Grant Strengthens Santa Barbara’s Art From Scrap Org

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A grant from Social Venture Partners as one of its 2011 Green Energy and Environmental Investees in the form of a check for $36,800 strengthens Art From Scrap (AFS) commitment to educating children about ecology and teaching them how their actions affect the environment. Every year the Art From Scrap Green Schools program educates over 11,000 children about the 3 R’s, natural resources, healthy watersheds, composting, and organic gardening. In the Green Schools classes and presentations taught at the Watershed Resource Center , AFS ReUse Store, and local schools, children learn that they do have a choice and the power to create positive environmental change.

Social Venture Partners Santa Barbara is a network of individuals who combine skills and knowledge to offer investees their collective expertise in best business practices. The SVPSB model of giving differs from traditional philanthropy in that it is a multi-year program that offers time, money, and connections to investees with the goal of strengthening their organizations as a whole.

Cay Sanchez, executive director of Art from Scrap, thanked the investor firm for their vote of confidence. AFS Reuse Store and Art Programs encourage kids and adults to rethink the way they view “discarded” materials and to seek creative solutions for their reuse through Art Workshops, Birthday Parties, free art activities at many community events, and at exhibitions at the AFS Gallery. artfromscrap.org

PGA Tour in La Quinta (Calif.) Now Humana Challenge

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The PGA TOUR tournament in La Quinta, CA has a new name, a new format, a new trophy, and most important, an innovative new focus on health and well-being. The Humana Challenge has been announced as the new name of the event formerly known as the Bob Hope Classic, and will feature several changes to the format beginning in 2012.

Besides the name change and new strategic direction, the tournament also will feature several changes to the professional and amateur format. The changes include: A four-day tournament, beginning Thursday of tournament week, with the first three rounds played in a pro-am format. The pro-am teams will consist of one professional and one amateur playing in groups of four. For each day of the three round pro-am competition, the professional will have a different amateur partner. Amateurs will compete in daily competitions as well as an overall, three day competition. Round 4 will be professionals only with a normal 70 + ties cut. The field size for the event will be 144 professionals, an increase of 16 professional spots from the previous format, and 144 amateurs.

The number of courses being used in the rotation is being reduced from four to three: La Quinta Country Club, a tournament course since 1965, PGA WEST Nicklaus Private and PGA WEST Palmer Private. PGA WEST has been in the rotation since 1986.

PGA TOUR tournaments are broadcast to nearly 600 million households in 225 countries and territories in 30 languages. Virtually all tournaments are organized as non-profit organizations in order to maximize charitable giving. In 2010, tournaments on three Tours generated more than $120 million for local charitable organizations, bringing the TOUR’s all-time total of charitable contributions to more than $1.6 billion. The PGA TOUR’s web site is PGATOUR.COM

Halloween Horror Nights 2011 Videos Call for Entries

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Universal Studios Hollywood’s annual Halloween Horror Nights short film competition is accepting entries from June 27 through August 1, 2011, to be judged by a panel of industry insiders, including horror film auteur Eli Roth, Daily Variety senior writer Marc Graser and Halloween Horror Nights Creative Director John Murdy.

The winning film will be honored with a premiere showing on Chiller, a posting on Syfy.com, a cash prize of $1,000, and a trip for two to Halloween Horror Nights opening night Eyegore Awards at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Prospective filmmakers are invited to submit short films from 90 seconds to three minutes in length on DVD (two copies of each film must be submitted). Films will be judged based on storytelling skill, originality and scare factor. The top 10 horror shorts, as determined by the panel, will be posted online at HalloweenHorrorNights.com from August 22 to September 9, 2011 for public voting. The winning film will be announced on September 12, 2011.

Entries must be sent to: Halloween Horror Nights Short Film Competition, 100 Universal City Plaza, Building 5511-5, Universal City, CA 91608. Additional information on the contest, including a complete list of rules and regulations, is available online at the Halloween Horror Nights website (halloweenhorrornights.com)

Universal Studios Hollywood hosts the Eyegore Awards annually on opening night of the theme park’s popular Halloween Horror Nights event to honor individuals for their significant contributions to the horror film genre.

Surfing Dog Raises Nearly $90K for Cause

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Ricochet, the Surfing Dog has gone viral and helped raise lots of money for dog and animal charities. With 30,000 Facebook fans, the girl garnered a reported 3.4 million vies on YouTube, as well (http://bit.ly/9jZ5uV).

The funds were split between 20 causes, whose names were picked at random from paper ballots. Ricochet’s service dog sister, Rina picked each ballot individually. We recently reported that millions of dogs and animals are euthenized each year in the U.S. 75% of pet owners think of their dogs as family members. Read how California’s gone to the dogs.

Plein Air Painters Invited to Ventura to Paint!

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All artists interested in painting or sketching are welcome to join us on Tuesdays from 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM. There is no fee and we welcome artists of all skill levels. Call Chris Weber at 985-1464 or email at art1chris@msn.com for more information.

I am including sites in Camarillo for any artists who would like to enter the Capturing Camarillo Art Competition. Please read the rules on the attached entry form because you have to register at the Camarillo Art Center before you turn the artwork into the competition. You can register offsite if you come to one of the Camarillo Plein Air sites below as Audrey Rubin has offered to accept your entry forms and checks and turn them into the Art Center office. Please be sure to make the checks out to the Camarillo Art Center.

July 5 – Fountain and Promenade in Camarillo – Behind 751 Daily Dr. – This is a commercial area of shops and Dr.’s offices – Look for fountain on the right after you park behind the building and meet there – Take Hwy 101 south towards LA and exit on Las Posas Rd. Turn left on Las Posas and go a short distance to E Daily Dr. and turn right. Turn right at stop sign to stay on Daily Dr. and go about 1/2 mile to 751 and turn left to parking behind the buildings.

July 12 – Constitution Park – 1287 Paseo Camarillo – Camarillo – Take Hwy 101 south towards LA and exit on Carmen Dr. Turn left onto Ventura Blvd. and left onto Carmen Dr. Go about 1/3 mile and turn left onto Paseo Camarillo and the park is on the right.

July 19 – Sea Gate Art Gallery on the sand at Hollywood-by-the-Sea – Next to the Rudder Room 2929 Ocean Dr. – Take Hwy 101 towards Ventura and exit on Victoria Ave. and go south towards Oxnard. Go about 7 miles and turn right on Channel Islds. Blvd. Go over the bridge and turn left at the first light at Harbor Blvd. and stay to left to end of road and park at harbor. We will paint the views of Channel Islds. Harbor and visit with our member artist Margy Gates who owns the Sea Gate Gallery.

July 26 – Camarillo House – 201 Camarillo Ranch Rd. – Camarillo – Take Hwy 101 south towards LA and exit in Camarillo at exit 53A towards Dawson Dr. Turn right at Petit St. and right at N Dawson Dr. Continue onto Mission Oaks Blvd. Turn left at Camarillo Ranch Rd. and the entrance to the house will be on your right.