Opening the Door to Hope

You may be carving pumpkins and searching for the perfect costume, but here at The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, we’re already deep into the Holiday Zone, and it’s for a great reason.

We recently launched ticket sales for our 18th Annual Holiday Homes Tour – our largest fundraiser, with proceeds funding our free programs of support, education and hope for people fighting cancer and for their families.

The self-guided tour of four exquisite Conejo Valley homes decked out in holiday magic will take place from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5 and from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6.

We are excited about the homes on this year’s tour. SO excited, we had to give you a sneak peak. It may be October, but why wait to get your tickets when these delights are awaiting you? You can also see photos of these homes on our website.

Elegant Christmas Encore
Visitors will get a rare glimpse into the behind-the-scenes family life of a television and film actor with “Elegant Christmas Encore” hosted by John and Elly Schneider. John Schneider is best known as the character “Bo Duke” from “The Dukes of Hazzard” television series, and his home features a collection of memorabilia from his career in the entertainment industry. Their ivy-draped Tudor-style manor in Agoura Hills surrounds visitors with holiday spirit, with seven fully decorated rooms featuring an “angelic” Christmas tree and an unusual “square” piano. A bonus boutique featuring a collection of home and holiday treasures from The Décor Store will also be available at this stop on the tour.

A “Fairy” Merry Christmas
Marla and Arnie Schwartz invite visitors to A “Fairy” Merry Christmas at their self-described “Zen-terian” (Mediterranean meets Asian) home in the North Ranch Country Club Estates of Westlake Village. Seven Christmas trees throughout the home reflect themes as varied as “The Fashionista” for their clothing-designing daughter’s room, an “Under the Sea” tree in the library, and a “Winged Things” tree in the family room. The largest tree in the living room is the teal-and-brown accented “Peace and Love” tree. The Fairy Room is a must-see, reflecting Fairy Fun author Marla Schwartz’s love of the whimsical creatures.

European Elegance
The North Pointe home of the Family of Stephen Smith embodies "European Elegance," with gorgeous twin curved staircases in the foyer, a courtyard that wraps around the entire home has been transformed to celebrate the season, and exquisite trees that are seamlessly decorated and displayed along with a beautiful menorah matching the tasteful elegance that abounds throughout the Italian/European-style home.

Traditional Family Christmas
The spectacular beauty of the surrounding Santa Monica Mountains provides the inspiration for a Traditional Family Christmas at the home of Mike and Doreen Jansen in the Malibu View Estates of Agoura Hills. Their tree holds a treasured collection of china ornaments, each one hand-painted by the owner’s mother and given as a gift to the family. From the festive and inviting foyer to the gorgeous dual island kitchen where baking abounds, the Jansen home radiates warmth and family. Click here to see a photo of this fun and friendly home.

Tickets are $25 until Oct. 31, $30 Nov. 1 – Dec. 6, and $35 at the door. Click here to purchase tickets online. Tickets are also available at The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura, 530 Hampshire Rd., Westlake Village, by phone at (888) 557-3177, and at the following outlets:

Camarillo: Savannah West Fine Gifts; Newbury Park: Angela’s Florist & Gifts; Simi Valley: The Décor Store; Thousand Oaks: Canfield’s Home & Holiday, Conejo Awards, Mistletoe & Holly, and The Décor Store; Westlake Village: French Marketplace and Heather Fields Home & Garden; Woodland Hills: Deforest’s Patio & Fireside Shoppe.

The Wellness Community also will hold its annual Holiday Boutique the same weekend at the North Ranch Center, 1400 N. Westlake Blvd. in Westlake Village, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the organization. The Holiday Boutique is free to the public and does not require the purchase of tour tickets.

If you would like to help and get behind the scenes by volunteering, please fill out an application online. You can also help by becoming a sponsor or advertising in the program book. Just call or email Maddy Sattler, VP of Development, at (805) 379-4777 to learn more.

We’ll see you on the tour!

Gratitude for Helping Hands

We make a living by what we do, but we make a life by what we give.
-- Winston Churchill


Without the support of our friends, neighbors, volunteers, board members, and local businesses, there is no way we could do what we do. We want to share these recent examples of the ways local businesses and volunteers have made a difference.

A group of volunteers from Baxter International Inc.’s Global BioScience group spent August 13 working at the Chatsworth headquarters of the Jennifer Diamond Cancer Foundation. They were preparing rooms so that The Wellness Community Valley/Ventura could offer cancer support programs to adults and children in the San Fernando Valley whose lives have been touched by cancer.

On August 14, over 50 Amgen Oncology employees spent a day raking, tilling, and grading our grounds for our Garden of Hope. They also worked on interior improvements to the building that houses our free cancer support programs.

You can see photos of the volunteers from Amgen and Baxter at our website.

Volunteers celebrated United Way’s 20th annual Day of Caring on September 26 by continuing work on the Garden, bringing our dream even closer to a reality. You can read all about it in the Ventura County Star.

These are just some of the many stories of caring and selflessness that are embedded in the fabric of our organization. Even in the leaner years (like this one) we have faith that someone, somewhere, will be inspired to lend a hand, whether it’s a donation, a day spent working in our blossoming garden, or a much-needed hug from a volunteer to a newly-diagnosed cancer patient who walks in our doors for the first time.

Please visit our website to learn more about ways you can make a difference.