FOR ROTARY, GIVING IS A GROUP ACTIVITY.

Byline: Mark Kellam

valleynews.com

The North Hollywood Rotary Club may not be the largest club in the San Fernando Valley, but it's able to do a lot in the community through teamwork with other service organizations.

One of the NoHo Rotarians' main goals is to help children, and you can see that in the three main projects they are involved in throughout the year.

Before the beginning of each school year, the club participates in a back-to-school shopping spree at Mervyns, where children get to buy new clothes and receive school supplies, said Ken Banks, president of the North Hollywood Rotary.

In conjunction with the Universal City/North Hollywood Jaycees, the Rotarians contribute money to the project so each child gets to spend $100. Mervyns kicks in some discounts, too.

Rotary members also volunteer on the big day, each assigned to help one child shop.

"It's very gratifying," Banks said. "To see these kids get a brand-new pair of tennis shoes, it's something. And you can buy a lot if you shop smart."

For Christmas, the Rotary hosts a holiday party for about 110 children.

The club asks officials at the 11 Title 1 -- low-achieving -- schools in the area to each select 10 children whose families might need some help during the holidays.

Working in conjunction with the Universal City Sunrise Rotary Club, the North Hollywood Rotarians invite the children to a party at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn, where the NoHo Rotary meets at 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday.

The kids are served a salad-and-pizza lunch and use a full place setting.

"They learn some etiquette, too," Banks said. "They even have two forks."

Then Santa arrives and the children receive two presents each. They also get their photo taken with St. Nick.

The event can be very moving, Banks said. One year, he overheard a boy whisper after visiting with the jolly elf, "That's got to be the real Santa. He got me just what I wanted."

He also overheard one girl tell someone that her mother had told her there wouldn't be any presents under their tree that year. The Rotary made sure that didn't happen.

It's those moments, and so many others, that make the holiday community service project so special, Banks said.

And who wraps the 220 gifts that are handed out? Santa's elves get a lot of help from the Interact Club at North Hollywood High School, which is sponsored by the NoHo Rotary.

The Rotary also gives scholarships every year.

Partnering with the Studio City-Sherman Oaks Rotary Club and the Encino-Tarzana Hospital Charity Foundation, the North Hollywood Rotary gives six $1,200 scholarships to students in the Regional Occupational Program at North Hollywood High.

Generally these students, who volunteer on the Encino campus of the Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center, go on to a community or junior college or they enroll in vocational training.

The scholarship criteria is not based on grades. The students are selected because of their good citizenship and recommendations from the hospital staff.

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A group of local students and two of their teachers enjoy a holiday luncheon, compliments of the North Hollywood and Universal City Sunrise Rotary clubs.