MEMORIAL FUND TO HELP CHILDREN PLAY.

Byline: Patricia Farrell Aidem Daily News Staff Writer

The young Valencia girl whose smile and love of life marked the tributes that followed her death has inspired a scholarship to help underprivileged children in the Antelope and Santa Clarita valleys.

Family and friends of Sandy Pearce's family set up a scholarship fund this weekend in memory of the 9-year-old, who was killed by a motorist Sept. 1 while running with a youth track team.

``This is being done because she loved sports,'' said family friend Karen Grant, regional recreation director for the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.

``Her family and friends got together and wanted to do something in her memory. This will be geared for children of low-income families so they can participate in sports programs,'' she said.

Grant, who lives in the Antelope Valley, said she has known Sandy's parents, Michele and Barry Pearce, for years. The couple, she said, volunteered at the annual Al-Impics, working the track and field events in a program for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.

``They're wonderful people,'' she said. ``They believe in helping the community.''

Grant, who has worked with local parks for more than 30 years, said she offered to set up the scholarship program. The plan is to open the county and Santa Clarita city T-ball, basketball, soccer, flag football and other park-sponsored sports programs to children whose families can't afford registration fees.

``There are pockets of low-income families all over - in Newhall, Val Verde, some in Castaic, Littlerock and Pearblossom,'' Grant said. ``We do set aside money for some families who can't afford the fees, but we want to go beyond that.

``As well as the economy seems to be, there are an awful lot of children in need. If you have four or five kids and you want to sign them up for $45 apiece, you have to start making decisions.''

The scholarships are designed for boys and girls in youth sports.

``Little Sandy, of course, liked cross country running, but we won't restrict this to any one sport,'' Grant said.

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PHOTO (Color) Sandy Pearce's love of sports inspired a fund for other children.

David R. Crane/Daily News