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TTYA presented an "Evening of Hope" for Oakland - A night of community building during the first week of Nov. 2010. The event saw support from Grammy Award winner Club Nouveau, Stellar Award nominated saxophonist Ron Brown and Comedy Sensation Larry La La all seeking to bring peace to a hurting city. Please view the news coverage we received and stay tuned!
Art adds to Bags for Kids
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
FROM LEFT: Calexico High School students Samantha Salas, Elizabeth Williams, Steven Llamas, Corina Chairez, Veronica Perez and chairman of Turn the Youth Around, William Pennerman, go through a pile of backpacks donated to needy students in the Calexico School District.
CALEXICO — Steven Llamas looked around him at the room filled with backpacks, realizing that his hands will help more than 400 kids slip on a new bag.
The 17-year-old Calexico High School senior was one of a handful of students from Calexico High, Calexico Mission School, William Moreno Junior High, De Anza Junior High and Enrique Camarena Junior High whose drawings of Martin Luther King Jr. raised $750 for the local Bags for Kids foundation at an art auction Jan. 15.
“Wal-Mart then matched the $750 to give us a grand total of $1,500,” Bags for Kids coordinator Michael Jeffers said. “With that money, we brought backpacks to distribute to all the schools involved to give to needy students.”
“Whenever I’m doing a piece and I can see it actually affects a lot of people, it gives me gratitude,” Steven said. “It makes me happy that I can do something and see its affect on people.”
Jeffers said the Calexico-based fundraiser, which took place at Hometown Buffet in Calexico in January, is the first step in an effort he would like to see reach the entire Imperial Valley.
“Our goal is to provide every kid in the Imperial Valley with a backpack,” Jeffers said.
Bill Pennerman, the founder and director for the San Bernardino-based Turn the Youth Around organization — of which Bags for Kids is a subsidiary — said the donation is for a great cause.
“We believe in investing in the youth of today, and it starts with education,” Pennerman said. “We believe the star is shining bright here in Calexico.
“Our motto is that the youth comprise 25 percent of our population, but 100 percent of our future,” Pennerman said.
The bags, which came in an assortment of shapes, sizes, colors and material, will be handed to students from Calexico’s three junior high schools and single public high school, as well as Calexico Mission School.
FROM LEFT: Calexico High School students Samantha Salas, Elizabeth Williams, Steven Llamas, Corina Chairez, Veronica Perez and chairman of Turn the Youth Around, William Pennerman, go through a pile of backpacks donated to needy students in the Calexico School District.
CALEXICO — Steven Llamas looked around him at the room filled with backpacks, realizing that his hands will help more than 400 kids slip on a new bag.
The 17-year-old Calexico High School senior was one of a handful of students from Calexico High, Calexico Mission School, William Moreno Junior High, De Anza Junior High and Enrique Camarena Junior High whose drawings of Martin Luther King Jr. raised $750 for the local Bags for Kids foundation at an art auction Jan. 15.
“Wal-Mart then matched the $750 to give us a grand total of $1,500,” Bags for Kids coordinator Michael Jeffers said. “With that money, we brought backpacks to distribute to all the schools involved to give to needy students.”
“Whenever I’m doing a piece and I can see it actually affects a lot of people, it gives me gratitude,” Steven said. “It makes me happy that I can do something and see its affect on people.”
Jeffers said the Calexico-based fundraiser, which took place at Hometown Buffet in Calexico in January, is the first step in an effort he would like to see reach the entire Imperial Valley.
“Our goal is to provide every kid in the Imperial Valley with a backpack,” Jeffers said.
Bill Pennerman, the founder and director for the San Bernardino-based Turn the Youth Around organization — of which Bags for Kids is a subsidiary — said the donation is for a great cause.
“We believe in investing in the youth of today, and it starts with education,” Pennerman said. “We believe the star is shining bright here in Calexico.
“Our motto is that the youth comprise 25 percent of our population, but 100 percent of our future,” Pennerman said.
The bags, which came in an assortment of shapes, sizes, colors and material, will be handed to students from Calexico’s three junior high schools and single public high school, as well as Calexico Mission School.