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Anonymous CEO pledges $10,000 to victim of wildfire
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More from Other News"He's a CEO of a company and wanted to make the pledge, but didn't want to take advantage of this for his business," said Joe Agnello, the manager of the Villa del Arroyo Mobile Home Park where the woman lives. "This is purely out of the goodness of his heart."
Diane McDonald, a 37-year-old nurse, barely escaped the Simi Valley fire Oct. 25 when it leaped from a cypress tree to her home in the Villa del Arroyo Mobile Home Park. The single mother of two young boys had just purchased the home three weeks earlier with $95,000 cash by emptying out her savings. But she hadn't yet purchased insurance.
Her story was featured in a special section that ran in Sunday's Ventura County Star as well as on a local television station and other media. Since her story has become known, the community has been generous. Parents at her son's preschool donated bags of clothing. Many others have brought toys and clothes and household goods to the mobile home park's office. Others have donated cash: So far $3,000 has been raised. Even Betty and Bill Gilmore, who also lost their mobile home at the park, donated $50 to McDonald. The anonymous donor has agreed to match all donations up to $10,000.
When Agnello told McDonald on Wednesday about the $10,000 pledge, she gasped: "Oh my God! Oh my God! Just when I get down, people are so kind."
Anyone wishing to help can contact the mobile home park for details on the fund at 523-7444.
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