Photos by Daniel Deitch
The Toluca Lake Homeowners Association’s 10th annual Turkey Trot and Fall Festival on November 20 was the most successful to date, attracting more than 300 participants for a 5K run/walk, 1K kids’ fun run and other fun activities, including an expanded kids’ zone with face painting, balloon animals, games, and an arts and crafts station. The event raised more than $30,000 to help fund the TLHOA’s mission of serving, engaging and supporting the community.
The triumphant Turkey Trot enabled the TLHOA to make its largest-ever annual donation to the East Valley Police Activity League Supporters (PALS), a nonprofit booster organization providing financial support for the North Hollywood Division of the LAPD. At an event at Hungry Crowd on February 21, the TLHOA presented a check for $15,000 to PALS representatives Officer Tony Canchola, Ross Pendergraft and Corporal Ashley Barut, a PALS cadet who shared her personal and inspiring story of how the program has positively impacted her life.
The February event also recognized the many people whose hard work and dedication fueled the success of the Turkey Trot. City Council President Paul Krekorian and former State Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian were on hand to commend the TLHOA and the award recipients, who included Turkey Trot Committee members Ruby Bowen, Ashley Brown, Donna Finn, Jason Friedman, Jenny Hollier, Scott Morris, Angie Niemeyer and Piper Welch. Many community supporters were also recognized for their contributions: LAPD Senior Lead Officer Kurtis Delbar, Ryan Kugler of A5 Events, Shane Vollstedt of Volwood Corporation, ABC News anchor David Ono (who serves as the Turkey Trot’s master of ceremonies), Bob Wexler (who traditionally appears in full turkey costume to start the race), Frank Miceli of Miceli’s Restaurants and Michael Woo of Hungry Crowd.
“Thank you to all of the event sponsors, volunteers and runners who helped to make the 2022 Turkey Trot and Fall Festival our best yet,” TLHOA board member Scott Morris says. “We couldn’t have done it without your support.”