Ladera School to Hold Benefit Jog-a-Thon

* Ladera Elementary School will hold its Jog-a-thon IV from 8:30 to 11:45 a.m. Friday at 1211 Calle Almendro, Thousand Oaks. Proceeds will benefit the school and the Johnsson Cancer Center Foundation at UCLA. Information: 492-3565.

Conejo Parenting Group Plans Fund-Raiser

* The Conejo Valley chapter of Parents Without Partners will hold a benefit dance from 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday at the Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Singles and couples are welcome. Proceeds will go to the Conejo Free Clinic. $10 general, $6 group members. Information: 496-3061.

Fillmore Will Host Annual 5K, 10K Events

* The Fillmore-Piru Boys & Girls Club will hold its annual 5K and 10K run Saturday beginning at Sespe and Central avenues in Fillmore. Registration will begin at 6 a.m. with both events starting at 7:30 a.m. Entry fee is $18, which includes a T-shirt; or $10 without a T-shirt. Information: 525-7910.

Walk for Life Walkathon Steps Off in Park

* The Conejo Valley Crisis Pregnancy Center will hold its 12th annual Walk for Life Walkathon from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Conejo Creek Park North, 1379 E. Janss Road, Thousand Oaks. Participants will raise pledge money to walk, run, bike or skate the 2 1/2-mile route. Prizes will be awarded for pledges of $150 or more. The organization provides women having difficult pregnancies with a variety of services including a 24-hour hotline, pregnancy testing and a prenatal care clinic. Information: 373-1222.

School Offers a Little Bit of New Orleans

* Maple School will host a family day Mardi Gras from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at 3501 Kimber Drive, Newbury Park. There will be Louisiana-style food, a silent auction, games and other children’s activities. Proceeds will go toward school activities including field trips and special assemblies. Information: 499-9007 or 498-4422.

Performers Sign On for Benefit Variety Show

* Blues harmonica musician Bobby Joe Holman, Jan & Dean guitarist Randell Kirsch and the barbershop quartet Jest for Phun will be among the performers in a benefit musical variety show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Thousand Oaks Inn, 75 W. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Proceeds will benefit the Interfaith Church of Today, which sponsors a variety of community outreach programs. $10 adults, $5 children. Tickets: 557-0034.

Annual Event to Help Ojai Valley Veterans

* The Ojai unit of the American Legion Auxiliary will hold its eighth annual flea market and craft fair from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the American Legion Hall, 843 E. Ojai Ave. $20 for a booth space, with proceeds benefiting military veterans in the Ojai Valley. Information: 649-2705.

Fund-Raiser Planned for New Science Lab

* The Somis School Carnival will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at 5268 North St. in Somis. There will be games, music, food and other family activities. Proceeds will go toward a new science lab for the school. Information: 386-5711.

Juried Art Show, Exhibit to Be Held in Ojai

* Artists from Ventura and Santa Barbara counties will team up with local floral artists to present the benefit Art in Bloom show Saturday and May 2 at the Ojai Center for the Arts, 113 S. Montgomery St. The juried show will open with a champagne gala from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, with the exhibit continuing from noon to 4 p.m. May 2. Proceeds will benefit the art center. $35 for both days; $10 for May 2 only. Tickets: 646-0117.

Annual Benefit Will Showcase Local Gardens

* Six private gardens will be on exhibit in the Camarillo Hospice’s third annual benefit garden tour from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday and May 2. Along with the self-guided tours there will be gardening demonstrations, a floral art display and a sale of garden boutique items. $12 advance, $15 on the day of the event; free for children under 12 with an adult. Information: 484-9768.

Used-Book Sale to Be Held at Ojai Library

* The Ojai Valley Library Friends and Foundation will hold its annual used-book sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. May 2 on the Ojai Library patio, 111 E. Ojai Ave. Information: 646-1639.

Bar Assn. Sponsoring Annual Law Day Run

* The Ventura County Bar Assn. will hold its 16th annual Law Day 5K Run/Walk May 2 at the Ventura County Government Center on Victoria Avenue, Ventura. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. with the race at 9 a.m. Proceeds will benefit the bar association’s Legal Services Fund, an endowment used to assist charitable organizations providing legal services to people of low income. $10 advance, $15 on race day. Registration: 650-7599 or 659-6800.

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Community Chest, a weekly listing of charitable fund-raising events, is compiled by Leo Smith. Please address items, with a publishable telephone number, to Community Chest, Los Angeles Times, 93 S. Chestnut St., Ventura 93001. Items can also be faxed to The Times at 653-7576 or 653-7548.