Sailing away with the Youth Center Community Support Campaign Chairman Scott Newton of the Seal Beach Lion’s Club, volunteers kicked off the 18th annual fundraiser on March 31 at the Youth Center in Los Alamitos.
The nautical themed month-long event meets at various locations every Tuesday each week until April 28. More than 100 volunteer campaigners are raising funds to support the Youth Center’s programs throughout the year including their After School Program (ASP), Music Program, Summer Day and Teen Camps, Every 15 Minutes drunk-driving determent program, and Leadership Academy for teens. The fundraiser enables the nonprofit, which is not funded by any governmental assistance, to keep prices low and provide for full or partial scholarships to families in need.
Newton touched on how when the Youth Center saw a need for an elementary school music program, then fulfilled it. “Twenty four years ago, the school district had to do some budget cutting, and cut out the music program,” he said. “The Youth Center started with 50 kids in six classes. Roll forward to 2015, they now have 45 classes in seven campuses with over 350 students.”
Youth Center Music Director Daniel Van Adler said that since the program started, they have taught music to close to 10,000 kids. “This program is very special and is unique to our area,” he said. “Our teachers are fantastic and have 20 to 30 years of experience teaching children.” The program offers music for kindergarten through 5th grade in more than 20 different instruments throughout the entire year.
One music student mentioned was violin player Andrew described as a “very energetic” child. When he began playing he reportedly used his bow as a sword and violin as a shield. He learned to channel his energies into music, switching a year later to playing the trumpet. Andrew grew into being a lead soloist trumpet player who now plays for the Oak Middle School Jazz Band having six years of music experience under his belt thanks to the Youth Center Music Program.
“Even if the students move on to new things, they were able to learn how to build confidence to try new things, creatively solve problems, and to be a part of a team working together for a common goal,” said Van Adler. “These are things that really help every child get through life and do the things that they want to do without fear.”
Newton went on to talk about the After School Program (ASP) where the 120 kids go when they have no other place to go to keep them safe and improve their academic performance in the ASP Learning Center. The ASP promotes student well-being and is an investment in the future of the community. “The kids are going to be our leaders someday,” he said. “Many of them are already our leaders.”
Many after school programs typically cost $350 to $500 a month, but the Youth Center’s program only costs $25 a month (for materials) or nothing if parents come in to volunteer a few hours, according to Newton.
For the kids, the heart of the ASP is with the staff. One staff member and campaign leader who spoke was Miles Rubin who has been worked at the Youth Center since June 2013. He said that when he comes in every day to work and sees all the kids playing basketball, air hockey, ping pong and doing homework, that it never fails to put a smile on his face. He loves to see how much of an impact the Youth Center has upon their lives. “Coming to work at the Youth Center was like becoming a part of a special family where everyone that is a part of this place is family, especially the kids,” said Rubin.
One such kid who grew up coming to the ASP and has worked in child care for the last eight years is Marquis Knowles. He shared that as a kid growing up in Long Beach and not having much, he came to the ASP while in middle school. Knowles began to notice a world of difference coming from Long Beach to Los Alamitos. “It was kind of a culture shock,” he said. “I will never forget it was the first day of school and I remember meeting some new friends.”
His friends took him to the Youth Center, and Knowles’ mother ended up speaking with past Youth Center Executive Director Tom Stretz. After that, Knowles came to the ASP five days a week from 6th to 8th grade. “Those years were the most important years of my life because growing up in my neighborhood, the Youth Center exemplified a better way of life,” said Knowles. “Coming here just opened my eyes to a whole new world.”
Knowles was able to meet new friends and become more social through the ASP thanks in part to the influence of then ASP Staff Member Hans Lumme who taught him to play basketball.” I often speak of Hans and how he would beat me at basketball,” he said. “I tell them that now I’m doing the same to them (the kids he cares for in his job).” Knowles went on to thank Hans, and said he’d never be a father, family man or care for children if it wasn’t for the Youth Center’s influence upon his life.
Another amazing story of how the Youth Center “transforms lives one child at a time” came from Barbara Hallberg, grandmother and guardian of ASP student Hunter Rakutt. She told a story of Hunter’s problematic life at home, his being bullied at school and having no friends until he came to the ASP. “The Youth Center gave back Hunter’s self-esteem,” she said. “They taught him how to be caring, honest, loving and fair. These are all things that can’t be bought with money but that last a lifetime.” Hallberg went on to say that the Youth Center is about “out of self and into others,” a saying she learned in being a Soroptimist. The sole guardian of her grandson who lives on Social Security is very grateful to the Youth Center for giving Hunter a full scholarship for Summer Day Camp last year, and that he’ll be coming again this summer.
As for 9-year-old Hunter, he said the Youth Center means a lot to him because they are so nice to him, and that he recommends people send their children there.
“They’ve changed my life and it might be able to change yours,” he said.
For more information on the Youth Center and their programs, please visit online at www.theyouthcenter.org. To campaign for or make a donation, please call Executive Director Lina Lumme or Office Manager Julie Rubin at 562-493-4043.
