“What impact can an 86 year old retired teacher or a 17 year old Buena Park High student make on a Title I School? Over 75% of the kids enrolled in Valencia Park Elementary are learning English as a second language and 72% are receiving free lunches because of financial difficulty. Furthermore, did you know that “85% of children in the juvenile court system cannot read”? (US Dept. of Justice, Nat’l Institute of Corrections)
Twice a week, Bobbie and Anthony show up. Their simple act of volunteering every Tuesday and Thursday to OC United’s after-school program, United Kids, is changing kids lives through playing sports, tutoring, mentoring, and investing in kids.
Grandma Bobbie has invested in the lives of children for decades, after surviving cancer and the loss of her dear husband, she decided she was not done seeing lives transformed. She is passionate about lifting each of our 40 students before our Heavenly Father prior to each day our doors open. She specializes in loving our challenging kids.
Anthony, a senior at Buena Park High, jumped in quickly last year after we first opened United Kids. His younger sister is in United Kids, and he wants to be a role model for the younger kids as well as tutor them with homework.
Our relationship with Valencia Park Elementary began over 5 years ago. What started with an Easter Egg Hunt and Thanksgiving Dinner, now is a two-day a week wholistic after-school program where the heart, mind, body and soul are nurtured through loving relationships with caring volunteers. We also support the student lead Bible Club on Wednesdays.
United Kids is open for it’s second year and we are excited to further the impact that Grandma Bobbie and Anthony have made. We are trusting God to provide Reading Buddies for our 20- K-3rd graders and Men to read, tutor, or mentor our 25 boys enrolled.”
Donna Whitman
Director, Unite for Neighbors
Come make a lasting impact on one child, contact [email protected]