A nonprofit organization that seeks to foster partnerships between churches in Ventura County in the service of those in need has hired a full-time executive director to spearhead a new phase in its growth.

Jill Upson, of Simi Valley, took the helm of the ACTION Foundation two months ago and oversaw its move from a leased building in an industrial park on Constitution Avenue in Camarillo to space in the new Ventura County Community Foundation building at 4001 Mission Oaks Blvd.

ACTION — Area Christians Taking Initiative on Needs — focuses primarily on serving the elderly and disabled, at-risk youths, low-income families and the homeless.

Upson is a member of StoneBridge Community Church in Simi Valley, where she oversees all its community services and mission projects. She also, for the past several years, has organized the ACTION Christmas Shoppe in Simi Valley, which lets low-income parents pick out toys for their children.

As executive director for ACTION, Upson will be responsible for guiding the organization in all areas, including strategic planning programs, finance, volunteer development and outreach training.

The executive director says she’s thrilled with this new opportunity.

“What I see is ACTION being a catalyst to bring churches, volunteers and the community together to meet the needs of the community and in that way we can transform the community together,” she said. “If each church adopted a school or seniors complex and really met the needs of these people, imagine what we could do to transform our community.”

Upson said it is good to put faith into action by providing clothes, food and other services people need.

“God loves us, and we want to be able to share that love with others by meeting their practical needs and through random acts of kindness,” she said.

One of Upson’s first tasks is to oversee the nonprofit’s annual Serve Day on June 1 when hundreds of volunteers help seniors, low-income families and others in need with practical projects.

Kirk Dewitt, lead pastor at Conejo Church in Newbury Park, is president of ACTION’s board and said Upson was a natural choice.

“One thing that’s really neat about Jill is that she’s already doing the job,” Dewitt said. “She’s been great at getting churches and volunteers together in really neat programs that help people, and she already knows how to organize people.”

Dewitt said the move to the nonprofit center, which is home to other nonprofit service organizations, including United Way of Ventura County and Interface Children and Family Services, will enable ACTION to do more.

“It’s time for us to stop being the little organization in the corner and have a little more influence in the county so we can partner better and help more people,” he said. “I think Jill will be really good at networking and empowering more volunteers.”

ACTION will host an open house from 4:30-7 p.m. Thursday at its offices, and Upson said everyone is welcome.

“We just want to thank people who have been supportive and let others know what we’re about,” she said.

For more information, visit www.actionvc.org or call 987-0300.

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ACTION Foundation is strengthening its staff and leadership by introducing a new role of Executive Director.

JIll Upson will be responsible for guiding the organization in all areas including strategic planning; programs; finance; support; relationship and volunteer development; and outreach training.

She led the Simi Valley ACTION Community Christmas Shoppe and StoneBridge Community Church participation in ACTION Serve Day for over 4 years.

Jill also assembled an outreach team of volunteers that found and developed ways to meet needs and show the love of Jesus to all.  She knows ACTION well, is well qualified, and will substantially strengthen our team and outreach.

She has held positions of leadership throughout the community as president of the PTA, Soccer Booster, and Simi Valley Mother of Twins and Triplets club. She has also served on various boards as treasurer, fundraiser, editor and parliamentarian while chairing many program and hospitality committees. Indeed, her passion for serving others has continually been exhibited through her management and hands-on efforts aimed at meeting the needs of individuals and organizations.

Other experience has included extensive work with children, program management, retail purchasing, finance, and sales.  Jill received her Bachelor of Science degree in Recreation Administration with a minor in sociology at the College of New Jersey.

She serves as an elder at StoneBridge Community Church and leads their Local Mission Team.

She resides in Simi Valley with her husband Mark and three children, Ryan, Kelly, and Sean.

Seaside Half Marathon 5k 10k Feb 24, 2013 – www.SeasideHalf.com

1)      Saturday Feb 23 – From 3 – 6 pm – 8 volunteers needed

2)      Sunday Feb 24 – 7:00 am to 12 noon – 15 volunteers needed

Meet at the Promenade park on the Ventura Beach Boardwalk near crown plaza

Camarillo Duathlon #1, Feb 10, 2013 ( THIS WEEKEND!)  www.CamarilloDuathlon.com

1)      Saturday Feb 9 – from 3-6 pm  for finish line and transition setup – 6 to 8 volunteers needed

2)      Sunday Feb 10 – from 7:00 am to 11:30 am – race day duties – 10 volunteers needed

Meet at the Camarillo Airport – 515 Eubanks St, Camarillo CA 93010

Amazing things happened this December 8th and 15th at our 4 annual Community Christmas Shoppes!

At this year’s 2012 Community Christmas Shoppes, volunteers from over 55 area churches came together to serve more than 1500 under-resourced families by providing toys for Christmas in a God-filled, family-friendly atmosphere at our 9th annual Community Christmas Shoppes!  It was amazing to see God’s love change lives across Ventura County!  Click HERE to visit our 2012 Community Christmas Shoppe page.

One City Meal

This year in downtown Ventura we’ll acknowledge for a 5th time Thanksgiving Day not by simply remembering but by doing. On Thursday, November 22th a city in common will spend a few hours over a few hundred pounds of potatoes to be together.  An act perhaps best expressed in the thoughtful words of John F. Kennedy;

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”

CLICK HERE for more details!

Open Hands

   The Shepherd’s House holiday event

   This holiday version of Open Hands will be a

   practical way to bring the love of God to families

   so that every home experiences provision and

   joy. We will be distributing groceries and

   hosting a special dinner to our community.

   click on the flyer for more details