At the heart of every strong community is a public school system that gives every child a real chance to thrive. The Las Virgenes Unified School District (LVUSD) serves around 11,500 Calabasas and Agoura Hills students from preschool through high school. When changes in California’s funding model placed LVUSD among the lowest in per-pupil funding across the state, a group of dedicated parents and community members came together to help. That effort became The Foundation, a volunteer-run nonprofit that works closely with school district leadership to support charitable initiatives and raise critical funds for programs that fall outside the district’s limited budget.

I joined the board to contribute in the ways I know best. I focused on communications, creative outreach, and promoting events that would bring people together in support of our schools. In 2022, I helped launch the first annual Hold’em Poker Fundraising Tournament. What started as a new idea has since become a signature event, held every October at Topanga Social. The tournament now raises more than $25,000 each year through ticket sales and sponsorships, with all proceeds directly benefiting local schools. I also helped secure brand partnerships, including with Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey, which brought additional visibility and energy to the event. Last year alone, The Foundation raised over $250,000, and since its founding, it has contributed more than $2.5 million to LVUSD schools.