Valley native gives back to community, Presents Providence Tarzana with record donation

January 24, 2018

She is a real Valley girl, who grew up in a time before shopping malls became the icon that redefined growing up in L.A.’s biggest suburb.

She worked her paper route in an era where adolescent boys tossed the local paper from canvas bags hung from their bicycle handlebars onto customers’ driveways. She spent countless hours at her dad’s business, Clago’s Troutdale in Agoura, where tourists, local families and even business people stopped on a sunny afternoon at to dangle a line in the ponds, many fishing for the very first time.

In junior high school, Allison Clago was voted most likely to succeed. It appears her classmates were prophetic. If success is measured in money, Clago, a well-known stockbroker, has done well. But when, as it should be, success is gauged by character, she rises to the top.

Clago, a member of the board of governors of Providence Tarzana Foundation, is doubling down on her commitment to the health of the community she still calls home. On January 24, Clago formalized a trust, bequeathing $4 million to the hospital, now undergoing a major renovation and expansion. She has made a similar gift to Providence Saint John’s Health Center, a sister hospital in Santa Monica.

Clago chose health care as one of her many charities because it is essential to every person – at any time.

“The thing about life… we wake up in the morning and we know the sun is coming up,” she said. “We have control in life. Material things are replaceable, but with a person’s health you can’t always fix it when a person is suffering. We have to think what we can do to help prevent and treat illness and I want to help Tarzana have a bigger and better facility for the community’s sake.”

Providence Tarzana is raising funds for its $540 million expansion and renovation of the 45-year-old hospital campus. Work has begun on the Tarzana Reimagined project, which includes a new patient wing, a new and expanded Emergency Department, a second parking structure, enhancements to the current 21-bed neonatal intensive care unit and the existing 33-bed Women’s Pavilion, expanded diagnostic and treatment areas, a redesigned lobby and visitor reception area and gardens.

The Providence Tarzana Foundation fundraises for the hospital to provide new technology, education, programs and other improvements and enhancements.

Clago learned the importance of philanthropy from her father, who contributed anonymously to community causes. In fact, his daughter initially did not want her gift announced, but she considered her mother’s strategy – “Put your name on it,” she said, “and people will follow your example.”

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