TEENS SEE HOUSE AS HOME FOR A MEMORY.Byline: Angie Valencia-MartinezStaff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. -- Tyler Broberg was the boy with the infectious smile. To honor his life, his friends at Royal High School want to bring smiles to the members of a local family by helping them purchase a new home. Teaming up with Habitat for Humanity Habitat for Humanity, nonprofit ecumenical Christian organization that enables low-income people to own affordable, livable housing. Headquartered in Americus, Ga., it was founded in 1976 by businessman Millard Fuller and his wife. of Ventura County, his schoolmates plan to raise $50,000 toward a new home for a low-income family. "We all knew we wanted to do something to remember Tyler," said longtime friend Emilie Mateu. "We wanted to bring something positive to remember his ideals and what he stood for. "Fifty years from now, we'll drive by that house and remember his influence. It's all about dreaming big to make a difference, because that's what he would have wanted." Broberg, 16, died in August during a family reunion Often an annual event, a family reunion takes place on a specified day each year for the purpose of keeping an extended family closer together. Some reunions may be held less often. in Las Vegas Las Vegas (läs vā`gəs), city (1990 pop. 258,295), seat of Clark co., S Nev.; inc. 1911. It is the largest city in Nevada and the center of one of the fastest-growing urban areas in the United States. in a tragic accident on a waterslide. To cope with their loss and turn the loss into something positive, the teenagers created the project called 1Life2Live. Broberg was an honor student, athlete and lifeguard. Friends remember him as a jokester, role model, Eagle Scout Ea·gle Scout n. One who has achieved the highest rank in the Boy Scouts. Noun 1. Eagle Scout - a Boy Scout who has earned many merit badges Boy Scout - a boy who is a member of the Boy Scouts and someone who wanted to make others happy. "He was the type of person everybody thought was his best friend," said Alex Safford, a Royal High School junior. "He was really into helping others. "He had such a contagious smile. Every time he smiled, it made me want to smile." Karen Jensen, resource development director for Habitat for Humanity of Ventura County, said three single-parent families single-parent family Social medicine A family unit with a mother or father and unmarried children. See Father 'factor.', Latchkey children, Quality time, Supermom. Cf Extended family, Nuclear family, Two parent advantage. have been selected for a development at the corner of Royal and Sequoia avenues in Simi Valley. The homes are expected to be complete by December 2008. "It's great to see the students really band together to make a difference," she said. The homes are sponsored by three groups in the area, including 1Life2Live, which has pledged to raise the money by Broberg's one-year death anniversary. His peers are also committed to participate in the construction of the homes starting next year. So far, the organization has raised about $6,000 and is asking the community to make support the group by purchasing "1L2L L2L Library to Library L2L Lan to Lan L2L Local to Local Gear," which includes wristbands, T-shirts, sweat shirts and car decals. Pamela Moberly, one of the adults that is helping the teens through the process, said the project has stayed youth-driven. "I'm impressed with these youth," Moberly said. "They're really amazing a·maze v. a·mazed, a·maz·ing, a·maz·es v.tr. 1. To affect with great wonder; astonish. See Synonyms at surprise. 2. Obsolete To bewilder; perplex. v.intr. to me. We've got a strong core group. They're trying to make the world a better place." For more information, visit www.1life2live.org. angie.valencia(at)dailynews.com 818-713-3699 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Friends will honor Tyler Broberg. |
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