ASAP - Mile 47

A Shoe Adoption Project Update - We delivered the two pairs of shoes that will go to two teenagers battling cancer. Carolyn and Tyrone are leading the charge to help give two families a warmer holiday season through the Ronald McDonald House Charities. I thank them for their kindness.  Carolyn and Ty's passion and dedication to give to others reminds me of this: https://goo.gl/dd2X6X  
“If you're not drowning, you're a lifeguard.”

Donating our 61st and 62nd pair of new shoes!

A very fitting message for two teens fighting cancer.

I just happened to have a bag to match the brand of shoes.

Charity Softball Game 2017

Four teams (La Verne Police, La Verne Fire, Bonita Staff, and Bonita Students) competed, rised money, and collected toys tonight for children in need. It is my fourth year participating in this year. While I played during my first two years, I have been happy to cheer on our talented staff team from the side. Tonight, the staff team won 7-5 over the student team.

Popsicle Delivery - Thanks, Aaron

Thank you, ASB Class Council, for delivering a tasty popsicle to me this morning. Aaron, who is on the water polo and swim team, delivered a strawberry cream popsicle for me. I had the pleasure of having Aaron in Geometry two years ago and again this year for Pre-Calculus. Thanks, Aaron.

ASAP - Mile 46

We delivered our 11th batch of shoes

A Shoe Adoption Project Update - I am happy to share that we delivered three pairs of new shoes to three teenage boys at the David and Margaret Youth and Family Services in La Verne. Again, thanks to Dinna and Marie for their help. Dinna was exceptional, I have extended the offer to provide more shoes to other children under their care. In all, they have 48 youth at their site at this time. More to follow soon. To date, we have donated 60 pairs of new shoes! Thank you to all of the donors, supporters, and friends of this project.

Bill Gates: https://goo.gl/nQ5S2G
“You may have heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. There's another day you might want to know about: Giving Tuesday. The idea is pretty straightforward. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, shoppers take a break from their gift-buying and donate what they can to charity.”

My dropoff site earlier today (Mon 11/27/2017)

Nike Revolution 3 (Size 7) for a 13 year-old

Asics Stormer (Size 7.5) for a 14 year-old

New Balance Course M570 (Size 8) for a 16 year-old

ASAP - Mile 45

A Shoe Adoption Project Update - On Wednesday, I received a lead to donate to three young boys (ages 13, 14, and 16) at a group home in La Verne. I went to search for the shoes on Thanksgiving Eve and was able to purchase two of the three pairs. By early next week, I strive to make the delivery. A special thank you goes to Dinna of the David and Margaret Youth and Family Services who helped gathered the shoe sizes from her staff. Also, thank you to my social worker friend Marie, for connecting me with Dinna.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. This holiday season, I am especially grateful to be in a position to give to others. I sincerely thank all of the donors, supporters, and friends of this shoe charity project.

ASICS Stormers (Sizes 7.5 and 8)

ASAP - Mile 44

A Shoe Adoption Project Update - Thank you to my running buddy Eleanor for her kind donation to this shoe project. Eleanor is a strong runner and cyclist with a great sense of humor. Everyone is happier when she's around. Also, I just received a lead to possibly make donations to Orange County. I've contacted several social workers this morning in an attempt to make donations by the Christmas season. More to follow soon.

Up Close: Sistine Chapel

After racing a trail half marathon in La Canada on Sunday, I visited a travelling exhibit of Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel called Up Close. In a quiet area of a mall, panels of full size replicas of fresco paintings of the Sistine Ceiling were on display. Along with an audio commentary, visitors can learn more about figures and the stories from the Book of Genesis. The exhibit reminded me of the arts course that I took when I was studying aboard in Cambridge, England back in 2004.

Fall Play 2017

Congratulations to Mr. Frederick and the Drama Program for another successful show. I attended the Saturday evening closing show and I had a great time. The students were excellent on and off stage. Thank you for an entertaining show.

Alzheimer's Awareness Volleyball Tournament 2017

Thank you, Luke, for leading this wonderful cause. The students made the staff these fun uniforms. I was given the Imaginary Number and was nicknamed "The Functionator". We had a great time and helped raise close to $3,000 dollars to Alzheimer's Awareness.

Thank you, Sophia & Gia

Thank you, Sophia and Gia, for bringing me these delicious chocolate brownies on your birthdays. 

Thank you, Gage & Aaron

Thank you, Gage and Aaron, for those encouraging cards. It's a great way to kick off Thanksgiving break. "Don't get too fat!" Hahahaa.

Academic Excellence

Thank you ASB for taking the time to honor students who earned high GPAs. This week, our campus classroom windows were decorated with colorful name tags. Congratulations to all of those who earned academic honors this quarter.

Murder's in the Heir - BHS Drama Fall Play 2017

This is going to be a fun show, see you there.

Alzheimer's Awareness Volleyball Tournament

I'll be playing on the teacher team against the students on Friday night. Come support.

ASAP - Mile 43

A Shoe Adoption Project Update - Thank you to our latest donor Shifra for her kind contribution. I met Shifra through my running friend Angela, who also have continued to support this charity project. I sincerely thank you both. Shifra is also a strong runner herself. Her donation allows me to fund this project through the end of the year. I strive to reach social workers during the Thanksgiving week for possible donations by the Christmas season. This project uses 100% of any donations received directly towards buying shoes for the children in need. 

