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S.C.V. History
June 23
1946, 11:20pm: William S. Hart, 81, dies at L.A.'s California Lutheran Hospital, leaving his Newhall estate and his (now West) Hollywood home to the public [story]
Hart dies


Recently, the Santa Clarita Valley Senior Center New Building Campaign announced it had raised more than $450,000 since February, moving our community closer to groundbreaking on the new SCV Senior Center and reducing the total still needed to be raised to $1.3 million.

A significant portion of that sum was donated by Steve Y. Kim, owner of Sand Canyon Country Club, formerly Robinson Ranch.

In the above photo, Kim is joined by SCV Senior Center Kevin MacDonald and new building campaign co-chair Peggy Rasmussen.

Kim came to the United States in 1976 to achieve the American dream, working in a warehouse during the day and attending school at night in his pursuit to earn a master’s degree in engineering.

Five years after his graduation, Kim started a high-tech garage-based venture in the San Fernando Valley; it was a remarkable success. Kim then started his second venture – Xylan – which became one of the fastest-growing companies in Southern California. Kim sold Xylan in 1999 for $2 billion.

After remarkable entrepreneurial success in the United States, Kim moved back to Korea in 2007 in hopes of discovering a meaningful life’s purpose. That soul searching led to his creation of the DreamHopeFuture foundation, an organization committed to improving the lives of children in need.

“Robinson Ranch also gave me an opportunity to improve lives,” Kim said. The former country club had suffered dramatically from extreme drought. “When I saw it, I was determined to turn it around.”

Kim has thus far invested millions, as well as seven-days-a-week effort, into revitalizing the property, renaming it the Sand Canyon Country Club. The property will boast a 200-room resort hotel with a spa and wellness center, swimming pools, tennis and pickle-ball courts, a gourmet restaurant and much more.

“This country, and this community, gave me opportunity,” Kim said. “When I saw the new SCV Senior Center building project, I felt urged to give something back to the community and to the United States, which gave me the fair opportunity to be where I am. I am very happy to be able to do something meaningful for Santa Clarita seniors.”

“We are so very grateful to Mr. Kim for this incredibly-generous donation,” said Campaign Co-chair Peggy Rasmussen. “Because of his gift, we are much closer to our fundraising goal – which means that SCV seniors are that much closer to having access to the new building they deserve.”

“Donations from business owners and entrepreneurs like Mr. Kim are appreciated not only because these funds are vital to make our vision for the new Center a reality, but because these business professionals know a good investment when they see it – and there’s no better investment than our seniors,” said SCV Senior Center Executive Director Kevin MacDonald.

“Our hope is that, as more and more businesses and entrepreneurs continue to join our Campaign, community members who’ve yet to contribute will be encouraged to join us in our work to raise the final $1.3 million,” MacDonald said.

“We are extraordinarily grateful to Steve Kim for his generosity – and also his vision,” Rasmussen said. “As an incredibly successful tech entrepreneur and well-respected philanthropist, Mr. Kim understands the value of investing in both innovation and the people who will benefit from it. The new SCV Senior Center will be truly state of the art – and three times as large as our current Center, allowing us to serve both today’s, and tomorrow’s, senior population.”

ABOUT THE SCV SENIOR CENTER NEW BUILDING CAMPAIGN
The SCV Senior Center New Building Campaign is currently soliciting donations and community partnerships. Donations can be made online at www.NewSeniorCenter.com; by writing a check to SCVCOA-Building Fund (Memo: Capital Campaign) and mailing it to 22900 Market Street, Santa Clarita, CA 91321; calling in a credit-card donation to the SCV Senior Center (661-259-9444) or working with Executive Director MacDonald to arrange gifts of stock, securities and more (661-259-9444, extension 123). Building naming opportunities, commemorative plaques and more are available and donations are tax deductible.

ABOUT THE NEW SCV SENIOR CENTER
The 2.5-acre site of the new building is on Golden Valley Road in Santa Clarita and will serve SCV’s growing senior population and those who love them. Exciting additions to the new Center include an expanded Adult Day Program, Health & Wellness Center, Employment and Financial Centers; Culinary Arts Kitchen; multi-purpose rooms; a “living room” with fireplace and socialization area; and much more.

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5 Comments

  1. Excellent. Makes me look into visiting the new Sand Canyon golf course. I hope buddies can join me.. Clovis Kerr, Matt Pawlak, Bob Zimmerman, Robert Torres, Luis Segura, Bob Saldana, Mike Carran, Mike Sidoti, Ceasar Scott

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SCV NONPROFIT LINKS

NONPROFIT HEADLINES
Saturday, Jun 21, 2025
The Agua Dulce Women's Club Community Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, June 25, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, CA 91390.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, the longest-running and largest food assistance organization in the SCV, has been selected by Albertsons Companies to receive a $30,000 makeover grant.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025
The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center invites the community to the Third Annual Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 21 at 11 a.m. at Lucky Luke Brewing Company.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025
Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day will be held Saturday, June 28, at Acton Park, noon to 9 p.m.
Thursday, Jun 19, 2025
ARTree Community Arts Center in collaboration with Santa Clarita Public Library are seeking teen volunteers to help create a bottle cap mural.

