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Ruth Newhall (cont)
homes decorated for Christmas, as well as planning the overall event for the places
which will be featured on the Hospital Benefit Home Tour.
scv Child and Family Development Center
As the Community grew so did its special needs. Children who were physically and
mentally challenged, as well as their parents, needed outlets and guidance. When
the Special Children's Organization was founded it had the support and interest of
Ruth, who oversaw extensive publicity in the Signal, first to garner support for its
creation, and secondly as a means of raising much needed funding.
As the organization developed, so did demands for its services. In what has become
a hallmark occasion for the community, the "Taste of the Town" fund-raiser was
developed. Ruth once again played a leadership role and opened the mansion to
thousands who bought tickets so that they could troop across the meticulously
landscaped grounds while dining on samples from the finest dining spots in the
Santa Clarita Valley.
College Of the canyons Foundation
Ruth and Scott's strong belief "that the greatest hope for a free society is through a
more educated populace" made it natural that they would be involved in the
College of the Canyons. Advocates of improving and developing curriculum and
leadership and of making the college available to all who had a genuine quest for
learning, they not only wrote extensively about the college in the local paper and
challenged the community to be supportive, but once again became personally
involved in fund-raising activities.
They served as the recipients-and were catalysts for funding-when they were
honored at the College of the Canyons Silver Spur awards.
The Arts council
A few years ago, when the Arts Council was formed to bring more enrichment and
exposure to fine arts in the Santa Clarita Valley, Ruth was once again in the
forefront, serving as a staunch supporter and as a member of the first Board of
Directors. She assisted in bringing the San Francisco Opera Company to the Valley
for a performance of "Carmen." Her leadership skills helped develop a viable
organization under the Arts Council's first president,Jack Shine.
(It is obvious that Ruth has touched and shaped the very fiber of this
community. There are many other organizations who have been enriched by her
involvement. If your organization or cause is not mentioned it is not
intentional. Please accept the apologies of the author.)