Thank you, Grace and Lauren

I started my official tutoring career at UC Irvine tutoring undergraduate statistics and psychology courses during my senior year there. (Unofficially, I started at 14. I tutored my parent's friend's kids on weekends when I was in high school.) Recently, I tutored a friend's daughter in statistics and it brought back memories of my college days. Thank you, Grace and Lauren, for the extra calories. 

ASAP - Mile 42

A Shoe Adoption Project Update - I am supporting my good friends Carolyn and Ty who are adopting two families this Christmas. They partnered with Ronald McDonald House Charities to help Jeremy (a 17-year-old with brain cancer) and Haylee (a 10-year-old with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma). The children each come from a single-parent family. These shoes will go to Jeremy and Haylee, and I hope they'll play a small part to help make their Christmas extra special. If you are interested in making a contribution, please send me a message and I can get you in touch with Carolyn.  (See below for her call for action.)

Saucony Grid Escape TR2 - Size 10

Saucony Grid Cohesion 10 - Size 7.5

This is Carolyn's call for action, I removed her personal address/phone #:

Hello Friends,

This year, along with all of you, will be adopting 2 families for Christmas.  I partnered again with the Ronald McDonald to have them provide two families in need.  Both are single Dads raising their child.

Ruben’s son Jeremy is a handsome 17 year-old and is currently battling brain cancer.  Christopher’s daughter Haylee is an adorable 10 year-old and she is currently battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer.  Both are currently still receiving treatment.  They both live in the Twentynine Palms/low desert area and receive treatments in Loma Linda.   I have been in contact with both families and I already adore them both.  So very gracious…

I’m asking for each of you to consider helping out one or both of the families.  One of the comments that Haylee made when she was completing her list was “ Thank you.. Merry Christmas and Cancer is not fun”.  Let’s help make these families Christmas extra special. 

I will be taking donations, gift cards and gifts up until Dec 17^th.  We will be delivering them sometime during the week before Christmas. 

Here are the lists I received:

Ruben and Jeremy:

Here are their sizes – Jeremy – tshirt size L and dad 2xl

They both like to shop at: Tillys, Ross, Tj Maxx, Foot Locker, Walmart, Target, Lids and best buy

Favorite restaurants – Chipolte, panda express, in and out, subway, taco bell, wing stop and papa johns

Grocery Stores – Stater Bros and Albertsons

Gas Stations- Chevron, Arco Am/Pm and 76

They are in need of:

Pillows and pillow cases

Sheets – Queen and Twin size

Keurig coffee maker

Clothes and shoes (gift cards would be awesome)

Special requests: – Saber Forge Light sabers one purple and one blue – www.saberforge.com they like to have battles

PS4 games – Jeremy likes the Black Ops series, the Call of Duty series, Skyrim, Star Wars Battlefront 2, Tom Clancy games

TV – Ty and I will take care of this one.

Digital Camera – Canon or Nikon

Samsung Galaxy S7 cell phone for straight talk from Walmart

They are both huge LA Charger Fans.

Christopher and Haylee:

Dad was very humble he stated he really just wanted this to be all about his daughter, However  I did manage to get  a few requests:

Restaurants: Applebees

Grocery Stores: Stater Bros

Stores: Target and Walmart

Gas stations: Arco AM/PM

Haylee:

Nom Nom’s chapstick truck

Monster high dolls

Littliest Pet shop jet, littliest pet shop houses and little pet shops

Shopkins and shopkins houses

Disneyland tickets (3)

Art stuff – She likes to paint

Clay that dries colored

Loom bands

Portable DVD Player

Project Mc2 items

Nintendo DS with games – she likes Mario kart

Vacuum insulated Stainless steel water bottle – or how she described it (“bottle that keeps it cold for 24 hours and hot for 12)

Fabric and sewing needles – gift card to Joann’s or Hobby Lobby would be ideal)

Barbies and Barbie Sets

Lava Lamps

Play-doh and Play-doh sets

Orbeez Foot Spa

Polariod Camera

Go-Pro

Board Games

Diary

You can mail any items to me at: [Ricky removed her address.]

I’m also happy to pick up items/donations. Monetary donations are always a great option as I am more than happy to do the shopping for you.  If I can ask a favor, please wrap any  gifts (non gift cards) and attach a name tag. Thank you!

I just want to thank you all in advance for your generosity and for helping to make Ruben’s, Jeremy’s, Christopher’s and Haylee’s Christmas extra special.  No family should have to go through this. 

Any questions please call me at: [Ricky removed her personal phone #.]

Love you all,

CC and Tyrone

BHS Tutoring 2017

Tutoring is offered at the library after school. I appreciate the art work of this flyer.

Thank You, Kalene and Justine

Thank you, Kalene (c/o 2011) and Justine (pronounced Justin, c/o 2014), for catching up and having dinner with me. They were my former students from Gladstone High. Kalene and Justine are now undergraduate students at the University of La Verne and are now also working as Chemistry and Physics lab assistants at ULV. Both are awesome young adults. Good luck to you both.