Page 11 - Megan Reichman

The Friends Of San Pasqual Academy
One of the charities we came across in our travels is the Friends at the
of San Pasqual Academy, a non-profit organization formed in 2003 Academy
to help assist foster teens of San Diego County in their goal to as they
become confident and productive members of society. pre-
San Pasqual academy was created due to a severe shortage pare for
of foster homes in San Diego County. With thousands of foster college
children needing a stable consistent environment to develop aca- and/or
demically and emotionally, the need for the Academy was evident. a career
Sadly, the average foster teen will have attended 5 different high path.
schools before the end of his or her sophomore year. With this Even
being the norm, often they become introverted, unwilling to form with all
friendships in the fear that they will soon be torn out of their current they
environment and placed in another new school, only to have to start have to
once again. They cannot participate in school events, because provide
they are not in any one school long enough to become involved. to their students there are still needs that are not met. The Friends
San Pasqual Academy is the first of its kind in the nation and of San Pasqual Academy help to bridge the gap by providing
opened its doors to twenty foster children in September 2001. This needed supplies and helping to assure that the student get to have
school is located in Escondido, near the Wild Animal Park. The a “real” high school experience. If you would like to help visit their
238-acre campus features individual family-style homes, an on-site, website at http://www.friendsofsanpasqualacademy.org/donate.html to
accredited high school, a computer for each youth in the homes, a make a donation to the Friends of San Pasqual Academy.
cafeteria, a technology and career information center, an assembly
hall, recreation fields, and a swimming pool. Teens live and learn

Fresh Start has truly changed the lives of thousands of children
in San Diego, and they continue to do so every day. Fresh Start
helps transform the lives of disadvantaged children and young
adults who suffer from physical deformities, resulting from birth
defects, abuse and disease. Fresh start began in 1991 and to
date has provided over $19,000,000 of free reconstructive surgery,
medical and dental care to over 5,000 children. They have re-
ceived presidential recognition for their work and recently received San Diego Woman
a Congressional Proclamation for outstanding work in the com-
munity from Congressman Brian P. Bilbray, 50th District, California.
disadvantaged families with no insurance, families where insur-
Fresh start recently joined forces with Rady Children’s Hospital ance will not cover the procedure, and for any family who would
by opening a clinic which provides them with the ability to serve suffer a severe financial hardship if they had to pay for their child’s 11
infants, as well as children and young adults. Every six to seven procedure. What is even more amazing is the level of care that
weeks year round Fresh Start Surgical Gifts holds a Surgery each and every child receives as a participant in the Fresh Start
Weekend where 80-100 highly skilled professionals provide recon- program. Not only do they receive care from the best Medical
structive plastic surgery and reconstructive dental surgery free of personnel in town, but upon completion of their procedure they are
charge. These events are held at Rady Children’s Hospital and sent home with an overnight nurse to monitor them for their first
fueled solely by volunteer efforts. night post surgery- and the nurse is a volunteer.
Located in Carlsbad, Fresh Start currently has over 600 local vol- To find out more about Fresh Start or how you can help please
unteers. They provide services for children from financially visit their site at www.freshstart.org

It was a very unfortunate situation that prompted La Jolla resident, proclaiming it to be
Jon Sundt, to form the Sundt Memorial Foundation. Jon’s two some of the best
younger brothers both fell victim to drug addictions, and as a result anti-drug material
lost their lives. The mission of the Sundt Foundation is to influ- available.
ence the hearts and minds of kids by inspiring them to live drug On Friday, October
free reveling in their Natural High. More than 2.2 million youth ages 22nd The Sundt
10-15 across the country have received this message thanks to the Memorial Foundation is hosting its 10th annual Gala, “Sunset
work of the Sundt Memorial Foundation. The Foundation spreads Splash” at the Scripps Seaside Forum in La Jolla with Tony Hawk
its message by use of the Natural High® DVD series, which are dis- as Honorary Event Chair. To learn more about the organization and
tributed free of charge to every school in the country that includes gala or make a donation, please visit www.sundtmemorial.com or
grades five and up. The series speaks to the children by featuring call 858-551-7006.
testimonials from drug free musicians and artists. Educators who
have viewed the DVD have raved about its content and concept,
September/October 2010