Marina del ReyStreet Cleanup

Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary

Venice High School InteractL.A. Sheriff’s Department

Playa Venice Sunrise Rotary Club gathered at the corner of Lincoln Boulevard and Fiji Way in Marina del Rey on Saturday, April 12. Club and Interact members cleaned trash on both sides of Lincoln Boulevard from Fiji Way to Jefferson Boulevard. Club members from LA Sheriff’s Department escorted us to ensure everyone’s safety. Afterward we enjoyed a picnic lunch on the grounds of Marina del Rey Hospital.

Beautification of a Greenbelt in Redondo Beach

Redondo Beach RotaryRedondo Union High School Interact

Redondo Beach Public Works - Parks and Urban Forestry

Redondo Beach Rotarians and Redondo Union High School (RUHS) Interact members worked with Redondo Beach Public Works - Parks and Urban Forestry to plant and beautify a greenbelt area in Redondo Beach. Organized by Community Service Chair Galina Gilman.

Boys and Girls Club ofRio Hondo

Rio Hondo Vernon Rotary

Bell Interact

Thanks to Joel Tepper and his 14 Bell Interact Members, who did a fantastic job on Friday afternoon prepping the area for the Saturday morning paint job. They sanded, scrapped and cleaned all the surfaces. President-elect Dennis did a nice job masking the signs and windows. Thanks to Marie for providing snacks and the colossal Pizza (all water and sodas were compliments of the 99 cent only stores).

On Saturday morning, Cesar Motts came by with breakfast (Danish, OJ, Ham, cream cheese, rolls), thank you Sir. Marie brought fresh Starbucks Coffee and refreshments too, thank you Marie.

Our painters for the day were: President Barry, PP Cliff, PP Marie, PP Jim B., Treasurer Claudia, our Editor Philip and myself.

Thank you PP Paul for securing the paint from Sherwin-Williams of Downey. Their staff was very accommodating and supplied various painting supplies. We did need to buy a few items and Thanks to Susan and Barry Smith for making a donation to the club for any other incidentals which we needed.

Serving the Needs of Single Mothers

Inglewood Rotary

Crenshaw-Watts Rotary

Salvation Army Precincts

The Rotary Clubs of Inglewood and Crenshaw Watts, in association with the Salvation Army, served the needs of single mothers who are residents of the City of Inglewood. The event featured information booths and vendors who provided information and giveaways, including: State WIC (Women, Infants and Children) representatives; Mother’s Nutritional Services; The Los Angeles County Fire Department (home safety, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors information); St. Margaret’s Center (food and other services); Children’s Dentistry (supplies and information); Allstate Insurance (renter’s insurance); Fair Housing Authority (tenants’ rights and other information); The One Stop Center (job training and placement); Inglewood Adult School

The Inglewood Rotary Club provided branded Rotary Day of Service Bags containing 2 packs of diapers. Salvation Army provided baby wipes, books and groceries. Both Inglewood Rotary and Salvation Army solicited gift cards and other donations from local businesses. The event took place at the Inglewood Salvation Army Queen Street Headquarters, and culminated with each family receiving a gift bag containing a supply of diapers and wipes.

Library Garden Park

Bellflower Rotary Members & Spouses

Valley Christian High School Interact

Holy Redeemer Blaine Food Pantry

Rotary LOUD Day was a BIG success. We did some re-landscaping and cleanup which included replanting and removing some previously planted shrubs. We then planted the 50 5-gallon verities of California drought-resistant shrubs and 14 flats of bedding plants our club bought for the project ($1500.00). Note that Dr. Mike, a 90 year old member, was right down in the trenches for 4 hours!

It was a great project and even though the park looks 100% better now, we can't wait to come back when those plants grow in. SOOO I THINK WE WERE ROTARY LOUD!!!

Seaside Heroes Park

Lomita-Torrance Airport Rotary

South, West and Redondo Beach Interact

Seaside Heroes Park is a neighborhood park in Torrance and was officially dedicated in 2011. The name is in reference to its geographic area and in honor of three fallen soldiers who served in the Army and grew up in this south Torrance neighborhood. They died in the time period from 2006 - 2007. Our Day of Service Project was to help the City of Torrance maintain the park by clearing weeds. Members of South, West, and Redondo Beach Interact Clubs, along with Chris Yco, a member of the Lomita-Torrance Airport Rotary club and District Interact Liaison, pitched in to beautify the park.

