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.

FFSC's 4th Annual Community Health Fair

It’s time for FFSC’s largest annual community event – “A Taste of Health and Fitness” Community Health Fair!!! We would love all of you to join us for this meaningful celebration on April 24^th, from 10am – 4pm, at the Rancho Cienega Sports Complex. As April is Minority Health Awareness Month, we want to be sure that we are throwing nothing less than an impacting and unforgettable event for the community, and we need YOUR help…

Some of the highlights of “A Taste of Health and Fitness” will be:

· A FREE Farmers Market (that’s right, free fruits and veggies!)

· FREE Dental, Vision and Health Screening/Testing for children and their families

· Live Entertainment! Dancers, singers, demonstrations, and more!

· Games, activities and workshops for all ages

· And our VERY IMPORTANT FUNDRAISER – OUR 1^st 5K WALK/RUN with OBSTACLE COURSE DESIGNED BY CELEBRITY TRAINER TERIK TYLER!!!

Sounds amazing, right?! But it won’t be without you! Here’s how we need your help:

1. REGISTER YOURSELF, FAMILY, FRIENDS and CO-WORKERS for the 5K WALK/RUN. This is one of the most important components of the event, and will help us to continue providing needed resources and programs to the South LA Community.

2. Invite your company, favorite health food store, or friends in the health industry to purchase a booth through which they can promote their services (a booth is only $75!).

3. Invite your company to be an event Sponsor! There are many levels of sponsorship.

You can fill out a registration form online, or you can contact us directly for more to information. You may also leave your contact information in the comments section below. Please note that we need to start calculating 5K participants, so if you plan on participating, don't wait!

A Taste of Health & Fitness has been established to raise public awareness and to encourage marginalized individuals to assume responsibility for their own health and fitness. The Health Fair is in a high-needs area within the County of Los Angeles, where the majority of residents are low income, “working poor” and have minimal resources. Low-income, poor nutrition, and a lack of transportation result in a lack of access to information and health services, making it difficult for these families to address their health needs. Our fair takes much needed health services and other programs directly to the people who are most in need, and helps people to help themselves and each other.

SCMP Attends Star Party!

This past Saturday, March 20th, Second Chances Mentoring Program hosted its Group Outing at the Griffith Observatory! Every month, the Observatory hosts a Public Star Party, where local astronomers sprawl across the lawn with their equipment. Eager to share and educate, volunteer astronomers allow the public to peer through a variety of telescopes for up-close looks at the moon, stars, and planets above.

Peering through one of the many telescopes at Griffith Observatory's Star Party

This was the first outing (and first 1-on-1 meeting!) for many of our new mentors and their mentees, with a group of mentors and mentees even meeting beforehand for dinner together. It was a bustling Saturday night at the Observatory, so not only did our group have the opportunity to stargaze outside and explore exhibits inside, but we got a little hiking done as well!

I hope all of those who made it out had a great time, and we look forward to seeing all of you again soon at next month's volunteer outing at Cabrillo Beach!

Congratulations to 2010's First Round of Mentors!

It's official! Second Chances Mentoring Program has matched 19 mentors and mentees for its first round of mentors in 2010. Our deepest appreciation goes out to our new mentors, who have committed to mentoring an at-risk youth over the next year. We look forward to watching their friendships blossom, and to the incredible impact that not only they will have on their mentees, but the impact their mentees will have on them.

Matt Trandall & Eli

Jennifer Thompson & Michelle

Cory Livingston & Jesse

Jorge Alanso & Carlos

Chad Bowman & Jaireese

Stephanie Kwong & Stephanie

Jennifer Moran & Salimah

Patrick Bliesener & Brandon

Laura Krank & Psalms

Caitlyn Brisbin & Valerie

Rudy Flores & Antonio

Juan Dotson & Seth

Valerie Esquivel & Mercedes

Joseph Weiner & Francisco

Laura Kratochvil & Rachel

Laura Petry & Taylor

Sheryl Marx & Savannah

Erika Marx & Destinee

Vivian Wan & Courtney

Want to join our fabulous group of mentors? We'll be launching our next round of mentors in mere months! If you, and/or someone you know, would be interested in mentoring an at-risk youth 6-8 hours per month for the next year, contact us today!

SCMP's Chuck E. Cheese Take Over

This past Saturday, March 13th, Second Chances Mentoring Program (SCMP) hosted its first Speed Mentoring event of the year at Chuck E. Cheese's in Los Angeles! Mentors and mentees matched off, and spent time shooting free-throws, playing skee-ball, and winning tickets at various games throughout the late morning and early afternoon. After playing games, mentors and mentees sat down together, asking and answering questions like the ones below!

What would you like to be when you grow up and why?
I would like to be a chef because I like to cook with my grandma and for my mom and dad. - Stephanie, age 9

A helicopter pilot, so I can see Earth from the sky and birds. - Francisco, age 10

What would your ideal day with a mentor be?
Going out to a museum and then going out to eat. - Taylor, age 9

Play football. - Jesse, age 9

Mentors will be notified of their matches tomorrow, and thus concludes our first Kick Off of 2010! As always, much credit is due to our amazing mentors, who will have an incredible impact on their mentees' lives over the course of the next year. And much love to Program Staff, for ensuring a great event for all our kids and mentors!

Ready... Set... Kick Off!

On Saturday February 27th, Second Chances Mentoring Program held its largest Kick Off event to date! Our Team Building in the Park event was originally scheduled to take place at La Cienega Park, but with thunderstorms looming and a flurry of phone calls, we shifted scenes to the cafeteria and playground at 42nd Street Elementary School. A fantastic effort was made by parents and mentors to attend, and over 50 mentors and mentees came to meet each other for the first time.

Despite the rain, everyone had a great energy, connecting and having fun through a series of games and team building exercises. From the 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 in a line with one hand, and share a piece of themselves while munching on M&M's.

SCMP Kick Off Hall of Fame

Click on any picture to view a larger version

Much thanks to Program Manager Tiffany Ferrara, my booming voice, as well as all of our incredible mentors and parents for an epic launch for 2010's first round of mentors! Our group will rendezvous once more on March 13th, when we take over Chuck E. Cheese for our Speed Mentoring event! Till then...