California Strawberry Festival

Community

Since the beginning, the Festival has always been about benefiting the community and beyond. Between the berry kabobs, the chocolate covered, shortcaked, the blended and more, it’s estimated that approximately 1.6 million strawberries are devoured during a typical weekend at the California Strawberry Festival. Best of all, with every bite of the delicious fruit, the everlasting sweetness comes from the proceeds gathered by the non-profit food booths that harvest 100 percent of sales to benefit their causes.

The Festival produces income for many groups that rely on the celebration as their major source of annual fundraising. From upgraded computers to new sports uniforms, buses for field trip outings, repairs, new construction, and after school music programs, revenues ultimately reach out to impact the lives of others.

Bringing together the people and the purpose, the Festival provides the unique "berry" ingredient of fun. Members from each non-profit group -- young and old alike working together -- decorate their booth, prepare their strawberry treats, sell to patrons, and reap the fruits of their labor. Along the way, the sense of community resonates and grows.

The following charitable organizations host food booths at the Festival benefiting from 100 percent of proceeds toward fundraising their mission. Pay them a visit, knowing your purchase adds to their cause.

•    American Druze Society
•    Big Brothers Big Sisters of Ventura County
•    Buena High School Music Association
•    Camarillo Roadrunner Youth Football Inc. 
•    Community Bible Mission
•    Community Presbyterian Church Youth Group 
•    Hueneme Rhino’s Youth Football 
•    Latin American Child Care Providers Association
•    National Latinos Peace Officers Association, Ventura County
•    Oxnard Youth Soccer Association
•    Pacifica Triton Athletic Booster Club 
•    Real California Football Club 
•    Rio Mesa High School Athletic Boosters 
•    Rotary Club of Oxnard 
•    St. Paul Baptist Church
•    Tri-County GLAD
•    Ventura District Youth Department 

After each Festival season, organizers of the non-profit organization set aside funds for production of the next season’s event, then get busy determining what additional revenues can be given back to the community in the form of grants, stipends and scholarships.

SCHOLARSHIPS KEEP THE LEGACY ALIVE  

With a field of possibilities the California Strawberry Festival remains ever true to the mission of its founders – giving back.

Rewarding academic excellence through education, the Festival provides future generations the opportunity to grow and prosper. As tribute to the late Mayor of Oxnard whose vision helped the Festival in its infancy, the Dr. Kato Scholarship Award now grants $6,000 annually to assist in higher education. For the past 12 years, close to $20,000 has been allocated in memoriam to deserving college bound students.

“By helping to give students the chance to realize their goals, we are planting seeds of knowledge that impact the entire community,” says California Strawberry Festival Board member Sumiko Kato, who proudly carries on the family tradition.

Working in collaboration with the California Strawberry Commission, the Festival also funds annual scholarships to children of strawberry farm works to show appreciation to those whose jobs are a vital part of the strawberry industry’s success. Applicants must have at least one parent who has been employed as a strawberry farm worker for the past two consecutive seasons. Awards are based on merit and funding goes to high school seniors and also continuing college students. To date, programs have reached 264 students with awards exceeding $500,000.

Additionally, a $25,000 endowment scholarship at California State University Channel Islands is completely Festival funded, offering another avenue of development for future generations.

Through conscious actions, careful planning, respect and accountability, the Festival reaches out far beyond the spectacle of the weekend celebration to help empower aspiring students to reach their goals. The committee members and staff work year round to maintain the success of the two-day event that is vital to thousands of young adults discovering the best in themselves. Who knows, perhaps someday a scholar will return home to Ventura County with a passion and vision that ultimately is an offshoot of a little strawberry that tastes delicious.

BERRY USEFUL LESSON PLANS

Courtesy of the California Strawberry Commission, don’t miss your opportunity to expand your strawberry know-how with lesson plans specifically designed to various ages and levels of learning.

Click to download:

•    LESSON PLAN FOR GRADES 1-4.doc
•    LESSON PLAN FOR GRADES 5-8.doc
•    LESSON PLAN FOR GRADES 9-12.doc