Los Angeles Police Department ‘s Rampart Area Toy Drive and Visit from Santa NA19168jc

WHAT: Toy drive and visit from Los Angeles Police Department Santa for the children and families of the Blind Children’s Center

WHEN: Thursday, December 19, 2019 9:30 a.m. – 11:30 p.m.

WHERE: Blind Children’s Center 4120 Marathon Street Los Angeles, California 90029

WHO: Councilmember 13th District Mitch O’Farrell Los Angeles Police Department Chief of Police Michel Moore Los Angeles Police Department Deputy Chief Dominic Choi Operations Central Bureau Commander Marc Reina Rampart Area Captain Al Lopez Rampart Area Captain Adrian Gonzalez

WHY: For nearly 50 years, committed officers from the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) have visited the Blind Children’s Center for its annual Holiday Party, bringing their own Santa Claus to deliver hundreds of presents to the Center’s students. Continuing the tradition, LAPD officers from the Rampart and Records and Identification Divisions and board members from the Eagle & Badge Foundation will be onsite to greet families, deliver presents, and participate in a festive celebration including a special holiday performance by the students.

The Blind Children’s Center is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization founded in 1938. Each year, the center serves approximately 100 children that 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 that 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 Eagle and Badge Foundation is a philanthropic organization created by the members and supporters of the Los Angeles Police Department that funds community and special projects throughout the city of Los Angeles.

CONTACT: Inquiries, please contact Eagle & Badge Foundation President LAPD Detective Marc Rojas at (818) 355-9639 or email 38527@lapd.online