Over the last 14 years, the ‘Day At The Beach’ event has reached approximately 3,000 children who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience a day with a one-on-one mentor, let alone a day at the beach.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 26, 2014
P.S. I Love You Foundation (PSILYF) today announced that its 14th Annual Day At The Beach, ‘Adopt a Child for One Day,’ outreach event will take place on July 26th. Held at Manhattan Beach, ‘Day At The Beach’ unites over 450 volunteers together with LA area at-risk kids (ages 5-12), some of whom have never been to the beach. The inspiring and fun-filled day includes surf lessons, face painting and relay races. P.S. I Love You Foundation is a non-profit organization devoted to empowering at-risk youth by providing mentor and enrichment programs.
More than one quarter (28.5%) of California’s poor children live in Los Angeles County[1] and almost a quarter of the children living in Los Angeles are at-risk or living below the poverty level.[2] The ‘Day At The Beach’ event is just one of the many services the foundation provides to help these children. The organization also works with shelters, family service organizations and Title 1 schools to identify at-risk youth and create positive activities that will empower, inspire, educate and influence the course of their lives.
“Over the last 14 years, the ‘Day At The Beach’ event has reached approximately 3,000 children who might not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience a day with a one-on-one mentor, let alone a day at the beach,” said Patricia Jones, Founder of PSILYF. “This event not only impacts the children, but also the staff and volunteer mentors, who help promote the foundations’ mission of positive attitudes, health, well-being and hope. A day at the beach with someone who cares is something many of us take for granted; but, sadly, for many of these kids, it may be a rare or even first experience, but one that, we hope, will have an impact that lasts a lifetime.”
‘Day At The Beach’ is held from 9am to 3pm on July 26th and includes playing and swimming in the ocean, relay races, games, hula hooping, surf lessons, face painting and coconut tossing. Pizza, ice cream and healthy snacks, as well as juice and water, will be provided throughout the day. Each child will leave with a boogie board, kite, beach towel and various toys. The festivities take place on Manhattan Beach between 6th and 8th Street, just a few blocks south of the Manhattan Beach Pier.
Children attending the event come from throughout Los Angeles County, including Compton, Watts, Carson and Hawthorne. Volunteers are from all over Los Angeles, from the Valley to Orange County, and many are South Bay locals.
Said ‘Day At The Beach’ Volunteer Mentor Jill Knepper: "The PS I Love You Foundation's 'Day at the Beach' event was truly life-changing. After building sand castles, boogie boarding, decorating cupcakes and watching my adorable five-year-old mentee smile from ear to ear while taking photos with my phone, one of the most rewarding parts of the day was when she asked me if we could do this again soon. It is hard to describe 'Day at the Beach' using mere words as it was an experience unlike any other.”
NOTE: Since the inception of the PSILYF, the organization has reached over 6000 children through enrichment programs, one-on-one mentoring, and community outreach events.
Sponsors
CDC Small Business
Guzman Law Group
Sketchers
American Drilling Company
Wells Fargo
In-Kind Contributors of Goods and Services
Corazonas
GROW The Produce Shop
Kole Imports
Lormiar
Makai
Mattel
mWEBB Communications
Pisanos Pizza HB
Round Table Pizza, Hermosa Beach
Simmzy’s
Surf Bus Foundation
West Water Basin
For more information about the P.S. I Love You Foundation, and to volunteer and get involved with ‘Day at the Beach,’ please visit http://www.psiloveyoufoundation.org.
‘Day At The Beach’ offers multiple sponsor opportunities, for more info, contact:
Wendy Conley at Wendy@psiloveyoufoundation.org.
About P.S. I Love You Foundation
P.S. I Love You Foundation was established in 1998 with the vision to empower and inspire at-risk youth in Los Angeles. The Foundation mission aims to develop strong emotional, physical and social well-being skills early in children’s lives in order to reduce and possibly prevent these children from turning to drugs, violence or gangs. P.S. I Love You Foundation currently reaches over 700 at-risk youth a year through during-school enrichment and mentor programs as well as community events such as “Day At The Beach” that unites in over 250 community volunteers with at-risk.
Media contacts:
Elizabeth Johnson, (213) 713-4865, Elizabeth(at)mwebbcom(dot)com
Melanie Webber, (949) 307-1723, Melanie(at)mwebbcom(dot)com
[1] From Catholic Charities 2 According to Evelyn Blumenberg, a Professor at UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs
