In the true spirit of the season, Justin Rudd, founder of theCommunity Action Team and well-known for his generosity in thecommunity, made a young man's dream come true last week!
Rudd was referred to Anthony Santos by the Stramski Children'sDevelopmental Center at Miller Children's Hospital. Santos, who wasborn with a cleft palate, has been a patient of the Cranio-Facialteam at the Stramski Center since birth.
Santos, who turned 17 in December, is a junior in high school. Heis the oldest of three children being raised by his mother, a singleparent. He's an artistic young man who wants to study the arts incollege. Santos' mother had shared with Kay Chun, a Stramski Centersocial worker, that he had an old computer that did not allow him tobe on the Internet more than five minutes because its capacitycouldn't support Internet activity.
Santos' dream of having a graphic arts software program seemedout of reach under the circumstances. When Rudd heard of thistalented young man and his dream, he made arrangements to meetSantos and his family at Costco the next day, so Santos could pickthe computer he wanted.
Anthony Santos' art, posted on his Facebook account, drewfavorable attention and he was asked to do a mural project near LongBeach Boulevard and Spring Street, sponsored by the city of LongBeach.
The commissioned mural is about transforming the dark aspect ofurban life - crime, corruption, hate, and all the other negativeenergy a big city has to cope with - into something beautiful,caring and healing. He was asked to create a compassionate communityof people living together in harmony.
When he met with Rudd, Santos brought with him one of his works,a graphic art piece that depicted a mended heart healing.
Chun said, "I was quite impressed with the kind of vision andperspective this young man has."
His mother said that Santos has done many works of art in LongBeach.
Santos' mother was so moved by Rudd's generosity and kindnessthat she was in tears, said Surina Geoffrey, coordinator of theStramski Center. The mother said there were no words to describe herdeeply felt sense of overwhelming gratitude.
"His mother is very intelligent, loving and hard-working womanwho seems to always try her best to optimize her children'sdevelopmental potentials. Anthony is a delightful, respectful,thoughtful and a very talented young man," Chun said.
With Rudd's generosity, young Anthony has the tools to make hisdreams come true, a new computer and graphic arts software that canhelp him work on his future in graphic design. A dream come true,made possible by Rudd, a compassionate and caring man.
Auxiliary raises $18,000
The Children's Memorial Hospital Auxiliary raised $18,000 at theNightingale Holiday Faire, held on Nov. 18 and 19 at MemorialMedical Center. There were 62 booths that featured jewelry,clothing, toys, wickless candles, custom embroidery, Tupperware,Pampered Chef items, handmade quilts and blankets. A silent auctionoffered more than 70 items donated by the vendors and basketsprepared by Auxiliary committee members. Liz Minor won the grandopportunity drawing prize basket valued at more than $700.
Seen at the scene: Jane Nielsen, Kim McMahon, Rachel Wismann,Mary McClung, Mary Kelly, Luz Shaw, Cindy Smith, Deanna Beaulieu,Patti Baxter, Doris Balin, Stacey Haley, Roxie Hause, Olga Megdal,Mary Linn Coleman, Pam Duran, Roxie Hause, Kathy Carver, KimMcMahon, Leslie Schlauch and Margie Penny.
'Light Up A Life'
The Annual Pathways Volunteer Hospice "Light Up A Life"ceremonies were held Dec. 7 at the Centre at Sycamore Plaza inLakewood and Dec. 10 at the beautiful Lakewood Country Club home ofJim and Melanie Choura.
Lakewood Mayor Todd Rogers was the master of ceremonies at theCentre at Sycamore Plaza event. Pastor Mike Conan of Lakewood ChristPresbyterian Church gave the invocation and Paramount's EmmanuelChurch Choir sang wonderful holiday songs and traditional Christmascarols, getting the crowd in a holiday mood.
Erin Alford and Jordan Lillegard of Wilson High School providedvocal and guitar entertainment at the Choura residence. Pastor JerryLarsen of the Los Altos United Methodist Church shared some thoughtsabout his experience with Pathways and offered the invocation.
Seen at the scene: Lakewood Councilwoman Diane DuBois, CouncilmanSteve and Tess Croft, Jim Choura and Leigh Clausen.
News of social events with charitable purposes may be sent toShirley Wild at spwild@verizon.net or by fax to 562-594-9668. Pleaseinclude a brief FYI about your organization, including a contactphone number. Send high-resolution JPEG photos to spwild@
verizon.net and include group name and identification ofindividuals from left. Call Shirley at 562-594-9468 for moreinformation.
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