FIVE LOS ANGELES STUDENTS WHO
BEAT THE ODDS® HONORED
Children's Defense Fund, Celebrities Award Scholarships
LOS ANGELES – Children's Defense Fund President Marian
Wright Edelman joined celebrities today to honor the success
of five Los Angeles area high school students who have overcome
major obstacles in their lives and persevered to Beat the Odds®.
Funds raised from the evening awards ceremony provided these
young people with college scholarships and will help the Children's
Defense Fund's Los Angeles office expand its work to improve
the lives of children in southern California.
A child in California is abused or neglected every 4 minutes;
is born into poverty every 5 minutes; dies before his/her first
birthday every 3 hours; and is killed by gunfire every 22 hours,
according to an analysis by the Children's Defense Fund.
Edelman noted that protections for all children should be
expanded and improved, especially at a time of economic downturn,
so that all children can "beat the odds."
"Today, we can extend the American dream of our forefathers
and foremothers to every child and family," said Edelman. "We
have the know-how, the experience, the tools, and the resources.
And we have the responsibility as mothers, fathers, grandparents,
and concerned and sensible people across the country to make
sure that every child can beat the odds."
Among those honored today is Osvaldo Angel of El Monte, Calif.,
who endured homelessness and economic upheaval to earn a 3.64
grade point average in school. Angel believes in working hard
for his family and community. Today he participates in the
One Way Club, Junior Club and the badminton club, and serves
as a member of the Teacher Preparation Academy.
Allison Bellew of Studio City, Calif., attends North Hollywood
High School Zoological and Biological Sciences Magnet, where
she plays saxophone and served as editor-in-chief of the school
newspaper, despite being abandoned by her mother when she was
in the fourth grade and having a father who has been unable
to care for her.
Victor Maldonado of Carson, Calif., helped his mother survive
cancer, endured the murder of his father, and cared for his
grandmother and younger brother who has Downs Syndrome. Maldonado
worked hard at school and his part-time job and also found
time to be a staff writer at his school newspaper.
Seth Martino of West Covina, Calif., attended eight different
schools during the sixth and seventh grades, while his parents
were taken over by substance abuse and addiction. Martino was
placed in foster care, where he lived in five different locations
before finding the one place he could call home. Martino helped
found the West Covina High School's Robotics Team, received
the Rotary Youth Leadership Award, and was selected for the
highly acclaimed West Covina Showchoir despite these challenges.
Tina Taylor of Los Angeles, Calif., lost both of her parents
and her eldest sister to a murder-suicide domestic violence
incident at the age of twelve. Taylor turned her tragedy into
a determination to succeed.
Actresses Reese Witherspoon and Jane Kaczmarek, actors Bradley
Whitford and Dulé Hill and L.A. Laker Rick Fox helped
present today's awards. Joining them were Bryan Cranston, Donal
Logue, Carl Lumbly, Nicole Lyn, Esai Morales, Frankie Muniz
and Michael Vartan.
The Children's Defense fund this year celebrates its 30th
anniversary working hard to Leave No Child Behind® and
to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair
Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful
passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities.
The Children's Defense Fund is a strong, effective voice
for all the children of America who cannot vote, lobby, or
speak for themselves, paying particular attention to the needs
of poor and minority children and those with disabilities.
CDF is a private, nonprofit organization supported by foundation
and corporate grants and individual donations and has never
taken government funds.
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URL | http://www.childrensdefense.org/pressreleases/2003/030924.asp |
