40 YEARS OF STEERING KIDS STRAIGHT BOYS & GIRLS CLUB STILL GOING STRONG.

Byline: RICK COCA Valley News Writer

What started as a reaction to the 1965 Watts Riots has turned into decades of service to generations of local kids as the San Fernando Valley Boys & Girls Club celebrates its 40th anniversary this year.

Leroy Chase, president and CEO of the San Fernando club at 11251 Glenoaks Blvd. in Pacoima, started working there in 1968.

Chase, who has lived in Sylmar for 30 years, said the club was started by a local chapter of B'nai B'rith, the international Jewish service organization.

``Their intention was to provide opportunities for kids in the San Fernando Valley, primarily those that were less fortunate than others,'' Chase said.

The late Bernie Shapiro, one of the club's founders, used to tell potential funders ``Investing in the Boys & Girls Club, you'll see your return (on money invested), and you'll be happy about the return,'' Chase said.

People like Shapiro understood the preventive approach taken by the club, Chase said, citing its many programs and services, including athletics, arts, computer education and family-support programs.

``We like to get the young people and prevent them from getting into gangs, making sure they go in the right direction and not get caught in the street environment,'' Chase said.

Through the years, he said, former participants have returned to volunteer or take on paid positions -- people such as Dwayne Campbell, who is now the club's art director. Years earlier, Campbell earned an arts scholarship from the club that sent him to study in Arizona. Hector Rodriguez, another boyhood participant, is now the facility's plant manager.

Sandra Perez-Thomas is the club's program director. Growing up in Pacoima, she first got involved with the club about a decade ago, when she stopped by out of curiosity. She eventually began serving as a volunteer two or three times a week, before being offered a paid position in the game room. She worked her way up from there to her current position. Perez-Thomas, 32, marvels at the growth she sees in the kids who go through the program.

She mentioned Veronica Palafox.

``I've known her for 10 years,'' Perez-Thomas said of the 16-year-old girl. ``She first came in as a 7-year-old. Now she's a young lady in high school, doing very well. It keeps me motivated to see the young people doing so well.''

Palafox, a San Fernando resident and Chatsworth High School student, said when she first came to the club, it was because her parents needed a good ``day care'' where they could safely leave her.

``After a time, I liked it and I kept on coming,'' Palafox said.

As she's gotten older, Palafox has enjoyed the Teen Key Club, where the club's teenagers plan and raise funds for their own field trips, such as sleepovers at Six Flags California's Magic Mountain. She also enjoys the mentoring programs, in which older kids help younger ones and work with them on teamwork and respect.

Palafox appreciates the mix of kids at the club.

``A lot of the teens go to different high schools around the San Fernando Valley, so we get chances to meet new kids all the time,'' Palafox said. ``You get to see how they are and you learn their culture because a lot of the kids are different races, (and) you learn to respect them.''

Palafox hasn't decided what she wants to do with her life yet, although USC is her ``dream school.'' One thing is for certain: She'll be back at the Boys & Girls Club.

``When I get older, I would like to help at the club so that the kids coming in at that time can have the same things we did, and they can see the club is a great place.''

For information on donating or volunteering opportunities, or for programs and hours for the San Fernando Boys & Girls Club, call [phone].

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Photo:

Veronica Palafox, (standing, right), enjoys doing her homework in the San Fernando Boys & Girls Club. With Palafox are standing, from left, Angelica Castillo and Korina Salas. Bottom row, from left, Jasmine Noble, Bianca Perez, Claudia Anguiano, Raymond Salas and Raymond Gomez.