Jon Blickenstaff, who served as La Verne mayor for nearly three decades, has been named Master of Ceremonies for the David & Margaret Youth and Family Services (D&M) Notes of Love Charity Dinner & Silent Auction. The annual event will be held Friday, Oct. 14 at the Sheraton Fairplex Avalon Room, with social hour at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. Music will be provided by the popular Dave Damiani and No Vacancy Entertainment.
Blickenstaff said he was pleased and honored to be asked to preside over the event, which will highlight the 30-year career of D&M Executive Director Charles Rich. Rich began his career at David & Margaret in 1981 and has held many positions in his tenure with the agency. He started as a social worker, caring for 14 adolescent girls and their families. Two years later he was promoted to director of Child Care and Training, responsible for the supervision of child-care staff and the training of all child-care workers. By the end of another year, Rich was again promoted, this time to assistant director of the entire agency, a position he held for 18 years. In 2001, he was named executive director.
Rich is on the Board of Directors of the California Alliance of Child and Family Services (CACFS) and is president-elect of the Association of Community Human Service Agencies (ACHSA). He also serves in a volunteer capacity as president of the Rancho Cucamonga Stake of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Other highlights of Notes of Love will include businessman Arun Tolia of Arun Home Realty presenting La Verne Chamber of Commerce President Brian McNerney with a special Champion Award for his dedication and advocacy for the children, youth and families at David & Margaret.
Tickets for Notes of Love are $100 per individual, $150 per couple, $350 for a half table (five people) and $600 for a full table. They can be purchased on the agency’s website at www.DavidandMargaret.org. All proceeds enhance the Art Therapy Program and help provide for the residents’ leisure activities for the year. This year’s Notes of Love silent auction will feature sports memorabilia, vacation rentals, themed gift baskets, and much more. Sponsorships are still available.
David & Margaret Youth and Family Services empowers children, youth and families through culturally diverse services. These include a residential program for adolescent girls, a shelter care program for adolescent boys and girls, a foster family agency that also provides adoption assistance, enhanced educational and mental health services, family intervention, counseling and support, a self-injury treatment program, treatment for learning disabilities, a transitional living program, and school- and community-based education and mentoring programs.
For more information, contact Publicity Coordinator Julie Griffith at (909) 596-5921 ext. 3180 or GriffithJ@DavidandMargaret.org.
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