 

Helicopter Ball Drop….1 for $10

 

Helicopter Ball Drop…..3 for $25

 

Helicopter Ball Drop….7 for $50

 

Helicopter Ball Drop….25 for $175

 

Dinner Only………….$75

 

Sponsorship Packages Available

Title Sponsor……………….$10,000

 

Player Fee Sponsor………$2,500

 

Entertainment Sponsor….$2,500

 

Dinner Sponsor…………….$1,500

 

Lunch Sponsor……………..$1,500

 

Cart Sponsor……………….$1,250

 

Raffle Sponsor……………..$1000

 

Beverage Sponsor………..$500

 

Tee/Green Sponsor……….$100

 

Download Golf Fundraiser Forms, Letters & Poster Below

 Golf Fundraiser Letter

 Donation Request Form

 Tee Sign Order Form

 Helicopter Ball Drop

 Sponsorship Opportunities & Benefits

 Download Entry Form

Pomona Mayor Elliott Rothman and Vicki Brown worked hand in hand in making the fourth annual Sowing Seeds for Life "Christmas in the Park" event a huge success.

The spirit of giving has been alive and well during this past holiday season in the East San Gabriel Valley.

The second of two Sowing Seeds for Life toy and food giveaways was held Wednesday, Dec. 21 at the DPI Labs parking lot at 1350 Arrow Highway in La Verne. The first one was held Dec. 3 at Ganesha Park in Pomona.
 The Dec. 3 giveaway was the fourth annual Sowing Seeds for Life “Christmas in the Park” – and what an event it was.

More than 3,000 people participated, with 2,042 signing up to receive non-perishable food items. Also, 406 toys were passed out to children. And some of the best musicians in the area provided entertainment arranged by jazz radio station KTST (79.5 FM). Performers included the B-Keyss and vocalist Britney Young, the daughter of Sowing Seeds for Life volunteer Paulette Young. Also drawing lots of attention were performances the Pacesetters drill team and drum corps and the Rancho Dominators drill team. 

Among the entertainers who sang and performed at "Christmas in the Park" was Britney Young, daughter of SSFL volunteer Paulette Young.

Jediah and Jasiyah Rosales got the best seat in the house -- and a photo to boot -- at the "Chistmas in the Park event.

DPI also is the site of the SSFL food bank that hands out needed goods the first and third Wednesday of every month. SSFL, which also has several satellite pantries at various locations and locations throughout the month, gives award about a million pounds of food per year.

Molly the Clown was there to add to the children's enjoyment at "Christmas in the Park."

The charity also operates a community farm at Falcon Ranch, a 45-acre spread owned by John Defalco in the foothills of San Dimas Canyon. A major fundraiser for the organization has become its annual celebrity golf tournament. The first three were held at Sierra La Verne County Club. The fourth is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 8, 2012, at Glendora County Club.  The last two years, the golf tournament has drawn some of the biggest names in sports, including Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, James Worthy, Bill Sharman, Jim Harrick, Dodger legends Bill Russell, Tommy Davis and Al Downing, and legendary horse racing announcer Trevor Denman.

Glendora resident Vicki Brown, the founder and CEO of Sowing Seeds for Life, was named this year’s winner of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank’s Tony Collier Award for her dedicated commitment in the fight against hunger.

Sowing Seeds for Life is one of the 600-plus food pantries affiliated with the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank that distributes food in L.A. County. SSFL, as it is known for short, distributes food to the needy in the East San Gabriel Valley on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 3 to 5 p.m. in the parking lot of DPI Labs, located at 1350 Arrow Highway in La Verne. The charity also distributes food at other locations at various times — and provides a variety of services to the needy as well.

Sowing Seeds for Life’s fourth annual “Christmas in the Park” toy giveaway is scheduled for Dec. 3, noon to 4 p.m., at Ganesha Park at 1575 North White Avenue in Pomona. Another toy giveaway is scheduled for Dec. 21 during a regularly scheduled food pantry giveaway at DPI Labs.

Brown, who is also CEO and president of DPI Labs, an aerospace company, was presented the Tony Collier award by Elizabeth Cervantes, the agency relations director of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.

Brown was selected for the award because of all of her untiring work in growing Sowing Seeds for Life over the past four years, Cervantes said, adding that Brown has also been very helpful in assisting the 38-year-old L.A. Regional Food Bank.

