Simi Valley Days' primary mission is to provide a fundraising vehicle under the auspices of a community-wide event to the service clubs, charitable organizations and nonprofit groups of the community. The Simi Valley Days Organization is an umbrella group operating on a self-sustained basis. It provides the organizational and administrative services necessary to promote the fundraising venues and activities of its Committee members.
The Simi Valley Days event celebrates its 24nd consecutive year in 2008. The event is the successor of the long-established community festival, Pioneer Days. Like its predecessor, Simi Valley Days features a variety of events such as the parade, carnival, and concerts arranged for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. Generally, Simi Valley Days celebrates the City's birthday of October 10, 1969.
BACKGROUND
Simi Valley Days is administered by a nonprofit corporation known as Simi Valley
Days Organization, Inc., and is implemented by a panel known as the Simi Valley
Days Committee. Money generated from the event is used to cover expenses, but
predominantly is distributed back into the community. Money collected by the
Simi Valley Days Organization, such as via ticket and advertising sales, is
spent organizing and maintaining the entire festival. Simi Valley Days, for many
years, was able to bank a small amount net profit in preparation for succeeding
years.
Substantial costs for the entire festival are covered by the Simi Valley Days Organization.
The people, programs, or organizations which have benefited annually from the Simi Valley Days' venue funding included, in no particular order: local children, young adults, seniors, schools, parks, students, athletes, disabled residents, a museum, food banks, emergency service providers, health care providers, low-income residents, cancer victims, heart disease victims, homeless residents, parents, educators and police. According to members of the Kiwanis Club of Santa Susana, "(The Simi Valley Days Organization) is not the profit center. It's all of us, the venues. If we didn't have Simi Valley Days to do this, we wouldn't be able to raise so much money."
SUMMARY
Simi Valley Days offers residents opportunities to celebrate their community,
but it also assists individuals and organizations involved with improving the
community through a variety of ways and means. The public, in general, is
unaware that Simi Valley Days is not a for-profit, moneymaking venture, but is a
full nonprofit venture basically subsidized by great volunteers.