CELEBRITIES WORK OUT FOR INNER-CITY YOUTHS.Byline: Alicia Doyle Daily News Staff Writer Stepping inside a high-profile workout studio for the stars opened up a new world for 14-year-old John Allen John Allen may refer to: Artists
Politicians
``I'm gonna go back to school Monday and tell all my friends what I did today,'' said the out-of-breath teen, who bounced beside actress Rae Dawn Chong Rae Dawn Chong (born February 28, 1961) is a Canadian/American actress. Chong, a U.S. citizen, was born in Edmonton, Alberta, the daughter of Maxine Sneed and Tommy Chong, a comedian, actor, writer and director. during a high-energy aerobics class at Billy Blanks' World Training Center in Sherman Oaks. ``I thought I was just gonna get to watch, but I actually got to work out. It was hard. But it was fun!'' John was among 16 youths from Watts who shared the limelight with the stars during Saturday's celebrity benefit for Parents of Watts, a nonprofit group that targets at-risk African-American and Latino inner-city youths. The event raised nearly $5,000, which will help buy Thanksgiving meals and Christmas presents for impoverished families living in South Central Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. . Studio regulars each made a $25 donation to take the two-hour class, taught in segments by celebrities including actress Catherine ``Daisy Duke'' Bach, actor Jason Hervei of ``The Wonder Years'' and former world champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard Ray Charles Leonard (born May 17, 1956) is a retired American professional boxer. He was one of the leading boxers in the world in the late 1970s and 1980s, winning world titles at multiple weights and engaging in contests with such celebrated opponents as Wilfred Benitez, Thomas . The event hit close to home for Leonard, who will never forget what it was like being one of seven children raised in a poor family. ``I used to be one of those kids - we were poor, we used food stamps,'' said Leonard, who grew up in a suburb of Washington, D.C. ``They need to know that there are people out there who care about their welfare. Just to give them two hours of happiness is so valuable. If we can at least give kids some sense of hope - show them they can make anything they want to out of their lives - it will make their lives better.'' Anxious to collect autographs and hugs from their Hollywood idols, several youngsters were dressed and ready to go as early as 5:30 a.m. to make their field trip to the San Fernando Valley San Fernando Valley Valley, southern California, U.S. Northwest of central Los Angeles, the valley is bounded by the San Gabriel, Santa Susana, and Santa Monica mountains and the Simi Hills. . Upon their arrival, the 6- to 16-year-olds were showered with free T-shirts and bombarded by television cameras. Throughout the morning, they were treated to all the doughnuts they could eat. Eleven-year-old Breyanna Tolbert said all the attention made her feel special. ``I like being here,'' said the sixth-grader, munching munching - Exploration of security holes of someone else's computer for thrills, notoriety or to annoy the system manager. Compare cracker. See also hacked off. on a glazed glaze n. 1. A thin smooth shiny coating. 2. A thin glassy coating of ice. 3. a. A coating of colored, opaque, or transparent material applied to ceramics before firing. b. twist doughnut. ``It's fun.'' Abdul said she willingly broke from her busy schedule to support a good cause. ``This gives kids a chance to meet the people they look up to,'' Abdul said. ``Any way I can help, I'm here.'' Parents of Watts founder ``Sweet Alice'' Harris said Saturday's trek to the affluent studio will be a day the kids will always remember. ``It shows them that people do want to help them,'' said Harris, who formed the organization in 1979 to ease the tensions and violence between the area's African-American and Latino populations. ``Their whole lives, these kids have been told that people don't care
"Don't Care" is a 1994 (see 1994 in music) single by American death metal band Obituary. . But here, they feel the love. Here, they can see people care.'' Through tutoring, field trips and college scholarships, Parents of Watts strives to provide kids with incentives to stay in school and continue their education. The organization has also evolved into a multipurpose mul·ti·pur·pose adj. Designed or used for several purposes: a multipurpose room; multipurpose software. multipurpose Adjective community center, where special events are hosted for the community. During the holidays, the group distributes turkeys at Thanksgiving and presents to children at Christmas. Studio owner Billy Blanks Billy Blanks (born September 1, 1955) is an American fitness guru, martial artist, actor, and the inventor of Tae Bo. Biography Career Blanks began his study of the martial arts at the age of fourteen. , one of 16 siblings raised in Erie, Pa., hosted the event to prove to the inner-city kids that dreams really do come true. Growing up poor, Blanks knew early in life that success wasn't going to come easy. But with undying determination and faith, he overcame dyslexia dyslexia (dĭslĕk`sēə), in psychology, a developmental disability in reading or spelling, generally becoming evident in early schooling. To a dyslexic, letters and words may appear reversed, e.g. , a hip defect and paralyzing shyness to become a seven-time world karate champion and action movie actor. ``These kids need help, just like I needed help,'' said Blanks, 41. ``Giving them the chance to meet these celebrities gives them a lot of hope, and shows them they can reach their goals.'' Comedian Sinbad said he is fortunate that he never had to endure the social ills that plague inner-city families. But he believes both advantaged and disadvantaged families share something in common. ``We all want the basic things in life,'' Sinbad said. ``Someone to love. Someone to trust. Someone to care.'' CAPTION(S): 2 Photos Photo: (1) Former world champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard leads a section of the celebrity aerobics benefit for the Parents of Watts program Saturday. (2) Breyanna Tolbert, 11, of Watts gets in the groove at the celebrity benefit at the Billy Blanks World Training Center in Sherman Oaks. John Lazar/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion