PLAYA VENICE SUNRISE 2025 - 26 Newsletter Vol 20 (Nov. 10, 2025)

Rotarians of the Month

We recognized three individuals who embody
the spirit of servant leadership—those deeply
committed to the well-being of others and the
community, and who exemplify this commitment
in their daily actions. The club honored Rob,
Gail, and Lisa for their outstanding efforts
throughout October in making the Cultural
Dinner a success.

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A Toast to Service... and
a Plaque for Lucy!

And then, there are times when we recognize
a Rotarian just because. Lucy received her
Rotary car plaque holder—something she had
long wanted! Always active in the club and
eager to show her Rotary pride, we surprised
her with the very last one available.

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When Good Ideas Feed Those In Need
- Food For Friends

It’s an amazing thing when two people come
together and lock into a shared state of mind
that sparks new ideas to serve the community.
And so it was when Kathrine and Gail created
Food for Friends—a program dedicated to
helping families in need through the Mar Vista
Family Center. Together, they donated $1,000
to purchase grocery gift cards, inspiring others
to join in. Their enthusiasm was contagious,
and hands quickly went up around the room, pledging a total of $2,375 to support those
families in need. Service in action!

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LAPD 100 Year Celebration

In support of our local law enforcement’s
100-year celebration, we were honored to
present Diane Barretti, President of the Pacific
Boosters Association, with a check for $1,000
in recognition of this milestone and the
continued partnership between our
club and the LAPD.

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Debbie Bennett Craft Talk

An amazing presentation peppered with
humor and heart left the room wanting
more! Debbie’s easygoing storytelling—
journeying from Brooklyn to Los Angeles—
gave us a glimpse of a life well lived.
Entering Duke University at just 16, she
went on to earn her PhD in Chemistry from
LSU, proudly noting she was the “stone
cold fox” as the only woman in her chemistry
lab. From there, she worked in her family’s
renowned cosmetics business, Aida Grey
— an iconic name in aesthetics. Never
thinking she’d go into teaching, Debbie
ultimately retired as a science teacher—
one of her greatest joys. Her story reminded
us that a curious mind and a joyful heart
can lead to a life of lasting impact.

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📸 Cultural Dinner Photos Link 📸

Many of you have asked to view the many
pictures taken at An Evening In Havana
Cultural Dinner. Here’s the link. Enjoy!

www.glennmarzano.com/202510rotary
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Happy Hour At the Del Rey Yacht Club

What a fun evening with sixteen of PVS
Rotarians joining in fellowship for a night
out! Big shout-out to Racquel for choosing
the perfect spot and pulling all the details
together seamlessly!

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Rotarians Around Town

USC vs, Northwestern:
Friendly Rivals, United Fellowship

The common denominator between Gwen
and Jim and the Wong family? A shared love
of college football! The two families enjoyed
an evening out cheering for their favorite
teams—USC and Northwestern. A night of
friendly rivalry, laughter, and family fun.

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Formula 1 Sunday Morning

Brazil was this year’s location for the Formula 1 races, and the lovely home of Gail and Rob
became the perfect spot to view all the action.
With John’s lively commentaries adding to the
excitement, fourteen of us enjoyed a Sunday
morning filled with great hospitality, delicious
food, warm company, and plenty of cheer.

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Dinner with Visiting
Rotarians from Argentina

We had the pleasure of dining with a delightful
couple from Argentina, Antonio and Malina
Marrazzo. The Marrazzos, who now live in
Houston, first joined us at last Thursday’s
Happy Hour. Antonio, a fellow Rotarian and
Fulbright Scholar, is currently attending Rice
University. Joining them for dinner at The
Hideaway in Beverly Hills were Brady, Lauri,
Ramona, Jim, and Gwen — an evening filled
with great conversation and fellowship.

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Events This Week

Rise Against Hunger

November 15th

📍Torrance YMCA
2900 Sepúlveda Blvd,
Torrance, CA

⏰ 9 AM - 12 PM

“Our Vision A World Without Hunger
Impacting remote, last-mile communities
within hunger pockets can feel daunting.
With your help, we can continue to step
into these grassroots communities with
hope and help.”

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LAPD 100 Year Celebration

November 15th

📍Pacific Area Station
12312 Culver Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA

⏰ 11 AM - 3 PM

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Inglewood Rotary Bingo Night

November 15th

📍Lawndale Community Center
14700 Burin Avenue,
Lawndale, CA

⏰ 4 PM - 7 PM

We’re excited to support Inglewood Rotary
for their Bingo Night on November 15!
A big shout-out to Rob and Gail for
volunteering to run the bingo—thank
you for representing PVSR with such
enthusiasm and community spirit!

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Build A Bear 🧸

November 16th

⏰ 4 PM - 6 PM
🍴Dinner immediately following
6 PM - 7:30 PM at Cantalini’s

It’s that wonderful time of year again —
when we have the chance to bring joy
to children with a special bear lovingly
made by our members’ hands. Mark
your calendars—it’s truly an uplifting
and heartwarming experience you
won’t want to miss! Contact Kathrine
Russel to sign up.

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Events Coming Up

Support the LAPD Pacific Area
Student Cadets This Holiday Season

The Pacific Area Boosters’ annual fundraiser
benefits the LAPD Pacific Area Student Cadets,
all station officers, and essential station needs.
This holiday season, you can support their
efforts by purchasing your Christmas tree
and holiday greenery through the
following link ⬇️

You have 8 days left to order your
Christmas tree and greenery!

fundraiser4us.com/shop/PacificBoosters

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Westchester Seniors'
Thanksgiving Dinner
November 21st

📍Westchester Senior Citizens Center

⏰ 11 AM - 2 PM
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Holiday With MVFC
December 6th

Individual Tickets: $50

Family Tickets: $100

Event Toy Drive: Bring a toy

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First Saturday Stroll
December 6th

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Westside Food Bank Service
Event - Updated Link

We’re sorry for the mix-up in last week’s article
— the original link and QR code didn’t work.
Please visit Westside Food Bank to complete
the short interest form.

The Playa Venice Club is teaming up with the Westside Food Bank, which provides over
4 million meals each year to 72,000 households
in West LA — with 67% of the food being fresh produce, protein, and dairy.

There are many meaningful ways to help.
Filling out the form simply lets us know
what interests you and when you’re available
— no commitment needed. Thank you for
helping us make a difference!