Ventura County Community Development Corporation Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Ventura County Community Development Corporation (VCCDC) celebrated its 20th anniversary on October 21, 2021 at Spanish Hills Country Club in Camarillo with long-time supporters and friends of the organization. This special celebration marked the organization’s impact of transforming lives through homeownership. VCCDC was created in 2001, paving the way for the organization to become the only CDFI based nonprofit serving low-to-moderate income families with mortgages in the Ventura County.

“Our work over twenty years has been a living testament of our mission to strengthen and sustain vibrant communities by empowering individuals and families to build wealth through education and homeownership,” said Bertha Garcia, executive director. “We have exceeded our expectations, supporting over 18,000 individuals in achieving financial literacy and providing more than $160 million in first and second mortgage loans,” she added.

Bank of the Sierra was the Title Sponsor of 20th Anniversary celebration, and Presenting Sponsors included California Bank & Trust, CIT Bank, Premier America Credit Union, Pacific Western Bank, U.S. Bank, and Union Bank. Additional event sponsors include County of Ventura, Mechanics Bank, Melinda Kaye, Mountain West Financial Inc., Southern California Gas Company, Ventura County Credit Union, CBC Federal Credit Union, Montecito Bank & Trust, and The Port of Hueneme.

The organization’s success was built on legacies inspired by three former board members of which VCCDC acknowledged at the event.

“We have established three annual awards honoring Rodney Fernandez, Mike McGuire, and Ernest Baskette, Jr. for their visionary leadership, community partnership, and support. Their courage, tenacity, and commitments were paramount to our continued accomplishments,” Garcia added.

The VCCDC Awards and 2021 recipients were:

- Rodney Fernandez Anniversary Founder’s Award - Excellence in Visionary Leadership – Recipient: Ventura County Supervisor Carmen Ramirez

- Ernest Baskette Award - Excellence in Community Support – Recipient: City of Oxnard

- Mike McGuire Award - Excellence in Community Partnership – Recipient: Theresa Bardwell/Rural Communities Assistance Corporation (RCAC)

“We’ve only just begun. Helping build family wealth begins with having one's own home which leads to economic vitality, family stability, and improved quality of life. We are grateful for the overwhelming support received in order to be a viable organization that invests in our communities through individuals and families, one house at a time,” she added.