23rd Annual Smart-a-Thon Raises Thousands

Verdugo Hills Hospital’s Conference Hall bustled with gift baskets, balloons, and happy quiz bowlers Wednesday afternoon as the community gathered for the 23rd annual Smart-a-Thon. The  took the title of this year's Smart-a-Thon in an impressive showing.

This celebrated event is no ordinary affair, but rather, a celebrated gathering that all the community attends: groups of rotary club friends, car dealership employees, Sheriff’s Department officers, and more interesting groups came together to represent Crescenta Valley at the Smart-A-Thon. This yearly event is the Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce Educational Endowment Fund’s primary fundraising tool.

The Smart-A-Thon provided an opportunity for the community to come together for the 68-question Smart-A-Thon test covering all manner of questions, including pop culture, trivia, local knowledge, history, and geography. The event also featured a silent auction and a raffle, all benefitting the endowment fund. There was also a dance-off, for which Captain David Silversparre of the  supplied the piano tunes.

The emcees of the afternoon were Silversparre, Mike Smith (owner of ) and Rick Dinger from the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce. Silversparre, now in his third year with the event, explained that he personally had profited from the music education at Crescenta Valley High School, and was happy that the Endowment Fund supports the music department at the high school.

The youngest contestants were from "Robotics Team," who had received a grant from the fund previously. They were only one of the many groups represented, who often either contributed to the fund, or were recipients of previous grants. Other groups included members of volleyball team, and a team from the .

The endowment fund began in 1990 by Mary Pinola and a group of her friends. They founded the endowment fund, which now is placed in the trust of the Community Foundation of the Verdugos. It has grown to $220,000, with grants over $14,000 given out in the last year.

Pinola, who was recognized along with Chris Waldheim was recognized for her efforts in putting the event together, happily explained that, even in light of the current economy, the fund has "maintained its levels of support."

Terry Rice, who serves on the Board of Directors for the endowment fund, commented that there is "a loyal fan base and they come every year." This year was no exception, with entrance and raffle tickets alone raising $5800.

Have a try at some sample questions from the Smart-A-Thon test:

“Men cannot live by T-shirts alone. According to men’s clothing designer Michael Bastian, every man should own three 100% cotton Oxford cloth button-down shirts. He recommends a blue one because “everyone looks good in a blue shirt. You need a white one for those slightly dressier occasions that come up. What color does he recommend men wear when they want to look the most rested and handsome?”

a. pink     b. green    c.beige    d. pale yellow    e. lavender

“You have strolled into Leo’s Fabulous All Star Bar & Grill and would like to order a libation. You ask Leo to pour a drink that is made of 48 teaspoon.s What does Leo serve you?”

a Half a cup    b. Three-quarters of a cup    c. one cup    d. a pat on the back because you are such a fun person     e. a pint of ale