Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Bridge Gaps: Foundation for Second Chances 2011 Leadership Awards


Second Chances Leadership Awards
Date: Saturday, December 10th, 2011
Time: 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location: Spectra by Wolfgang Puck at the Pacific Design Center

The purpose of the Second Chances Leadership Awards is to honor community leaders, volunteers, mentors, educational leaders, and business leaders who are part of the FFSC family. The event will celebrate the successes of the year and the impact that our organization has had on its community.


The Annual Leadership Awards will be held at Spectra by Wolfgang Puck in the Pacific Design Center of Los Angeles. The event will bring together a diverse group of 200 tastemakers for a relaxed afternoon  of brunch, cocktails, entertainment and education about our important work, while honoring leaders in business, community service, education, and entertainment.


202011 Leadership Awards Honorees


Darrel D. Miller, Esq.
Partner, Fox Rothschild

Jeanette Jenkins
Entrepreneur, The Hollywood Trainer

Dana & David Pump
Founders, The Harold Pump Foundation

Dr. Genevieve Shephard
Principal, Tom Bradley Elementary

Juan Dotson
Mentor, Second Chances Mentoring Program




Tickets to the Leadership Awards are $100 each.
You may purchase tickets at ffscinc.org/awards

For more information on sponsorship or ticket sales, please contact Genelle Brooks:
info@genellebrooks.com | 917.609.2139



Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Foundation for Second Chances Casino Night-1920's Boardwalk Empire Theme at Spring Arts Tower

THE EVENT OF THE YEAR IS HERE!

This is no ordinary party. Come delight in a 1920's Boardwalk Empire themed night of fun with professional casino tables and all night play, all night Open Bar, live band (projectmuszed.org), DJ, silent auction, 3 photographers and a portrait studio, free food, sponsorship from the hottest celebrity Tropical Rum company-Hula Girl (hulagirl.com), surprise celebrity guests, and more! Guests are invited to dress in their best 1920's attire (optional). 

Only 500 tickets are available and they will sell out fast, so purchase your tickets online TODAY at http://ffscinc.org/casino/ for $50.

All proceeds will go to support Foundation for Second Chances on their mission to utilize hands-on education, mentoring, health awareness, and community service to maximize the potential of LA’s at-risk youth (ffscinc.org). Please support the meaningful work of Foundation for Second Chances while having the time of your life. 

We look forward to seeing you at Casino Night:


Saturday, November 19th
7pm – Midnight
Held in the 100-year-old Historic Spring Arts Tower Mezzanine 
453 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, 90013


If you are interested in sponsoring the event or a gambling table, or if you would like to make an event in-kind contribution, please contact Tiffany Ferrara at tiffany@ffscinc.org, or (213) 627-1745.

Monday, August 1, 2011

PS I Love You Foundation's 11th Annual Day at the Beach!

On Saturday, July 23rd, Second Chances Mentoring Program attended PS I Love You Foundation's 11th Annual Day at the Beach! This special mentoring event was a blast for our mentors and mentees to attend, and is so grateful for being able to participate for its third year in a row.







Children received free beach gear (including boogie boards!), toys, and a pizza-and-ice cream lunch! Free surf lessons, face painting, game booths, and--of course--the most epic of relay races were among the activities for the day. Our group did it all and then some, burying each other in the sand, playing in the water, and catching some rays on a beautiful day in Manhattan Beach.




We already can't wait until next year's Day at the Beach! Special thanks to Patricia Jones for putting on such an awesome program for at-risk youth in Los Angeles.



Monday, June 13, 2011

FFSC Mentoring Launches Its Second Round!

Over 40 youth and volunteers gathered at New Designs Charter School on Saturday, June 11th for Second Chances Mentoring Program's second round of mentorship this year! Despite a gloomy morning, eventually the sun came out and teams of mentors and mentees engaged in a little healthy competition.

From he Name Game to the Final Relay Race, teams got to know one another and work together in order to send their Mummies through the finish line, morph themselves into Rocks and Caterpillars, tie balloons with one hand, and share pieces of themselves while munching on M&M's. Check out some of the action below!

2011 Round 2 Mentor Mash Up!






Second Chances Kick Off Hall of Fame!

