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El Nido Family Centers News Blast
November 2013
Champions for Families Awards Dinner 2013
Champions 2013 logo

 

This year's Champions for Families Awards Dinner, held on September 26th, honored:

The Hon. Zev Yaroslavsky; Lifetime Achievement Award, for his 40 years of devoted public service.
Robert W. Scrivner; Visionary Award, in memoriam, was honored for his legacy in leading inspiring grant-making and philanthropy. 

The Hon. Zev Yaroslavsky and Peggy Matsuda of
Valley Presbyterian Hospital

Jan Kern; Community Impact Award, for her 25 years of leadership in establishing several non-profit organizations benefiting children.
Authentic Entertainment; Corporate Volunteer Award, for their incredible generosity in sharing their resources and expertise with at-risk youth. 

 

El Nido youth were an integral part of the evening.  Over 300 guests in attendance were treated to a photo exhibit by youth in our Gang Reduction and Youth Development program and a musical performance by El Nido youth participating in The Harmony Project. Topping off the event, our GRYD Leadership Council members shared their stories via dramatic readings.  

   

Belita Moreno (center) is surrounded by 
El Nido's GRYD Leadership Council

 

Master of Ceremonies was Belita Moreno, best known as the salty mother on the "George Lopez," sitcom. Ms. Moreno is also a seasoned acting coach and worked to prepare El Nido's youth prior to their dramatic reading presentations at the event.

 

"Thank you to our lead event Growth Sponsors; Kaiser Permanente, Rose Norton and Phil Savenick, and Valley Presbyterian Hospital, as well as our other sponsors and donors. All have worked with El Nido to keep our youth, families, and communities healthy," stated Committee Co-chairs Scott Matula, Jeff Thomas and Virginia Thomas.

 

Special thanks to Champions for Families Awards Trust Sponsors; Susie and Stuart Berton, Marta and Fred Samulon, and our Hope Sponsors; Authentic Entertainment, Hugo's Restaurants, Mattel and The Street Consulting. 

 

Thank you to all our supporters and volunteers
for helping to make our event a fantastic success! 

School Supplies and Smiles at El Nido, Thanks to Kaiser Permanente, Glen Oaks Escrow and GMB North America

 

kaiser backpack event 2013  

Kaiser Permanente donated supplies for over 500 youth for a "Back to School Backpack Celebration" held at Pacoima City Hall.  Over 100 Kaiser employees contributed backpacks and school supplies and over 60 Kaiser volunteers hosted a fun-filled day of activities for the youth and their families including; games, face painting, Zumba fitness groups, and health and nutrition education.  Also, thanks to the Ella Fitzgerald Foundation for their generous donation of new books for each of the children.

 

Our Compton youth were again treated to backpacks and school supplies thanks to a generous donation from GMB North America.  

 

 

 

Glen Oaks Escrow once again showed their support, by generously donating backpacks to youth enrolled in El Nido's Pacoima FamilySource Center.

 

Thank you to all our supporters for helping our kids 
to start of the school year prepared!
In This Issue
* Champions for Families Awards Dinner
* School Supplies and Smiles Backpack Events
El Nido Scholars Leading the Way

Each newsletter will feature one of our outstanding scholarship recipients. Since 1992, under the leadership of then Board President Larry Carmen, El Nido Family Centers has awarded over 300 college scholarships to El Nido youth.

 

This year, 18 aspiring college graduates received scholarships though the support of the Payson Wolff Memorial Scholarship Fund, the Shirley de Miranda Memorial Scholarship Fund and Citibank.

 

As a teen mother, Ami was referred to and benefited from El Nido's Teen Parent Program. Today, she is attending UC Berkeley, majoring in Engineering while raising her five year old daughter who lives with her on campus.  

 

Despite the challenges of being away from family and friends, Ami's perseverance and determination are paying off.  She is in her fifth year of study and will be graduating soon.  She recently wrote to us:

 

"Please accept my most sincere appreciation for the scholarship you have awarded me. I wouldn't be able to pay for books and materials without it. As an engineer major several expensive books and materials are required for classes and labs. The scholarship was just what I needed to be able to afford it.  

I finished my first year with a strong G.P.A. and made the President's Honor List.

 

"The fact that you believe enough to grant me a scholarship gives me motivation that is priceless and makes me feel confident of what I can achieve."

 

We are proud of all our scholarship recipients and wish them success!

El Nido 
Gives Thanks
 
On behalf of the families we work with, El Nido  
Family Centers would like to thank all of our generous donors, volunteers and staff members.