July 23, 2015

 

LAWT News Service 

 

New e-readers and bicycles were given away to over a hundred families nominated to participate in State Senator Holly J. Mitchell’s 5th Annual Christmas in July event in Exposition Park on July 18.  Despite early thunder, lightning, and showers, hundreds of children from under-served communities in the 30th Senate District arrived for a day of fun, healthy activity, education – and gifts.  Film and television actors Jazsmine Lewis, Suzanne Quast, Richard John Reliford, and Lester Speight made special appearances as “Summer Santas.”

 

“Christmas-in-July is an annual event aimed to support working-class families during the summer months when children are out of school and programs are limited.  Many families face unemployment or underemployment, limited resources, rising costs, over-burdened and under-funded schools, and diminishing access to quality child care,” said Mitchell.

 

 “We give e-readers to each family and host a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) Zone to help bridge the technology gap that discourages and derails Latino and African American youth from college and career tracks that lead to high-earning STEAM careers and employment in other professional fields.”

 

In addition to the e-readers, bicycles, books and health screenings, children and their families chose from a variety of activities from zip-lining to rock-climbing, a bike-safety and skills course to the latest video games, ways to save water, the environment, and exotic wildlife, and Lego robotics and coding to film-making.  No child left empty-handed and all families were welcomed.  A variety of for-profits and non-profits contributed funds and gifts to the event.

Category: Community