Statement of Commitment
Assuming community responsibility by doing Community Service enables all of us to prosper and grow.  In turn the health, strength and vitality of our communities nourish us, as well as our families and our businesses.  Many great programs would never get started without "boots on the ground" help from businesses and their leaders. For these reasons, we at SMI proudly donate our time, money, and know-how to several local nonprofit programs and foundations.

Santa Clarita Community Development Corporation
Making Santa Clarita Better - One Life at a Time.  When El Nino hit for the first time in the winter of 1996-1997, the SCCDC found the chance to actively improve the lives of their neighbors.  Every year since, the SCCDC has provided emergency winter shelter to those in need.  Now, a renewed focus on the future and community support has enabled the SCCDC to establish a semi-permanent shelter with support services including job placement and case management.  These goals have the SCCDC calling on community participation to aid the less fortunate of the Santa Clarita Valley.  Having started with the SCCDC as a volunteer in 2002, Andy Pattantyus currently serves as board VP, providing facility planning and strategic planning expertise.  To discover in what capacity you can help the SCCDC and the homeless of the Santa Clarita Valley, please visit the SCCDC's website at www.santaclaritashelter.com 

Valley Industrial Association
The Valley Industrial Association (VIA) connects businesses from the Santa Clarita Valley giving them a voice and a pool of resources to actively participate in their community.  VIA established the Education Committee to collaborate with schools to improve education for the betterment of the students and businesses.  VIA provides judges for Valencia High School's Senior Project - a mandatory 8 week internship for all seniors. Further, the Education Committee plans, supports, and co-sponsors with So. Cal Jr. Achievement the Connecting-to-Success events, held every year (visit VIA Connecting to Success). This School-to-Career event for high school juniors provides students with the necessary skills and information to join the highly competitive workforce. Recently, VIA has established an advocacy initiative to encourage the development of more workforce housing in the Santa Clarita Valley. Andy Pattantyus is currently the VP of Advocacy and is an active member of the Work Force Housing (WFH) committee.  More detailed information on the array of services offered by VIA can be found at www.via.org.

Single Mothers Outreach
Single Mothers Outreach empowers single parents and their children by providing hope, support, and resources to help families become self-sustaining. Andy Pattantyus serves on the advisory board, providing strategic planning expertise and business planning support.  To discover in what capacity you can help the SMO and the single mothers of the Santa Clarita Valley, please visit the SMO website at www.singlemothersoutreach.org

Measure SA - Citizens Oversight Committee
In March 2009, Andy Pattantyus was one of nine people named to the committee that will oversee the proper expenditure of $300 million in school-bond funds that will be used for construction and facility upgrades for schools in the William S. Hart Union School District in Santa Clarita. Andy's background in managing large projects, using rigorous accounting and project management methods, will serve him well in this civic service project. To learn more about the intended use of the Measure SA funds, please visit the website at www.hartdistrict.org/news/MeasureSA/Bond-General_info.pdf