HAD A BOWL EVENT RAISES RED CROSS FUNDS.

Byline: Sharon Cotal Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Employees from area businesses recently came out for an afternoon of fun during the American Red Cross Crazy 8 Bowl-A-Thon at Valencia Lanes.

The event attracted more than 175 people playing on 41 teams to raise money for the Santa Clarita Valley chapter of the American Red Cross. So far, more than $21,000 has been raised for the organization's disaster relief efforts.

``We had a very good response from the business community,'' said Red Cross spokesman Randy Philips. ``The money raised will support the local service center and help the Red Cross maintain a presence here in Santa Clarita.''

The office of Dr. Mehran Abbassian was one of several businesses that fielded teams for the seventh annual Bowl-A-Thon. Abbassian had eight teams, CTI Telecom had four, and WolfCreek Brewery and Morgan Stanley each had three teams.

The Newhall Land and Farming Company's team, the Hot Shots, raised $6,260 through sponsorships, pledges and employee contributions, giving it the highest team total. The amount was high enough to continue the company's position among the top money generators at the Bowl-A-Thon for the past five years.

``Clearly people across the country have been touched by the events of Sept. 11, and many in our community are especially motivated to assist in some way,'' said Dave Crowder, vice president of planning for Newhall Land's Newhall Ranch project and a member of the Red Cross board of managers. ``Knowing you are making a difference in your own hometown while contributing to a more national cause can be tremendously rewarding and therapeutic for all involved.''

The Hot Shots team consisted of Crowder, Renell Ward, Nancy Cormier, Warlene Garibaldi and Barbara Butki. Ward, the team's captain, said the players rallied friends, family and, especially, co-workers to raise funds.

``It's simply amazing to me what five people can do,'' Ward said. ``People have responded so generously to the event and the underlying purpose.''

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(color) The Hot Shots team, sponsored by The Newhall Land and Farming Company, includes, left to right, Nancy Cormier, Warlene Garibaldi, Renell Ward, Barbara Butki and Dave Crowder.