THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. - Residents of University Village, the continuing care retirement community in Thousand Oaks, have raised almost $17,000 for Haiti relief, according to resident Holly Lamb.
Lamb said that nearly 150 residents at the community near California Lutheran University participated in a two-day drive recently to raise funds for the victims of the Haiti earthquake. Lamb, along with fellow resident Doris Rhodes, came up with the idea for a fundraiser after reading the devastating newspaper reports out of Haiti. They were so moved that they set up a fundraising drive to ask other University Villagers to contribute whatever they could. Rhodes and Lamb organized a schedule of residents to staff a table at the community's clubhouse where people could drop off their donations. They also called every resident in the community and asked for a contribution - no matter how large or small.
"The smallest donation we received was $5, but we also received a check for $1,000 which gives you a little idea of the diversity of our community," Lamb said. "We are so proud of our residents and their willingness to give both their time and their money."
She said that the funds have been donated to a number of relief organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, the American Red Cross, Lutheran World Relief, UNICEF, Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army.
University Village Thousand Oaks is located at 3415 Campus Dr. at the northwest corner of Olsen Road and Campus Drive. For more information, please visit www.UVTO.com or call (800) 915-2113.