A Message from SFVB President Larry Davis

To all San Fernando Valley Bruins:

On Tuesday night, October 22, 2009, the San Fernando Valley Bruins held its Inaugural Scholarship Fundraising Dinner.  This event was 28 years in the planning, and we have Scott Semel, our VP-Scholarship and his fantastic team of volunteers for putting on a superb event.  Not one detail was overlooked.  80 Bruins attended the event which not only put the spotlight on our scholarship fundraising efforts, but was also a “thank you” to Bernice Mills, our first and only Scholarship Chair from 1981 until 2008.  Our club’s first scholarship award in 1981 was named for Bernice’s late husband.  Below I have reproduced Bernice’s thank you to the Club.

Additionally, we were honored last week to have in attendance, and speak to us, Ralph Amos, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executor Director of the UCLA Alumni Association.  I want to share with you his e-mail thank you as  well.

The mission of the San Fernando Valley Bruins is (in part) to raise money for scholarships for UCLA freshman and community college transfer students and last week’s event proved up to the task, raising over $4,000 for our Scholarship Fund.  This is by far the single largest fundraising event the SFVB has ever had, and it bodes well for the future of this event.  With UCLA tuition standing at about $8,500 today and rising to $10,000 by Fall 2010, our fundraising efforts are needed more than ever.

The San Fernando Valley Bruins represent the 30,000 UCLA Alumni living in the San Fernando Valley.  I am very proud to be your President and to call all of you friends of UCLA.  I hope to see all of you at next year’s dinner.

Go Bruins!
Frisbee

Letter from Ralph Amos:

Dear San Fernando Valley Network Scholarship Leadership:

I write to thank you for the fantastic alumni scholarship and networking event last Thursday.  What an enjoyable, meaningful and prideful experience for everyone who attended; especially for you, the leadership, and Bernice Mills the honoree! I bid kudos to you and the Board for a job well-done and for a most successful and expertly run event.

UCLA and the Alumni Association have so much to be proud of, not the least of which is the impressive work of the SVF Bruins’ leadership over the years. From the volunteers who spearheaded the Scholarship dinner, to the board’s vision to actively engage UCLA alumni and students from the valley, your passion and commitment is evident throughout all of your work.

I was personally grateful and most appreciative of the beautiful and handsome-designed vest and bowtie. In a word: classy!  I left feeling proud of being a part of the Bruin family and look forward to our next time together (e.g. the Leaders Conference).  Let’s continue working together on building relationships for the alumni living in the valley. I am confident that we can do that good work.

Again, thank you and I look forward to seeing you either around James West, at the Rose Bowl, or in Westwood in the very near future.

Go Bruins and Congratulations!

Letter from Bernice Mills:

Dear Scott, Scholarship Committee, West Valley Bruin Board and all members,

Thank you!  Thank you! Thank you!  What a wonderful evening Thursday was.  I thank you for all the time and effort that was put into making this one of my most memorable evenings.  I thank you for honoring me.  I thank you for making me feel totally loved.  I thank you for the wonderful gifts and they will hang prominently in my hew home. 

I'm happy that it was a success socially and financially.  Everyone I spoke to raved about the speakers and food.  Yum!  It was wonderful seeing all my old friends again and meeting new ones.  Needless to say, I was stunned when my daughter walked in.

Again, thank you, and I'll see you soon.
                       
Love and Go Bruins!