“LAPD Centurions Beeping Easter Egg Hunt” NA18056lg

WHAT: Beeping Easter Egg Hunt for the visually impaired/blind

WHEN: Friday, March 30, 2018 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Blind Children’s Center 4120 Marathon St. Los Angeles CA 90029

WHO: Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell, 13th District LAPD Chief of Police Charlie Beck LAPD Assistant Chief Michael Moore LAPD Centurions ATT&T Pacific Pioneers Club NFL greats, Rod Martin, Sam Cunningham, Calvin Sweeney, and Vince Evans

WHY: On Friday, March 30, the students of the Blind Children’s Center will dash across the campus in search of colorful beeping eggs. Every child, including those who are blind or visually impaired, should be able to participate in an egg hunt, and this is exactly what will happen at the Beeping Egg Hunt.

This 30-year-plus tradition was first developed at the Blind Children’s Center by the volunteers from the AT&T Pacific Pioneers and the LAPD Centurions Football Team. As tradition goes, each class will be assisted by their teachers and take part in the campus wide egg hunt. This year is especially exciting because it will happen on the Center’s brand-new sensory playground. The playground was funded thanks to the generosity of the Ray Charles Foundation, the Ahmanson Foundation, Women Helping Youth and the Moe-Life Foundation. The children will take to the different play areas of the playground in search of the hidden eggs. In recent years, the trend started at the Center, has caught on and is now being enjoyed by numerous schools and community organizations across the country.

The children, family and friends will also have the wonderful experience of a small animal petting zoo. The children will be able to pet, play with and feed rabbits, chicks and ducklings courtesy of the Center’s longtime friend, Janis Lake. Baskets will be provided thanks to the generosity of Performance Team Freight Systems Inc.

The Blind Children’s Center is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 1938 by Southern California Delta Gammas. Each year the Center serves approximately 100 children who are blind or visually impaired and provides an array of support services for more than 350 family members. I’m fortunate to hold an active role on the board of directors for the Center. Our goal is to optimize each child’s development and opportunities to lead a meaningful life through a comprehensive program beginning with early intervention, followed by an educational curriculum specifically adapted to the needs of each student. We’re committed to a family-focused approach where parents, siblings, grandparents, and caregivers are included in the educational process every step of the way.

In keeping with best practices, our programs are fully inclusive with sighted children integrated in each class, providing unique opportunities for social interaction and acquisition of critical skills. Our multidisciplinary team of experts utilizes leading-edge technology and adaptive devices to help our students who are visually impaired keep pace in the sighted world. As a model program, the Center impacts communities globally through presentations, conferences, and research grants, as well as a full suite of publications for families and professionals. In all, more than 750,000 copies of our publications have been distributed in 75 countries, and translated into 17 languages.

Throughout our long history, a dedicated community of friends and supporters has sustained our vital work. We neither seek nor receive government assistance and are not a United Way Agency. Rather, the Center’s funding reflects the generosity of private donors and the trust of foundations and corporations, which allows us to provide these life-changing services at no cost to our students and families.

The Centurions have played a large part in the continued success for the center both monetary and through forms of mentorship. Our Officers travel the country, on their own dime and time, for the love of both the game and students at the center. By playing football we help bring much needed awareness and capital to the center.

CONTACT: For questions, contact Sergeant Marc Rojas, Southeast Area Community Police Station, at 38527@lapd.online, or 818.355.9639.