(File photo) Steve Kim. Photo courtesy of The Signal.

Bridge to Home, the primary homeless services provider in the Santa Clarita Valley, is proud to announce a premier sponsor donation of $25,000 from Steve Kim, owner of Sand Canyon Country Club. Bridge to Home is seeking to raise $250,000 to ensure year-round shelter services in the Santa Clarita Valley. In August, Stay Green, Inc., a Santa Clarita-based landscaping services company, became the first premier sponsor for the campaign.

“This country, and this community, gave me opportunity,” Kim said. “I have seen first-hand the impact of homelessness and felt the need to give back in a meaningful way.” In addition to the local donation, Kim ordered and personally delivered 3,000 sleeping bags to individuals on Skid Row in Downtown Los Angeles thru Korean-American Volunteer Corps, aka Happy Village.

Kim has a long history of philanthropic undertakings in the hopes of becoming an inspiration to others. In 2001 he formed the Dream Hope Future Foundation (www.dhffn.com) in Korea to foster a community of talented and young, aspiring entrepreneurs. He also actively provides financial assistance to nonprofits within the Santa Clarita Valley.

Kim immigrated to the United States in 1976, working in a warehouse during the day and attending night school to earn a master’s degree in engineering. He became a tech entrepreneur founding several venture capital companies in the Silicon Valley, the most notable being Xylan Corporation in 1993. By 1996, Xylan was recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in California and sold to Alcatel in 1999 for $2 billion. In May, 2016 Kim took ownership of the former Robinson Ranch Golf Course and soon after the devastating Sand Fire severely damaged several holes of the golf course forcing him to shut it down for months. He invested millions in renovations, and renamed the property Sand Canyon Country Club.

“We are fortunate to have the support of local business leaders to further our mission,” said Bridge to Home Executive Director Michael Foley. “Mr. Kim’s generous donation goes toward the funding necessary to provide 60 beds year-round and other vital resources, such as employment assistance, legal and financial counseling, physical and mental healthcare, housing assistance, and more.”

“I want to provide people with the resources they need to live a happy life,” offered Kim, who is committed to sharing the knowledge he has gained through his own life experiences. “Right now, the world is a difficult place to be happy in.”

Bridge to Home has additional premier sponsorship opportunities available for interested individuals and businesses. The community is also encouraged to support the upcoming Soup for the Soul event – Sera in Italia – on October 12, 2019, at 6 p.m. at the new Bella Vida facility located at 27180 Golden Valley Road in Santa Clarita. This annual event provides guests an “Evening in Italy” complete with simmering soups crafted fresh from the garden and prepared by favorite restaurants. Sponsorship levels start at $1,000 and individual tickets are $100. All proceeds help Bridge to Home in furtherance of its mission of providing resources to those experiencing homelessness in the local community. For more information, visit www.btohome.org.

About Bridge to Home:
Bridge to Home provides support services – including shelter, case management, housing navigation, and linkages to needed support services– that help individuals and families in the Santa Clarita Valley transition out of homelessness. All these resources and services are available thanks to funds from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority, subcontracts with Los Angeles Family Housing, private and public grants, and extensive in-kind donations and participation from the local community.www.btohome.org

About Sand Canyon Country Club
One of California’s premier golf destinations, Sand Canyon golf course is located 35 miles north of Los Angeles, covering over 400 acres nestled at the base of the Angeles National Forest. After the Sand Fire in July 2016, businessman Steve Kim launched a massive renovation of the golf club and converted it into a 27-hole desert course open to the public. For more information, visit www.sandcanyoncc.com.