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1946, 11:20pm: William S. Hart, 81, dies at L.A.'s California Lutheran Hospital, leaving his Newhall estate and his (now West) Hollywood home to the public [story]
Hart dies
1972 - Vasquez Rocks added to National Register of Historic Places [list]
Vasquez Rocks
The Agua Dulce Women's Club Community Blood Drive will be held Wednesday, June 25, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m. at 33201 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, CA 91390.
June 25: Agua Dulce Women’s Club Community Blood Drive
The regular meeting of the Saugus Union School District Governing Board of Trustees will be held Tuesday, June 24 beginning at 6:40 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5:30 p.m.
June 24: Saugus Union School District Board Regular Meeting
1941 - Ernie Hickson buys out Trem Carr's interest in their Monogram movie ranch, renames it "Placeritos" (later called Melody) [story]
Ernie Hickson
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a meeting Wednesday, June 25, beginning with a closed session at 2:30 p.m. The open session begins at 5 p.m.
June 25: COC Board to Conduct Self-Evaluation Retreat
The Santa Clarita Valley Food Pantry, the longest-running and largest food assistance organization in the SCV, has been selected by Albertsons Companies to receive a $30,000 makeover grant.
SCV Food Pantry to Receive $30K ‘Makeover’ from Albertsons
The Samuel Dixon Family Health Center invites the community to the Third Annual Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, June 21 at 11 a.m. at Lucky Luke Brewing Company.
June 21: Sam Dixon Cornhole Tournament at Lucky Luke Brewing
Calling all Los Angeles County artists and performers. If you're part of a dance, music, vocal, musical theater or circus group, you are encouraged to apply to be part of the 66th Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration.
Performers Sought for Annual L.A. County Holiday Celebration
The Castaic Union School District Governing Board will hold its regular meeting Thursday, June 26 at 6 p.m. The board will first meet in closed session at 5 p.m.
June 26: CUSD Board of Trustees Regular Meeting
Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day will be held Saturday, June 28, at Acton Park, noon to 9 p.m.
June 28: Amateur Ham Radio National Field Day at Acton Park
For one weekend only, Matchbox Theatre Co. is bringing its inaugural production of Johnna Adams’ "World Builders" to The MAIN.
June 27-29: Matchbox Theatre to Present ‘World Builders’ at The MAIN
Vasquez Rocks Natural Area will host its "Pride Outside," event 4-7 p.m. Sunday, June 29.
June 29: Pride Outside at Vasquez Rocks
Caltrans has announced overnight lane reductions are scheduled on northbound and southbound Interstate 5 (I-5) south of Templin Highway starting Monday, June 23 for pavement rehabilitation.
June 23-27: Castaic Area I-5 Lane Closures
2002 - "Legacy: Santa Clarita's Living History" series debuts on SCVTV with "Placerita Gold" episode [watch]
Legacy
The Pioneer Oil Refinery off of Pine Street in Newhall was built in 1877 by California Star Oil works, forming the foundation for the West Coast oil industry. Benzene and kerosene were the main products made in the refinery and were later sold locally in Ventura and Santa Barbara.
Pioneer Oil Refinery Park Opens to the Public in Newhall
Old Town Newhall will host a "Sip into Summer" Bar Crawl, 8 p.m. Saturday, June 21 on Main Street.
June 21: Sip into Summer Bar Crawl On Main Street
I wanted to share a quick legislative update from Sacramento. We recently reached the deadline to send bills from the Senate to the Assembly in order to continue moving them through the legislative process this session.
Suzette Martinez Valladares | Report from the State Senate
The city of Santa Clarita is seeking Youth Basketball Coaches for the 2025 summer season.
Santa Clarita Volunteer Youth Basketball Coaches Needed
Love the outdoors? Passionate about community programs? The city of Santa Clarita is hiring part-time Recreation Leaders to help bring events, camps and nature programs to life at William S. Hart Park.
Santa Clarita Hiring for Positions at Hart Park
Harley-Davidson Santa Clarita will host a performance suspension workshop, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, June 28 with a Q and A with experts from OHLINS Factory.
June 28: Harley-Davidson Santa Clarita Suspension Workshop
California Institute of the Arts was recently named in The Hollywood Reporter’s inaugural Top Animation Schools list for 2025.
CalArts Named One of ‘The Hollywood Reporter’s’ Top Animation Schools for 2025
ARTree Community Arts Center in collaboration with Santa Clarita Public Library are seeking teen volunteers to help create a bottle cap mural.
ARTree, Santa Clarita Library Seeks Volunteers for Bottle Cap Mural
SCVNews.com