The Morning Forum of Los Altos continued its season last month with a lively presentation, “Comedy Is Translation,” by Chris Bliss.
Bliss, a juggler and standup comedian, has performed on “The Tonight Show” and “The Late Show with David Letterman.”
Attorney Stephen Wu of the Silicon Valley Law Group discussed artificial intelligence and robotics at a Rotary Club of Los Altos meeting Nov. 1, noting that their impact “will be so profound, we can hardly comprehend it.”
Wu’s presentation, “Artificial Intelligence: The Impact on Our Jobs, Community, Nation and World,” opened eyes – and made some blink – at current and future examples of how dramatically innovations are already changing people’s lives.
Mountain View Police Officers’ Association’s 22nd annual Cops & Gobblers Thanksgiving food drive, 9 a.m. at 1000 Villa St. Information: mvpsf.org.
Los Altos Festival of Lights Parade, 6 p.m. in downtown Los Altos. Information: losaltosparade.org.
The following free events are scheduled at the Los Altos main library, 13 S. San Antonio Road. Events are held in the Orchard Room unless otherwise noted. For more information, call 948-7683 or visit sccl.org/losaltos.
The Los Altos Community Foundation is offering options for residents looking to help aid victims of the ongoing wildfires in Northern and Southern California.
Joe Eyre, executive director of the Los Altos Community Foundation, suggested residents contribute directly to foundations in the affected areas.
“As we well know, fires have ravaged both Butte County and the Thousand Oaks and Malibu areas in Ventura and LA counties,” Eyre wrote to local foundation members Monday. “If you wish to donate to help victims in either of these areas, we recommend contributing to the fire relief funds of their respective community foundations.
For the devastating Camp Fire in Butte County, the North Valley Community Foundation has established a Camp Fire Evacuation Relief Fund.
For the Hill Fire and Woolsey Fires in Ventura (which includes Thousand Oaks) and Los Angeles counties, you can support fire relief efforts through the Ventura County Community Foundation Community Disaster Relief Fund or the California Community Foundation (covers LA County) Wildfire Relief Fund.
“Our hearts go out to the victims, their families, and the communities affected by these fires,” Eyre said.
The Los Altos Town Crier Holiday Fund is launching its 18th year supporting local organizations that directly serve those with the most pressing needs in the community.
Since its inception, the Holiday Fund has raised more than $3 million. This year, the fund aims to collect $250,000 to donate to 20 nonprofit organizations.
The Town Crier has added Los Altos resident Ray Piontek’s Bay Area Furniture Bank to this year’s list of Holiday Fund recipients. The organization recycles gently used furniture for individuals and families transitioning out of homelessness to stable housing.
The fund will no longer support ALearn, which has ceased to operate in its original form since merging last year with the Silicon Valley Education Foundation. Town Crier donations to ALearn since 2011 helped underserved students prepare for and attend college.
Other Holiday Fund recipients include: Bayshore Christian Ministries; Child Advocates of Silicon Valley; the Community Health Awareness Council; Community Services Agency’s Food & Nutrition Center; the Community School of Music and Arts’ Artistic Intelligence program; Downtown College Prep – Alum Rock; the East Palo Alto Kids Foundation; Help One Child; Hidden Villa Summer Camps; Jeremiah’s Promise; House of Grace; the MERIT program at the Krause Center for Innovation; Music for Minors; Mentor Tutor Connection; Reach Potential Movement; Sky’s the Limit Fund; Sunday Friends; the Veterans Resource Center at Foothill College; and WomenSV.
Los Altos Community Foundation is the Town Crier’s new financial partner for the Holiday Fund. Contributions are tax deductible and processed through a donor-advised fund at foundation. The foundation provides letters acknowledging donor contributions. The Town Crier will present checks to the 20 organizations in early 2019. The paper will profile each organization in a series of articles published throughout the holiday season.
To donate by check, make payable to Los Altos Community Foundation with “Town Crier Holiday Fund” in the memo line, and mail to 183 Hillview Ave., Los Altos 94022.
For more information, visit latcholidayfund.org.
