Monday, Mar. 15, 2010
Kids Day meets Valley goal of $400,000
By Samantha Salas / ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com
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ReprintVolunteers throughout Los Baños joined participants in dozens of other Central Valley communities Tuesday to help raise funds as part of the annual Kids Day event, which supports Children's Hospital Central California in Madera.
The efforts of thousands paid off as proceeds from the selling Fresno Bee newspapers totalled $427,000 for the fundraiser's 23rd year. A goal for 2010 was set at $400,000.
According to the Fresno Bee's coverage of the event, more than 5,000 volunteers signed up to participate from Merced to Tulare counties, more than any other year.
With the help of local volunteers from Los Baños, $800 more than last year's total figure was raised, making 2010's total $6,450 for Los Baños.
"Hopefully next year we'll be able to top that," Los Baños Fire Department Engineer J.P. Soares said. "It's nice people are still in the giving mood. This fundraiser really hits home for many of our guys in the department. Even I've seen what the hospital does first hand."
Soares said he appreciated the hard work of Tony's Rendezvous, which alone raised $2,000, and the Los Baños FFA Chapter which totalled $3,000.
"Without those guys, we'd never do what we did," Soares said. Our Lady of Fatima School also helped in the event this year, he said.
"Everyone who participates really knows what it's about," he said. "Next year I hope we have more volunteers, double it, triple it. A lot of the money comes from bigger cities. Hopefully next year we can really shine and show what we can do on the Westside."
Los Baños High School FFA Chapter members Jamie Ramos, a senior at the high school, and Sabine Arbelbide, also in 12th-grade, spent time spelling Kids Day editions at the corner of H and Seventh street. Both students had participated in last year's event and said they had seen more of a response from community members in 2009.
"But it also depends on where you are in town," Arbelbide said.
Both agreed Los Baños should continue in its support of the hospital.
"I feel like more people should donate," Arbelbide said. "But the people who have donated and supported Kids Day have donated more than just buying one paper."
Each newspaper was sold for $1.
Ramos said she appreciated the support residents were providing for the event.
"I think it's a good thing for the community to participate," Ramos said.
The Los Baños Fire Station No. 1 spearheaded the event. Los Baños Fire Department Engineer Mark Frontella said the department has been involved in since the early 1990s.
"We just think, without that hospital, where would we be. It hits home for a lot of the guys," Soares said. "Even if we have to take days off to do it every year, we're gonna get it done."
Kids Day is sponsored by The Bee and KFSN (Channel 30.1). By 2009, Kids Day had raised more than $3.4 million for the hospital located in Madera County, the Fresno Bee reported.
Enterprise reporter Samantha Salas can be reached by phone at (209)388-6562 or by e-mail at ssalas@losbanosenterprise.com