Approximately 200 students attended an Oct. 23 performance by a professional skateboarder at Avalon’s Skate Park, according to the commander of the Avalon Sheriff’s Station. The performance was part of the fall kick-off of the Avalon Sheriff’s Station’s Youth Activities League. The initial kick off event was held at Avalon School.
Approximately 200 students attended an Oct. 23 performance by a professional skateboarder at Avalon’s Skate Park, according to the commander of the Avalon Sheriff’s Station. The performance was part of the fall kick-off of the Avalon Sheriff’s Station’s Youth Activities League. The initial kick off event was held at Avalon School.
“The Avalon School supported the event and allowed Avalon Sheriffs Station to bring professional skateboarder and motivational speaker Preston Pollard into their school and speak to all the students in grades two through 12 at three different assemblies,” said Capt. Doug Fetteroll, commander of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department station on Avalon.
The YAL kick off was part of Red Ribbon Week activities at Avalon School.
The National Family Partnership (formerly the National Federation of Parents for Drug Free Youth) organized the first Nationwide Red Ribbon Campaign in 1985, according to the Red Ribbon Campaign website. “In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America,” the website said.
Red Ribbon Week was commemorated at Avalon School from Oct. 21 to Oct. 25.
“It was exciting! There was a lot of energy on campus and the kids loved the positive message of A Healthy Me is Drug-free” said Rhonda Kalish, CHOICES continuing care specialist regarding Red Ribbon Week. Wearing colorful hats and crazy hairdos was just part of the fun. Students flocked to tables with coloring sheets displaying healthy activities like soccer and skateboarding. They signed pledge cards to “stay off drugs.”
Pollard a skateboarder originally from Alaska spoke to students about “taking advantages of disadvantages” and reaching their goals.
“Preston gave entertaining, thought provoking, motivational speeches to all the kids,” Fetteroll said. “He also gave away pairs of shoes and signed a lot of autographs.”
According to Fetteroll, about 200 students jointed Pollard at Skate Park, where he performed flying jumps and other tricks on his skateboard.
CHOICES put the number of participants at 400, but included the families of students in the estimate.
“The kids also had the chance to skate with him (Pollard) in person,” Fetteroll said.
Professional skateboarders from Riviera Skateboards also participated in the program at the park.
Riviera Skateboards gave away five boards to the winners of a “Simon Says” contest led by Avalon deputies. The skateboard business also donated seven more skateboards to the Sheriff’s Station’s YAL program.
“In addition to everything else he did, Preston (Pollard) held an impromptu skate-off between two local skateboarding enthusiasts and gave away a beautiful skateboard autographed by other professional skaters,” Fetteroll said.
“The kids in the community, the parents, the teachers and I would like to thank the generosity of our sponsors (the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation, Catalina Island Vacation Rentals, Riviera Skateboards, and Securitas Security Services USA, Inc.) for making this event possible,” Fetteroll said.
“The unsolicited generosity of sponsors for a safe skateboarding program is nothing short of amazing. It really shows the how much people care and how willing they are to help when it comes to supporting youth programs,” Fetteroll said.
Just as Fetteroll thanked sponsors and CHOICES for making the event happen, CHOICES issued thanks to Fetteroll, McGruff the Crime Dog, PTA President Santa Dominguez, Sharon Shambo, Cathy Morand, Carlos Martinez and Kalish from CHOICES.
The rest of Red Ribbon Week provided kids an opportunity to learn about healthy options instead of surrendering to peer pressure to abuse alcohol and drugs.
