www.amgraph.biz: June 2011

Hollywood PAL Newsletter

April - June 2011
Making a Difference!

The Latest from PAL.....Hollywood PAL would like to express its sincere appreciation for a $24,000 grant from the LA84 Foundation in support of the PAL martial arts and soccer programs. The LA84 Foundation is endowed with surplus funds from the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games. Their mission is to serve youth through sport and to increase knowledge of sport and its impact on people’s lives. Their contribution will go a long way in helping us serve hundreds of at-risk children in our community!

Hollywood PAL co-hosted a soccer tournament with the Hollywood Boys & Girls Club and the Hollywood YMCA as a kick-off event for a possible youth soccer league collaboration with the three organizations in the future. Thank you to Tom La Bonge and Sharon Shapiro for coming out and lending a hand and for your support as we move forward in our quest to establish a much-needed Hollywood league for at-risk youth.

On April 2nd, the Hollywood PAL U12 and U14 soccer teams both placed second in the Inglewood PAL Soccer Tournament.

Officer Nikki Rodrigues, back from a long recovery after being injured in the 2010 Junior Police Academy, accompanied three of the children who participated in the Los Angeles Marathon to the Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards.

PAL runners Andrew Franco, Dario Calderon and Tiffany Ortiz with PAL Officer Nikki Rodrigues and PAL Board President Clint Hilbert Hollywood PAL Alumna and College Scholarship Recipient Naomi Marroquin recently won the 2011 Miss Pan American Pageant. Her year-long responsibilities include travel and starting a foundation to empower young girls. We are extremely proud of Naomi!

Other Happenings

PAL officers accompanied a group of children to a taping of The X-Factor.
On June 4th 35 PAL martial arts students competed in the Orange County Open Martial Arts Tournament and brought home over 20 trophies!
In May, two Ministers of Justice, a judge and a juvenile prosecutor from Iraq, visited Hollywood PAL through the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program, a professional and cultural exchange program. Their focus was on learning about the U.S. juvenile justice system and as a part of that, they wanted to gain insight on juvenile crime prevention programs.
Officers Aguayo and Rodrigues took a group of PAL soccer players to an L.A. Galaxy game, courtest of the L.A. Galaxy's Kicks for Kids program.
The PAL U14 soccer team competed in the California PAL Soccer Tournament on May 21.
Also in May, Officer Rodrigues had a group of college-bound youth attend a college workshop at UCLA.
Former PAL member and current PAL Scholarship Recipient Jamecelle Ventura decided to give back to PAL by organizing volunteers from UCLA to tutor PAL kids on a weekly basis and offer college prep workshops.
On June 29th, PAL children and parents participated in an LAPD-sponsored anti-bullying seminar.

SAVE THE DATE for the 8th Annual PAL Awards Fundraiser - A Royal Affair! Join us on Thursday, September 15th at 6pm at the Taglyan Grand Ballroom as we honor Chief Charlie Beck (LAPD, Eric Garcetti (Los Angeles Council President), David Green (SVP, Nederlander West Coast) and Michaela Pereira (Anchor - KTLA Morning News). Exciting live and silent auctions, a feast fit for a king, and prizes for the best British hats and costumes!

*If you would like to partner with us in serving Hollywood's youth through a cash or in-kind contribution, please visit us at www.hollywoodpal.org or call the PAL office at 213 847 4382!

Copyright (C) 2011 Hollywood PAL All rights reserved.