Aon and Second Chances Partner to Beautify New Designs Charter

In May, Second Chances Mentoring Program was selected to partner with leading global reinsurance intermediary, Aon, to serve our community. The project at hand? The beautification of a burgeoning, innovative charter school in the heart of downtown Los Angeles, New Designs Charter School.

On Tuesday, June 1st, the Los Angeles offices of Aon hosted a silent auction to raise funds on behalf of Second Chances Mentoring Program. Employees came out to bid on tickets for Disneyland, an autographed game ball from the Los Angeles Lakers, a week-long condo rental in Honolulu, a brand new Kindle, and so much more! Over $3,000 was raised that afternoon; combined with the Irvine office's silent auction the previous week, $4,500 was raised to help breathe new life into the New Designs campus.

Second Chances would like to recognize Aon employees for their support and generosity--from mobilizing volunteers to coordinating fundraisers, our sincerest thanks. Deepest thanks go to Sheryl Marx, Executive Assistant at Aon and Second Chances mentor, for nominating FFSC for this incredible community partnership. Our gratitude also extends to Warren Sata, Director of School Operations at New Designs, for all his support and enthusiasm.

On July 15, 2010, over 100 Aon employees will be repainting classrooms, implementing murals, building new seating areas, planting flowers, donating sports equipment, teaching classes, and creating a vegetable garden for the University Park campus of New Designs.

SCMP Gets Wild at the L.A. Zoo!

On Saturday, May 22nd, SCMP hosted its biggest outing of the year thus far at the Los Angeles Zoo! Teams of mentors and mentees sprawled across the zoo, engaging in a fun and educational Photo Scavenger Hunt. Posing with their favorite animals, learning that birds help keep alligators' razor-sharp teeth pearly white and koala bears sleep 20 hours a day, mentors and mentees also made new friends while enjoying the wildlife and sunshine.

Seth, Franciso, Antonio, and Eli chill out with the flamingos

Taylor, Mercedes, Cyra, and Marielle reach the wingspan of a California Condor

Seth and his mentor Juan, having a great time at the L.A. Zoo!

Much thanks to Program Staff for organizing the outing, and much love to our mentors for bringing their mentees out for a beautiful day at the zoo! We look forward to seeing all of you again for our June outing.

2010's A Taste of Health & Fitness

To recap and relive the spirit of this year's Community Health Festival, just watch the video below! Witness the perseverance of our 5K Run/Walk participants, watch Tarik Tyler, Rev. Roosevelt Grier, and Melissa Wyatt encourage the crowd to get and stay fit, see Councilmember Herb Wesson kick off the obstacle course, and more!

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