California Strawberry Festival

Testimonials

FROM BENEFACTORS

“We have fun with everything we do whether it’s on the soccer field or participating in the Festival at our strawberry smoothie booth. All kids and their families are involved in the fundraising, many of which would never be able to participate without the Festival funding. It helps pay for equipment, uniforms, professional training and trips for competition.”  

-- Mike Thompson
Team Manager and Assistant Coach of Real California Football Club

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 “We have a great time working together and getting to know new faces during the event while volunteering in our booth, and it gets the students directly involved. All of our profits go to our athletic programs for all sports at Rio Mesa.”

-- Karen Gramacki
Rio Mesa High School Athletic Boosters
(The Rio Mesa High School Athletic Boosters have been with the Festival since its inception. Their yummy strawberry pizza is a sought after tradition among Festival devotees and always dictates the longest lines.)

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“It was a great opportunity for co-workers to volunteer their time, interact with the Festival staff and guests of the Festival. By the end of the weekend, not only did we have a great time, we earned much needed funds for our Hospice Foundation which will enable us to provide more fundamental assistance to those in need.”  

-- Roberta Walski
Pro Care Foundation

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“Thank you for your generous support that allows us to continue our high quality character-based programs that have a profound impact on the community. With the help of the California Strawberry Festival we can provide expanded program service, support and outreach efforts such as the Pacific Point apartment complex in Oxnard where youths who live in the complex will have the opportunity to join and benefit from Scouting’s values.”

-- Tim Thomton
Boy Scouts of America

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“All of us from the American Druze Society are anxious to celebrate with you at the upcoming California Strawberry Festival. We have had the privilege of participating in the Festival for the past few years as a food vendor. Each year we look forward to this event as it draws an ever-increasing population from all over the county and provides the community a great mechanism for civic awareness and fundraising. The funds we raise each year have enabled us to increase our budget for our youth outreach programs, in which several scholarships have been awarded. We appreciate the opportunity the Festival provides us to give back to the community, and enjoy the weekend preparing ethnic food. We look forward to another great year for the Festival and many more to come!”

-- Ray Ghadban
ADS Fundraising Committee Chairperson

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“In the past years the Camarillo Roadrunner Youth Football Program has been fortunate to meet thousands of people from different cultures and the Festival has become our biggest fundraiser to help our program purchase new equipment and uniforms. Our parents and kids all look forward to the fun of volunteering in our food booth each year.”

-- Tony Godinez
Camarillo Roadrunner Youth Football 

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“Your gift of support will be of great benefit to the families and loved ones of California’s veterans. By supporting this effort, you have provided VetFund with the foundation it needs to grow into an organization that will provide for veterans of past and present conflicts.” 

-- Tom Johnson
VetFund of the California Department of Veterans Affairs

 

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“We thank you for your own personal commitment to invest in our youth and support of our National PAL Boxing Championships. We understand the required traits will enable our young men and women to not only overcome the challenges and pressure they will face in the ring, but the many they will face outside as well.”

-- Michael Ramirez
Oxnard Police Activities League

 

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“For the past few years, United Way’s participation in the California Strawberry Festival has been a wonderful opportunity to engage our Board members, volunteers, and staff while having fun working side by side in the beverage booth which benefits the organization through a gracious donation.”

-- Letitia Austin
United Way of Ventura County

 

“The California Strawberry Festival is a fun way to meet new people and bring the community together. It has helped our organization generate funds, providing financial assistance to help your education programs and assisting needs for the church throughout the Philippines and United States.” 

-- Lucia Glover Marcelino
Noveleta Cultural Circle of Ventura County

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“When we had our first food booth at the California Strawberry Festival we were a fairly new organization and a new high school. By participating in the Festival, it has allowed us to develop a great Booster Club for the school and also to establish some awesome, lifelong friendships with the parents, student athletes, teachers and coaches at Pacifica!” 

-- Christina Davis
Pacifica Triton Athletic Booster Club

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“Our first time participating in the California Strawberry Festival was 2007. It was a fantastic experience and involved a wide cross section of our congregation, many who don’t normally volunteer. The proceeds benefited our preschool, our scholarship fund and the building fund for our new sanctuary. We will continue participating!” 

-- Cleo Anderson
St. Paul Baptist Church, Oxnard

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"We enjoy the volunteers' help we get from the youth group at the church, the wrestling team from Pacifica High School and debutantes from the Onyx Club. The funds from the Festival have been used for installing the Church's heating system and for donations to outreach program with food baskets and toys.”

-- Ruby Brown
Community Bible Mission

 

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“Soroptimist International of Oxnard has always felt honored to be included in the lottery of very deserving community agencies vying for selection and lucky to be selected in the past 18 years. Each year, members, family and friends have joined in the workforce at the Festival in a variety of capacities. The event gives us a chance to serve the community, have fun, share camaraderie, partake in good food, and earn funds for our organization. The annual stipend received from the Festival goes to assist funding of Soroptimist programs such as the Violet Richardson Award and the Women’s Opportunity Awards. Together, in an indirect way, we are helping women and girls achieve their goals and potential to ‘live their dreams.’ Thank you, California Strawberry Festival!”

-- Debbie Bills
Soroptimist International of Oxnard

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“The Ventura County Chapter Parents Of Murdered Children began it’s Chapter in January 2006 and our first big fundraiser was the Festival that year. We staffed a beverage booth and it was truly one of the best experiences we’ve ever had. Not only because the Festival helped us move forward as an organization by providing us a stipend, but because we were teamed for a full weekend with one of the greatest non-profits in Ventura County, and that in it self is fantastic.” 

-- Sandy Montes-Cerna
Ventura County Chapter of Parents of Murdered Children, Inc.

FROM VISITORS & FRIENDS

“Just wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed ourselves at this year’s Festival. We parked at the Camarillo outlets and there were plenty of shuttles and we had a wonderful time. Thanks for all you did to make this possible for not only my family but for all those who came out. The strawberry delights were soooo good.”

-- Pam Thomas
Harbor City, CA

“My daughter loves the rides and I love the garlic fries and strawberry funnel cake.”

-- Carina Mejia
Burbank, CA (celebrating her sixth Festival outing.)

“I love the arts and craft stuff. It’s stuff that you can’t find anywhere else.”

-- Lisa Fort
Winnetka, CA

“I’ve been coming to the Festival for years and every time I find something new. I especially enjoy the Festival posters and I think the contest is a great thing to get the community involved.”

-- Ron Thornhill
Ventura, CA