[KHTS Michele E. Buttelman] -Nissan of Valencia donated $1,000 to the Boys and Girls Clubof Santa Clarita Valley Foundation to fund the SCV Youth Performing Arts Stagecraft Program at the Sierra Vista Branch of the club.

“We are thrilled this program can continue at the club because of the generosity of Nissan of Valencia,” said Ronda Chobanian, director of the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Clarita Valley Foundation. “We are so lucky to have such wonderful community partners who step up when needed.”

Daniel Sterkel, executive manger of Nissan of Valencia, said he was pleased to be able to help.
“We believe in giving back to the community,” Sterkel said.

Because of his volunteer activities with SCV nonprofits Sterkel has been nominated for the honor of Santa Clarita Valley Man of the Year.

The SCV Youth Performing Arts Program, founded by Dennis Poore, provides students at the club a chance to learn performing skills that help children with self esteem, public speaking and teamwork.

“This isn’t just an ‘acting’ program,” Poore said. “This is about developing listening skills, being able to present yourself well, think on your feet and being confident.”

Poore said the skills learned in the program will benefit the students throughout their life.

“When you can speak confidently, and present yourself well, it helps you in job interviews and in the workplace,” he said.

The class, which meets 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays at the Sierra Vista clubhouse of the Boys & Girls Club of SCV, offers experiences in improvisation, scene work, music, monologues and theater games.