The L.A. Food Bank was founded in 1973 by Collier, who at the time was a cook for a charitable organization. Sometimes the food donations exceeded what was needed, so Collier set up a food bank known as the Grandview Foundation in his two-car garage in Pasadena.

The food bank soon moved into a 2,600 square-foot dry cleaning facility on Fair Oaks and then to a 10,000 square-foot warehouse in El Monte in 1983. It changed its name to Los Angeles Regional Food Bank in 1986, and in 1989 moved to its current location in a 96,000 square-foot building at 1734 East 41st Street, south of downtown Los Angeles.

Sowing Seeds for Life also had a modest beginning in December 2007, feeding some 100 people per month. It now feeds more than 6,000 people per month and also operates a community farm in the San Dimas Canyon.

Brown said SSFL is in need of a bigger facility and is seeking funds to build one on the DPI Labs property. A key fundraiser for SSFL is its annual golf tournament. Next year’s is set for Oct. 8 at Glendora Country Club. Among the many sports celebrities who have participated in the golf tournament over the past two years, when it was held at Sierra La Verne, were Laker legends Jerry West, James Worthy, Bill Sharman, and Elgin Baylor, horse racing announcer Trevor Denman, former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick and former Dodgers Bill Russell, Tommy Davis and Al Downing.

Past Sowing Seeds for Life Celebrity Golf Tournaments

On Thursday, September 22, 2011, we hosted our third annual Sowing Seeds For Life Charity Golf Tournament. This fabulous event include lunch, dinner, player’s gifts, auction, raffle, and a super scramble golf tournament with over 100 golfers, live entertainment before and after golf, a helicopter golf ball drop cash raffle, a star-studded celebrity sports panel and much, much more!

Sports celebrities on the panel were former Laker assistant coach Frank Hamblen,  legandary horse racing track announcer Trevor Denman, Times sports columnist Bill Dwyre, and former Laker and North Carolina star George Lynch. The previous year, celebrities participating included Laker legends Jerry West, Bill Sharman, Elgin Baylor and James Worthy, Dodger greats Bill Russell, Tommy Davis and Al Downing, former UCLA basketball coach Jim Harrick, UCLA football announcers Chris Roberts and Matt Stevens, Dodger executive and former NFL wide receiver Michael Young, and  Bill Dwyre, who served as the sports panel moderator.

The 2012 tournament will be held Monday, Oct. 8, at Glendora Country Club. Normally, the entry fee for such a tournament would be at least $500. But for the bargain price of $200 ($750 for a foursome), you too can rub shoulders with sports celebrities and, following tournament play, can also hear them be interviewed by a veteran sports journalist. You’ll have lots of amazing stories to tell your friends.

In 2010, West, Worthy, Harrick and Russell sat down for a 40-minute sports panel discussion conducted by Dwyre and captivated the audience. You could hear a pin drop.

The panel discussion went on and on, and at one point Dwyre asked tournament coordinator Tim Haas if he should wrap things up. “No, no,” Haas said. “You can go on forever.” The audience, hanging on every word, applauded. They wanted more.

Haas later told the audience, “I’ve been involved with charity golf tournament for more than 25 years. You’d be lucky to find one in 500 like this one.”

Another positive about this tournament is the charity it benefits. Sowing Seed Life is a non-profit that provides food for people in difficult situations. Sowing Seeds for Life

(SSFL) began distributing food in December 2007 to some 100 people a month in the La Verne area and now serves more than 6,000 a month.

The driving force behind Sowing Seeds and the tournament is Vicki Brown, the charity’s CEO as well as the CEO of DPI Labs, a prominent multimillion La Verne aerospace company. Brown will be honored at this year’s tournament for all she has done for the community. Brown literally planted the seeds that grew the charity and the tournament. Sowing Seeds For Life started out as a backyard garden project. “I’m just proud to be the one who watches all this happen,” she says modestly.

It is her hard work and dedication and her connections to the right people that has enabled her to accomplish so much. She is the one who assembled an energetic tournament committee headed by co-chairmen Tim Grant and Al Snow. Another key member is Greg DeSmet, the founder of DPI Labs.

Even non-golfers can contribute by being an event sponsor, by purchasiing a tee or green sign, making a donation, donating a raffle or auction prize, or by purchasing a helicopter golf ball drop ticket,” he said.

At least a portion of most donations is tax deductible.