Destiny, Natalie, Marilyn, Nala, Vanessa, Kubrat, & Mindy

Karim, Sinque, Chad, Drew, & Jesse

Isaiah, Eddy, Davontre, Richard, Benjamin, Maurice, & Jeremiah

Essence, Kelly, Dayjah, Tanisha, Katherine, Beth, Caroline, & Princess

Breana, Danielle, Claudia, Brenda, Crystal, & Ashley

We can't wait to see everyone again at Chuck E. Cheese on the 25th for our 3 rounds of Speed Mentoring!

Monday, May 23, 2011

SCMP Gives Back to the Community


On Saturday May 21, Second Chances Mentoring Program provided an opportunity for mentors and mentees to engage in community service together, imparting the importance of civic engagement and leadership to our youth. In collaboration with the Dream Center, a non-profit outreach committed to helping inner cities, mentoring couples volunteered for the day in the housing projects.

Delivering food, cleaning up the grounds, taking requests from residents, and spending time playing with the neighborhood kids were just some of the ways our youth were able to give back to our community alongside their mentors. Being able to see the effect that they can have on others made this a particularly memorable and impacting group outing; some of our mentoring couples even intend to return to the Dream Center on their own.

Second Chances is grateful for the opportunity volunteer with the Dream Center, and continues to encourage and support all of its mentoring couples to give back to the community in any small way they can, from picking up trash on the beach to volunteering at a local animal shelter, every effort counts!

Monday, May 16, 2011

FFSC Mentoring Does Discovery Scuba with Eco Dive Center!

Myesha and Ana Give the "OK"!

On Saturday April 30, 2011, Eco Dive Center sponsored the Second Chances Mentoring Program for its Discovery Scuba program! Seven of our mentoring couples had the incredible opportunity to participate in a 1-hour pool session that introduced them to scuba diving. Mentees geared up, buddied up with their mentors, and learned how to breathe through a regulator, clear their mask underwater, and swim through a hula hoop! 

Check out some of the action below:

Reviewing Gear at the Surface with Beth

 
Finding Just the Right Fit

Ny'Breya & Sara,  All Geared Up

Preparing to Descend!


 
Jonathan & Daniel Wave Hello!

  
Mentee Anotnio Swims Straight Through the Middle!





Foundation for Second Chances is incredibly grateful to Eco Dive Center for such an amazing day! Our youth don't get much exposure to life outside their homes and schools, and Eco Dive Center definitely went above and beyond in providing a unique experience for our youth that also helped them build trust, gain confidence, and expand their worldview.


Special thanks goes to Beth Beltramo, co-owner of Eco Dive Center and our fabulous instructor for the day! Thanks also go out to Carlos Linares for snapping the underwater photos of our group :o)

Monday, May 9, 2011

2010's Round 1 Mentors Celebrate One Year with their Mentees!

On Saturday, May 7, Second Chances Mentoring Program held a Closure Celebration for mentoring couples who recently reached the end of their year together. Lots of laughs were shared during our Mentorship Pictionary & Charades, and lots of great Mexican food was enjoyed! At the heart of the event, mentors and mentees reflected on their year in SCMP by creating and sharing art projects featuring photographs, hand-drawn pictures of their favorite outing, and wishes for their new friend.


Cory shares with Jesse how much he appreciates his friendship

Joe and Francisco

Sheryl stands to share with her mentee Savannah




Jorge and Carlos


While mentors from this round completed their first year, over 70% are continuing on in their mentoring relationships for a second year with Second Chances. It has been an incredible year for all of our mentors and mentees, and we are so grateful for our mentors' time and talents and so proud of the tremendous growth in our youth! Without our incredible volunteers, SCMP would simply not exist, so to you we are always indebted. Thank you.


Joe Weiner & Francisco
Juan Dotson & Seth
Laura Kratochvil & Rachel
Stephanie Kwong & Stephanie
Chad Bowman & Jaireese
Laura Krank & Psalms
Rudy Flores & Antonio
Valerie Esquivel & Mercedes
Caitlyn Brisbin & Valerie
Laura Petry & Taylor
Sheryl Marx & Savannah
Cory Livingston & Jesse
Patrick Bliesener & Brandon
Jorge Alanso & Carlos
Jennifer Thompson & Michelle
Matt Trandall & Eli
Jennifer Moran & Salimah




Much thanks also goes to the Cheviot Hills Park Recreation Center for hosting our organization for this incredible event for our mentoring couples!