On Saturday, March 7, the Los Alamitos Youth Center held it’s 2020 Annual Gala – A Night in Old Havana, at Old Ranch Country Club in Seal Beach. The Gala was the culminating event of the Youth Center’s 2020 Community Support Campaign, which exceeded the nonprofit organization’s fundraising goal of $200,000 for the year.
It was an evening of carefree indulgence, Havana-style, featuring a champagne greeting, fine Cuban cuisine, dancing to live Cuban music, special cocktails, a hosted bar and a Master Cigar Roller.
Special guests at the event included Ryan Billings, representing Assemblyman Tyler Diep, who recognized Jim Klisanin for chairing this year’s Community Support Campaign. Volunteers Debra Macknicki and Cheryl Mendoza were recognized for dedicating more than 2,000 hours in service of our local youth. Also in attendance, were Los Alamitos City Councilwoman Tanya Doby and UCLA student Dominic Le Fort, who shared that by investing in kids today, we ensure a better tomorrow. Dominic is one of 5 UCLA students who work with The Youth Center to help further their mission and support local kids.
Lina Lumme, Executive Director of The Youth Center said, “We would not be able to raise the much needed funds for kids without the support of everyone in attendance, our amazing staff and volunteer campaigners, who worked for the entire month securing pledges of support, and our generous sponsors. When adults come together to invest in kids, anything is possible! It’s a true blessing to see the outpouring of support from our community.”
For one month leading up to the ‘A Night in Old Havana’ event, individuals, local businesses and the community at large were challenged to raise $1,000 each to help The Youth Center meet the needs of and inspire hope in our local kids. Prior to the Gala, approximately $155,000 had been raised through sponsorships, mini events and individuals asking friends and family for their support. Money raised during the Community Support Campaign will help The Youth Center to nurture youth in mind, body and spirit by keeping them safe and active, providing tutoring and homework help, teaching instrumental music, offering leadership, life skills and career training and offering scholarships to families in need.
The following campaigners helped us by raising over $1,000 during the one-month campaign: Jim Klisanin, Arnie Fine, Beth Piburn, Debbie Kent, Gina Phillips, Hans Lumme, Jamie Harris, Jeffrey Blancq, Karen & Eric Frankenberg, Lina Lumme, Nate Epstein, Patricia Adams, Ryan Ziegenbusch, Sean Payne, Shannon Nix, Shawn McLean, Jordan Rivera, and Tom Curran.
Other contributing campaigners include: Andrew Demofonte, Dave Appling, Debra & Mark Macknicki, Jack Nance, Jennifer Fontanilla, Joe Stilinovich, Patricia Eskenazi, Sam McCall, Sara Ho and Tom & Hattie Stretz.
Jim Klisanin, Community Support Campaign Chair exclaimed, “Who said you could not do that? Not me! I was sure we could raise all the funds needed for kids, as we have the generous support of our entire community. My goal for our future generations is that kids never stop dreaming and then go on to make those dreams a reality, no matter who tells them that they can’t. It was my honor to be Community Support Campaign Chair for 2020 and I am glad to leave this legacy for today’s kids.”
The Youth Center would like to thank and acknowledge their magnanimous sponsors: Epson, Edward Jones, The Seal Beach Lions, SA Recycling, Pacific Premier Bank, EVENTography, Alan and Lorraine Chavez and Grocery Outlet Bargain Market in Long Beach.
In addition, The Youth Center is exceedingly grateful to its Legacy Members, all of whom donated $1,000 or more: Alamitos Eye Care, Arnie & Lynda Fine, Beth Piburn, Better Lives Foundation, Blair Carty, Bob Griffith / BGEB Investments, Bond Nichols, Carrie Townsend Foundation, Chad Kidder, Chris & Diana Wade, Dan Qingwell Enterprise, Dan Schwartz, Debbie Kent, Hans and Lina Lumme, Jamie Harris, Jeffrey Blancq, Jim Klisanin, Judith Payton, Kumon – Naomi Rockenmacher, the Lelchuk family, Lorraine and Alan Chavez, Lorraine and Marco Navarro, Los Alamitos Race Course, Mike Shaw, Nancy & Tom Curran, Nate Epstein, Orange County Neighborhood Newspapers, Pacific Premier Bank, Patricia Adams, Pattie Blake – Blue Moon Boutique, Ron & Marilyn Bates, Ryan & Adrianna Ziegenbusch, SA Recycling, Sandy Meseck, Seal Beach Lions, Sean & Amy Payne, Shannon Nix, Sir Speedy of Los Alamitos, Steven & Carol Chudy, The GoodCoin Foundation, Tim Johnson and Trend Offset Printing.
The Youth Center is a non-profit organization whose mission is to transform children’s lives one family at a time through collaborative social, educational and recreational programs. Since the birth of The Youth Center in 1952, The Youth Center has been honored to establish valuable partnerships within the community and acknowledges their critical importance in the organization’s current and future success. For additional information on The Youth Center, please call (562) 493-4043 or visit www.TheYouthCenter.org.