Tickets, Raffle, Helicopter Ball Drop, & Dinner Only Tickets

Individual Entry…………$200

 

Foursome………………..$750

 

Contest Package………$35

 

Helicopter Ball Drop….1 for $10

 

Helicopter Ball Drop…..3 for $25

 

Helicopter Ball Drop….7 for $50

 

Helicopter Ball Drop….25 for $175

 

Dinner Only………….$75

 

Sponsorship Packages Available

Title Sponsor……………….$10,000

 

Player Fee Sponsor………$2,500

 

Entertainment Sponsor….$2,500

 

Dinner Sponsor…………….$1,500

 

Lunch Sponsor……………..$1,500

 

Cart Sponsor……………….$1,250

 

Raffle Sponsor……………..$1000

 

Beverage Sponsor………..$500

 

Tee/Green Sponsor……….$100

 

Download Golf Fundraiser Forms, Letters & Poster Below

 Golf Fundraiser Letter

 Donation Request Form

 Tee Sign Order Form

 Helicopter Ball Drop

 Sponsorship Opportunities & Benefits

 Download Entry Form

 Poster

The general rule since 1969 states that a taxpayer who contributes appreciated inventory or certain other ordinary income property is permitted a charitable deduction only for an amount equal to the taxpayer’s basis in the contributed property, not its fair market value.

In the 1976 Tax Reform Act, Congress further refined the statute to allow corporate donors an increased deduction, under certain circumstances, for contributions of ordinary income property to a public charity or to a private operating foundation.

Under IRC Section 170 (e) (3), a corporation is entitled to a deduction with respect to a contribution to a public charity or to a private operating foundation of appreciated property described in IRC Section 1221 (1) and (2). That is, certain types of ordinary income property in an amount equal to:

A. The sum of one-half of the unrealized appreciation (market value minus cost equals appreciation) plus the taxpayer’s cost, but

B. Not in excess of twice the cost of the contributed property as described in IRC Section 170 (e) (B).

Example:

Selling Price $4.00

Cost $1.00

Gross Profit $3.00

One-half of $3.00 equals $1.50. The maximum deduction can never exceed two times cost ($2.00). Therefore, gross profit is limited to $1.00.

Total charitable deduction $2.00

A common example of ordinary income property is property held primarily by the donor for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business.

The previous information should be used only as a guide. Donors are advised to consult with their tax advisor in applying the appropriate deduction.

Over 1 million pounds of food per year given from the pantry.

Providing educational, housing, medical, nutritional and social services to our local communities.

Delicious Lunch – Live Jazz Band – Celebrity Sports Panel Q&A – Professional Magician – Over $3000.00 in Cash Prizes – Championship Golf – Helicopter Ball Drop – Hole In One Prize – Wonderful Dinner – Raffle Prizes – Fabulous Action Items

Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details please contact Cassandra Gutierrez (909) 392-5777 ext. 271

FUN-FILLED CELEBRITY CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT SET FOR OCT. 28

Big-name sports celebrities, live jazz band, helicopter golf ball drop, a professional magician from the Magic Castle, a professional long drive and trick-shot exhibition, and great prizes highlight event at Sierra La Verne Country Club

Come join in on the fun – and help feed the needy

What promises to be a unique, star-studded, fun-filled, and memorable charity golf tournament will be held Thursday, Oct. 28 at Sierra La Verne Country Club.
The bargain entry fee of $150 per player ($500 for a foursome) will benefit Sowing Seeds for Life, a 501(c) (3) non-profit that provides food for people in difficult situations due to illness, accident or misfortune. Sowing Seeds for Life (SSFL) began distributing food in December 2007 to some 100 people a month in the La Verne area and now serves more than 5,000 a month.
This is the second year of the golf tournament benefiting SSFL, and it has been taken to a higher level by an energetic tournament committee headed by co-chairmen Tim Grant and Al Snow.
This year’s best-ball scramble tournament — with a noon shotgun start — will feature an impressive lineup of big-name sports celebrities, thanks to committee member Larry Stewart, a longtime Los Angeles Times sports columnist.