Activity, Recreation and Care (ARC)

Residential Facilities

Studio City/Sherman Oaks Rotary

For another year, the Rotary Club of Studio City/Sherman Oaks club members visited the residential facilities of the Activity, Recreation and Care (ARC) non-profit organization and provided landscaping, painting and general maintenance assistance. This 40 year old organization offers resident and non-resident support to young developmentally disabled individuals who are afflicted with Autism, Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's.

Westport Heights Elementary School

Westchester

Darlene Fukuji

District 5280 Rotaract Governor

LMU Rotaract President

Westport Heights Elementary SchoolWestchester

150 Volunteers fromRotaract (LMU, USC, Otis, UCLA, and Hawthorne Lennox),

Rotary (Westchester and El Segundo),Interact (Da Vinci Science),

LMU Family of Schools,Westport Heights Elementary Teachers, Parents and Students,

and Home Depot

150 volunteers from Rotaract (LMU, USC, Otis, UCLA, and Hawthorne Lennox), Rotary (Westchester and El Segundo), Interact (Da Vinci Science), LMU Family of Schools, Westport Heights Elementary faculty and staff, and Home Depot came together to for a day of service to help beautify Westport Heights. Fifteen big projects were completed, including but not limited to- a mural in front of the cafeteria, a memorial tree planted in honor of a second grader who was recently shot, a handful of paint jobs, new basketball and volleyball nets, gardening in various places, a shelf was built, and trash/leaves were picked up. We were fortunate that Home Depot donated most of the supplies and the LMU Empowerment Fund awarded us a grant; we also received in-kind donations from Ralphs, Starbucks, Bank of America, and Costco. The students then had a week off for spring break and a special assembly was held on Monday, April 21st, to reveal the mural. Seeing smiles on the faces of the children made everything worth it. With the money raised at the Howard Hughes Ben and Jerry’s, we even managed to write them a check for $250 so that they can get a plaque for the Talib Pecantte memorial garden. This project was a Rotary/Rotaract moment!

In Memory of Talib Pecantte

This tree was planted in memory of Talib Pecantte, a 2nd grader at Westport Heights Elementary School who was shot and killed in December 2013. Pictured here is his mother, Berlin, who also helped out with the project.

Butterfly Garden

Gwyn Petrick

President

Woodland Hills Rotary

The Rotary Day of Service on April 12, 2014 was a very special one for the Rotary Club of Woodland Hills. Our President-Elect for the 2014 –2015 term, Elizabeth Hart, passed away unexpectedly after a short battle with cancer in December of 2013. Our club, Rotary International and the community lost a wonderful friend, Rotarian and humanitarian.

To honor Elizabeth’s memory, our club tilled and replanted the community garden at the Prince of Peace Church, Elizabeth’s church home for many years. Prince of Peace Church has a food pantry serving the homeless in the West San Fernando valley and the community garden at the church provides much of the produce that supplies the food pantry.

In addition to replanting the community garden, our club created a butterfly garden at POP in honor of Elizabeth. We released a box of butterflies into the garden and three of Elizabeth’s children were on hand to see the finished result.

A Place Called Home*

The Cinderella and Prince Charming Project

L.A. 5

A Place Called Home is a safe after school center located in the heart of South Central Los Angeles. APCH offers programs in art, music, dance, sports, tutoring, leadership and much more. The Cinderella and Prince Charming Project invites local high school juniors and seniors to attend a series of workshops led by volunteers covering topics like drug abuse, college prep, vocational jobs, etc. Students must attend at least two workshops and once completed they can pick a dress or suit for prom. LA5 gave a $5000 grant to cover expenses for the event, collected lightly worn suits and dresses from members over a 1 month period and volunteered at the event leading workshops and helping students pick clothes. I want to thank LA5 member Marjorie Heller for leading this club effort.