LA HABRA JOURNAL
LA HABRA JOURNAL
| This is the season to remember
those less fortunate than oneself. For sixteen years Amigos de los Niņos
has been doing just that. The sixteen year old group of local businessmen
held their annual golf tournament November 18th. The field of players was
filled six to eight weeks beforehand, Jim Abbott and Rick Burleson had lined
up all the celebrities.
Dr. Gene Moses had his chairmen all in order. When the day was over the group had raised at least $70,000 to $80,000. During its existence Amigos has managed to give away well over 1.5 million dollars to organizations dealing with handicapped and abused children. They donate funds to pediatric cancer research, Oralingua School for the Deaf, the Blind Children's Learning Center, Canyon Acres and Challenger Little League. Canyon Acres is a ranch with horses, chickens and ducks in Anaheim Hills for abused children. With help from Amigos it has tripled in size. Challenger Little League has established teams in Brooklyn, Detroit, Harlem and the Bronx with their help. Amigos looks for new struggling organizations and helps them to get their programs off the ground. In its 16 year history there are any number of organizations whose beginnings were made much easier by Amigo's largesse. The original 15 businessmen Chuck Clayton talked into forming the group have learned they could make substantially larger contributions and do much more good by working together and pooling their resources. La Habra's city employees and police department have learned the same lesson. This Friday December 6, Operation Santa will open for donations. Operation Santa operates as a clearing house, receiving names from the schools and other agencies of individuals and families in need and ensuring that each receives something. If all of us make small contributions of toys, clothing or food, we can ensure that everyone in La Habra has a Christmas. Last year's response was tremendous, and we assume this year's will be even better. There are any number of ways in which you can help. People are needed to staff the site, provide the gifts, sort the donations, wrap the gifts and determine what is appropriate for those receiving them. Come on, get involved. Together we can do so much more. |
They
Just Keep On Giving (Page5)
| Since 1981 Amigos de los Niņos has raised $1.5 million to donate to many children's groups. After their golf tournament at Hacienda Golf Club on November 16th, Randy Clayton reported, "We raised well in excess of $100,000 this year. One corporate sponsor who had donated $2,500 before the tournament gave another $5,000 on his way out the door." Chuck Clayton, Bill Brundige, Chuck Holter and Harold Taber were just a few of the local business men who banded together 17 years ago to form the group. They wished to give money to local groups which were truly helping disadvantaged youngsters and felt together they could make significant contributions. They also wished to have fun. Each year they have a golf tournament in the fall and a spring luncheon with a major sports personality as speaker which is now organized by their sons. The tournament has become so popular, its golfing slots were filled two months in advance and celebrities weren't invited because it was sold out. "This tournament was particularly festive. Jim Abbott was there as usual and told us he is ready to sign with the With Sox. Everybody was so excited for him. He deserves every success he gets." At the evening dinner Dr. Ovando was given $5,000 to continue his Open Airways program for asthmatic children in local elementary schools. David Manasian was on hand to pick up a check for $10,000 for Oralingua, a school for the deaf. Manasian has two daughters who are deaf and a third who was just diagnosed. The Diamond Bar and District 56 Challenger Little Leagues both received donations. Canyon Acres, a home for abused children, the Community Alliance for the Blind, and Cystic Fibrosis received donations after the spring luncheon. Other groups have received funds throughout the year. Dr. Gene Moses who is very active in cystic fibrosis work, brought Nick Bailey and his mother. Nick, who suffers from the disease, wished to be a bat boy for the Angels one night. It would take $3,700 to see that he got the opportunity. In short order Dawn Kotsonis, everybody's favorite auctioneer, raised the money. Sean Parr, an L.A. radio dejay, shared the auctioneering duties with Dawn and managed to convince the crowd to up their bids all evening long. As a result, Amigos will be able to make major contributions to groups its board deems worthy as needs arise. |
