TODAY- Event: USC Athletic Dept. Partners with County to Enrich Lives of 122nd Street School Students in Athens Area

 

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 2, 2009                                                                                                                                 Contact:   James Bolden 213-200-5314

 

USC Athletic Dept. Partners with County of L.A. to Enrich the Lives of 122^nd Street School Students in Athens Area

 

As part of the ‘Define Your Image …Read’ pilot program, initiated by the USC Athletic Department and L.A. County Parks and Recreation, the campus will pair 122nd Street School students with USC student volunteers to promote literacy and physical activity

 

WHO:                          Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas; USC Athletic Director, Mike Garrett; L.A. County Parks and Recreation Director, Russ Guiney; 122^nd Street Middle School Principal, Robin Benton; and the 80 boys and girls –  ages 8 to 10 years old – who will be paired with volunteer USC student athletes in mentor/mentee relationships.

WHAT:                       The announcement of “Define Your Image…and Read,” an educational mentoring initiative between the University of Southern California’s Athletic Department, the County of Los Angeles’ Second Supervisorial District and L.A. County Parks and Recreation. The pilot initiative is intended as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence and a deterrent to gang involvement.

 

                                    The program is spearheaded by Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation and provides a safe haven for participants, enabling them to develop much needed social and leadership skills.

 

WHEN:                       Wednesday, December 2, 2009 at 2:30 PM

 

LOCATION:               USC’s Varsity Lounge, (located on the campus of USC) 3501 Watt Way, Los Angeles CA 90089

 

BACKGROUND:       The volunteer USC mentors will assist 122nd Street School students with life, social and academic skills designed to encourage them to make smart decisions and avoid the negative pitfalls of life, while working with them to improve their fluency and comprehensive reading skills through an after-school literacy program.

 

The program orientation will take place on Monday, January 25, 2010 on the campus of USC. On Monday, February 3, students from the 122nd School will engage in calisthenics, play on state-of-the art play ground equipment at Athens Park, located in the Second District and operated by the Los Angeles County Parks and Recreation.

 

 

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