Celebrities Galore

Those who have agreed to participate, pending any schedule changes, are:
• Basketball legend James Worthy, a Hall of Famer who helped lead the Showtime Lakers to three NBA championships.
• Basketball legend Elgin Baylor, another Hall of Fame former Laker who is considered one of the greatest players in the history of the NBA and was the Clippers’ longtime general manager.
• Basketball legend Bill Sharman, who is one of only three men in the Basketball Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach. John Wooden and Lenny Wilkens are the other two. Sharman, who teamed with Bob Cousy in the Boston Celtics backcourt, coached the Lakers to an NBA title in 1972 and later became the team’s general manager and president. Sharman is currently a special consultant for the Lakers and has 16 championship rings as a player, coach and team executive. No one else has close to that many in any sport.
• Jim Harrick, the coach of the UCLA basketball team that won a national championship in 1995.
• Matt Stevens, the quarterback of the UCLA football team that defeated Iowa in the 1986 Rose Bowl game and currently the Bruins’ radio commentator.
• Chris Roberts, who is in his 19th season as the radio voice of UCLA football and basketball and a resident of Glendora.
• Al Downing, an outstanding pitcher for the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers, although he might be best known for giving up Hank Aaron’s record-breaking 715th home run on April 8, 1974. Downing also was a mainstay on Dodger radio broadcasts for years.

• Tommy Davis, another Dodgers legend who won back-to-back National League battling titles in 1962 and ’63. Davis batted .400 in the 1963 World Series, when the Dodgers swept the Yankees.
• Bill Russell, who was the Dodgers’ everyday shortstop for 12 seasons and replaced Tommy Lasorda as the team’s manager in 1996. To this day, Russell remains one of the most popular of all L.A. Dodgers.
• Michael Young, who currently is the Dodgers’ chief revenue office but is better known for his exploits in football. He was a star in both football and baseball at UCLA, but chose to play football professionally and for 10 seasons (1985-94) was one of the most sure-handed wide receivers in the NFL. He played for the Los Angeles Rams, the Denver Broncos, the Philadelphia Eagles and, briefly, for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Also invited was jockey Alex Solis of Glendora, who said he couldn’t make it because he is scheduled to be riding in New York. But he promised he would play if things change. Others who were invited but could not commit at this time are new USC Athletic Director Pat Haden and his longtime friend, USC Associate Athletic Director J.K. McKay, as well as former UCLA football coach Terry Donahue. Look for future announcements.

Sports Panel a Highlight

Following the tournament, L.A. Times sports columnist Bill Dwyre of San Dimas, formerly the newspaper’s sports editor, will moderate a Q&A session with three or four of the celebrities. Questions from the audience will also be welcomed. This sports roundtable figures to be a highlight of the day.
The post-tournament festivities — planned to be both fast-paced and fascinating — will also feature complimentary cocktails, dinner, a live auction and notification of raffle-prize winners, with a live jazz band providing entertainment and background music.
Among the auction items are four prime Laker tickets donated by the team’s executive vice president, Jeanie Buss, and a Pau Gasol autographed ball. There will be other items of this ilk as well.
Other tournament highlights include a helicopter golf ball drop with a first prize of $1,500 (for the ball closest to the hole) and a $500 consolation prize (for the ball farthest from the hole), a professional magician from the Magic Castle, a long drive and trick-shot exhibition, plus lunch, on-course beer and soft drinks, margaritas and more.
On top of all that is a challenging and picturesque golf course. Sierra La Verne is considered one of the top courses in the eastern San Gabriel Valley. (Note: The course’s dress code includes no medal spikes, no jeans, Bermuda-length shorts, and collared shirts.)

The Man in Charge

Tim Haas, the president of Tournament Golf & Travel, coordinated last year’s inaugural SSFL tournament and has been brought back to again take care of details and make sure everything goes smoothly.
Haas points out everyone can help with this project and help families in need of a good meal.
“Putting together a foursome is one way but also contact friends, relatives and business associates – everyone you know – and let them know about this great event,” he said.
Even non-golfers can contribute, Haas noted.
“Be an event sponsor, purchase a tee or green sign, make a donation, donate a raffle or auction prize, purchase a helicopter golf ball drop ticket,” he said.
And at least a portion of most donations is tax deductible.
The driving force behind the golf tournament is Vicki Brown, the president of DPI Labs, Inc. of La Verne and CEO of Sowing Seeds for Life.
“Your involvement, support and generous donations will have a positive impact on both the underprivileged and hungry people in La Verne and our surrounding communities,” she said.
For further information, go to www.sowingseedsforlife.org or contact Vicki Brown at 909 392-5777, ext. 213. Her e-mail address is vbrown@sowingseedsforlife.org. Also, Haas can be reached at 909 261-9617 or timhaastournamentgolf@yahoo.com.