Mayor's Ball Strives to Support Local Youth

Local dignitaries and community members recently gathered just 5 minutes from the Blue Mountain city, at Sandals Church in Highgrove, in celebration of the annual Mayor's Ball. This year was the first year that local community leader and founder of The REC Center, a non-profit organization providing communities opportunity in creative and performing arts, education and recreation, Jennifer Araiza, headed the planning and preparation for the event. Araiza shares that The REC Center began planning the Mayor's Ball about 6 months ago in response to the need for additional after-school opportunities for our youth. After discussions with teens, school admin and parents, it was further identified that the need was greatest for our middle school youth. So The REC Center set out looking for opportunities to raise the funds necessary to meet this need. The money raised from this year's event, which totaled $2,808, will go towards The REC Center's programs on the Terrace Hills Middle School campus. Araiza shares, "The evening was amazing! I am really proud of the community for coming together to serve our youth. We had the opportunity to showcase our programs through this event. Our beginning vocals class and guitarist performed 'Twinkle, Twinkle little star.' Vocal student Julia also performed her solo 'counting stars' with back up singer Madeline. Our music instructor Kimberly, Haley from Dance Dimensions, Emcee Laniea Dominguez from Comedy for a Cause and Key Note Speaker Diana Wehbe, from the Purpose Foundation and radio personality on 99.1KGGI, also took center stage for the event." Farmers Insurance, Azure Hills, Burrtec and 3Ring sponsored the program. Presenters at the event included Farmers Insurance, who presented awards to 5 outstanding IE educators through their Thank a Million Teachers campaign, and a Terrace Hills Middle School teacher. The REC Center would like to thank everyone that made the event possible. For those that were not able to attend, there is still an opportunity to donate at www.RECstar.org, dropping donations off at The REC Center or contacting The REC Center's office. Araiza shares, "The night was made possible by Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz, our sponsors, our Teen Advisory Board, our guest speakers, our volunteer parents, our board of directors and the community of Grand Terrace." Mayor Stanckiewitz shares, "It is truly an honor to be associated with this organization explains. Providing enrichment activities for the local youths is a priority for our communities that cannot be financially supported by the City at this time. We need the community to step up and get behind the REC Center's efforts."