SCMP Finishes 5K Run/Walk at A Taste of Health and Fitness!

Mentors and mentees from Foundation for Second Chances' Mentor Program participated (and completed!) the 5K Run/Walk at Rancho Cienega Sports Park as a part of the agency's 4th Annual Community Health Fair on Saturday, April 24th! Check out some of us in action below:

Taylor sprints around the curve of the track, with Myesha and Ny'Breya not far behind!

Mentor Ana Flores rounds another lap around the track during her final mile!

But the 5K Run/Walk was only the start of our day! Mentees received free vision screenings, as well as free goodies to help them stay fit and healthy, from toothbrushes to yoga equipment. Mentors and mentees also participated in the Obstacle Course, designed by celebrity fitness trainer Tarik Tyler. Check out mentee Destinee's take on the course below!

Mentors, mentees, and other FFSC supporters pose with Councilmember Herb Wesson and Tarik Tyler before the Course!

Second Chances mentee, Destinee, owns the Course!

After the Obstacle Course, mentors and mentees gathered for a picnic lunch on the grass, and spent the rest of the day playing on the bounce house and inflatable slide!

Climbing up the wall towards the end of the bouncy obstacle course!

Rachel flashes us a smile after making it down the slide!

Mentees from our program were inspired to become more active; after running the 5K and playing tennis for the first time on neighboring courts at the park, one mentee asked her mentor to teach her how to play tennis and how to swim, so she could be more active and have more fun outdoors.

Immense gratitude and thanks to our Executive Director Melissa Wyatt, Bring Back Gym's Tarik Tyler, and all of Foundation for Second Chances' supporters in making the Health Festival a success! Keep a look out for our next blog post, which will cover all aspects of the Festival!

Councilmember Herb Wesson Prepares to Kick Off Family Obstacle Course

Wesson to be Joined by Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass During Opening Remarks

Los Angeles Councilmember Herb Wesson will kick off this Saturday's 4th annual "A Taste of Health and Fitness" festival by leading the family obstacle course after opening remarks.

Wesson, joined by California Speaker Emeritus Karen Bass, Milken Family Foundation Board Trustee Rev. Roosevelt "Rosey" Grier, and other community leaders will conduct opening remarks at 11:00 AM followed up the start of the family obstacle course.

"We're very excited that Councilmember Wesson will lead community members in the family obstacle course," stated Tarik Tyler, who designed the course. Fresh off his appearance on ABC TV's "Shaq's Big Challenge," Tyler decided to become more involved with the issue of childhood obesity, and founded Bring Back Gym. BBG is a co-host of Saturday's festival, and is dedicated to providing a fun fitness environment to unfit and obese children. "The course will include a 25-yard dash, over-and-under hurdles, a basketball shoot, football throw, and other challenges," said Tyler.

Wesson, who exercises regularly, will be training with Tarik Tyler this week at a local gym, and hopes his involvement in the festival will inspire people of all ages to take ownership of their personal health and fitness. "April is National Minority Health Month and fittingly, FFSC's annual health festival provides an opportunity for our community to access optimal health care while also continuing to raise awareness that health disparities persist and must be addressed," he said. Wesson represents Los Angeles Council District 10 and recently spearhearded a 24-percent increase in HIV testing funds by the Los Angeles City Council.

Volunteer for the Taste of Health and Fitness!

Volunteer opportunities are available for this Saturday's 4th Annual Community Health Fair! Help Foundation for Second Chances (FFSC) give back to our community by volunteering with the 5K Run/Walk, Obstacle Course, or various facets of the Health Fair. Groups are also welcome to volunteer together.

If you are available to help, please email Volunteer Event Coordinator, Michelle Woo, at volunteer@ffscinc.org with your name, t-shirt size, and the times you are available. You may also leave your information in the comments field below.

Schedule of Events
5K Run/Walk: 10AM-12PM (shifts ~9AM-1PM)
Obstacle Course: 1PM-3PM (shifts 12PM-4PM0
Health Fair: 11AM-4PM (split shifts from 9AM/10AM/1PM-5PM

Areas to Help (# of volunteers needed):
Vendor Sign-In (2)
Vendor Booth Setup (TBD)
5K Sign-In and Registration (10-15)
5K T-Shirt Distribution (5)
Water Distribution During 5K (10)
Obstacle Course (10)
Runners (5-10)
Farmers Market (2-5)
Bounce House (4)
Rock Wall (4)
Breakdown/Clean-Up (TBD)

Join SCMP at Acapulco this Tuesday!

You are cordially invited to Second Chances Mentoring Program's Fundraiser at Acapulco!

Reasons to attend include, but are not limited to:

* Meeting fellow FFSC friends, supporters, and volunteers!
* Enjoying a fine Mexican meal!
* Dueling it out on Rock Band!
* Raising money for SCMP!

Come help support and sustain our program by dining at Acapulco any time between 4PM and 11PM on Tuesday, April 20, and SCMP will receive 25% of all food sales! We also encourage ALL of you to invite your friends, families, co-workers, and other miscellaneous acquaintances to come along as well!

It is important, in order to raise funds for our beloved SCMP, that you and your guests bring THIS flyer. Without it, money will not be donated to our program.

Thanks so much for your continued support, and we can't wait to see you there!

Acapulco Mexican Restaurant Y Cantina

4444 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90027

Councilmember Wesson and the Milken Family Foundation Join "A Taste of Health and Fitness"

Honorable Councilmember Herb Wesson to Chair Event as part of National Minority Health Month

The Milken Family Foundation today announced a $10,000 grant to Foundation for Second Chances (FFSC) in support of its 4th annual Community Health Festival and 5K Run/Walk "A Taste of Health & Fitness."

"We're proud to partner with the Foundation for Second Chances and Bring Back Gym to encourage people of all ages to take ownership of their health and fitness," said Lowell Milken, chairman of the Milken Family Foundation. "Limited financial resources, poor nutrition, and a lack of access to information and healthcare make it challenging for many families to address these needs. 'A Taste of Health & Fitness' will bring programs and services directly to people who are most in need, empowering them to help themselves and those around them."

The event will be chaired by Los Angeles Councilmember Herb Wesson who represents Council District 10 where the festival will take place, and who has been committed to improving health and well-being in Los Angeles. Wesson, who will kick off the event's obstacle course, recently spearheaded a 24-percent increase in HIV testing funds by the Los Angeles City Council.

"FFSC's annual health festival provides an opportunity for our community to celebrate our gains, including recent passage of a much needed federal health care legislation, and to forge the path forward toward healthier lives," stated Wesson. Local elected officials and representatives of government health care agencies will be on hand at the event to discuss the recent legislation and the impact it will have on communities.

The festival is being hosted in association with...





Don't wait! Join us next Saturday as a sponsor, vendor, 5K run/walk-er, volunteer, participant, and overall supporter of "A Taste of Health and Fitness"! Visit FFSC.org for more details.

FFSC goes to The Aquarium of the Pacific!

This past Friday, April 9, 2010, the Foundation for Second Chances After School Program went on it's 1st field trip of 2010 to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. This was not only to culminate a segment on Marine Life & Biology, but also to reward for students who constantly go above and beyond the call of duty to show exemplary behavior and work ethic.


The trip was a huge success; it included 18 students, 3 staff, and 2 parent volunteers. We would like to thank the parent volunteers, Dr. Davis (Principal, 42nd St Elementary) for allowing us to do a school day field trip, Councilman Bernard Parks' Office for providing the bus for free, and the students of FFSC at 42nd Street Elementary for earning this trip.