2nd Annual Golf Tournament Raises More Than $80,000

It was a beautiful day on the green on Friday, April 25, as nearly 200 participants and supporters turned out for the 2nd Annual Balfour Beatty Construction/Sharefest Golf Tournament. Together with their sponsors and supporters, they raised more than $82,000 toward projects at the upcoming Sharefest Workday, a community-building service day benefiting schools and communities across the Los Angeles area, as well as the Sharefest Youth Development Academy. The tournament took place at the Skylinks Golf Course in Long Beach, followed by a dinner and awards banquet.

“Along with our company’s contribution, we had the support of 46 contractors, consultants, and vendors who helped us set a new bar for giving back to the communities where we all work,” said Tom Schlegel, senior program manager for Balfour Beatty Construction and the company’s Sharefest Project coordinator. “Not only did we greatly exceed the amount raised from last year’s tournament, our cumulative involvement has afforded us a tremendous sense of community pride. The net results of the monies raised will be used to improve the lives of thousands of people who live in these communities—something all of us will cherish and remember for years to come.”

The funds raised through the event will support four Sharefest Workday projects taking place on Saturday, May 3, at schools in the Redondo, Torrance, Culver City and Wiseburn school districts. On that day, more than 350 Balfour Beatty Construction employees, contractors, vendors, site staff, students, family and community members will work to help complete the projects, including landscaping, painting buildings, mural painting, and other upgrades. Additional funds will go toward Sharefest’s Summer Youth Development Academy, which provides academic and extracurricular programs to underserved middle and high school students.

“Thanks to BBC’s ongoing generous support, we continue to make a tangible difference in our communities,” said Chad Mayer, executive director of Sharefest. “With their help, the Workday projects we will complete at schools throughout Los Angeles County will not only beautify and improve the campuses, but also inspire communities to take pride in the places they learn, live, and work.”

This marks the fifth year Balfour Beatty Construction has joined Sharefest for a hands-on partnership, and the second year that additional financial support was provided through the golf tournament.

    

About Balfour Beatty Construction:

An industry leader for more than 80 years, Balfour Beatty Construction Services US provides general contracting, at-risk construction management, and design-build services for a wide variety of markets, serving clients in both the public and private sector. With more than 3,000 employees across the U.S., the company has been cited as a Top 10 Domestic Building Contractor and Top 10 Green Builder by Engineering News-Record. The company is part of London-based Balfour Beatty plc, a global infrastructure services business operating in more than 80 countries, with a worldwide commitment to providing assets that help societies function, develop, and thrive.

Thanks to Kershaw's Challenge our Youth Development Academy Expands to Patton High School

 

Through the generous support from Kershaw's Challenge, led by Clayton and Ellen Kershaw, Sharefest recently extended its Youth Development Academy after-school programming at Patton High School in Harbor City. The program launched February 13 and will provide after-school classes for numerous deserving students this year in the areas of Leadership Development, Art Education, Service Learning, Physical Education and CAHSEE Prep Math and English.

According to Bill Steuwer, a social studies teacher at Patton High School, continuation schools are highly effective in fostering a small-school learning environment for students who have fallen behind academically or don't fit into a traditional learning environment. However, a significant challenge remains. It is difficult to offer and administrate the classes needed to meet the 230 credits required to graduate. That's where Sharefest's YDA program comes in.

"We are extremely grateful to have Sharefest offer programs to our school," said Steuwer. "This year, along with many wonderful classes, Sharefest is helping to address a big need in preparing students for graduation."

"Thanks to the support from Kershaw's Challenge, we can now provide much needed programming for the students at Patton High School," said Chad Mayer, Sharefest executive director. "We can't wait to see how these classes help prepare them to be successful not only in school, but as future leaders in our communities."

Remembering Janet Shour…A Local Hero.

It is with a sincere and heavy heart that we report our dear friend Janet Shour passed away last Monday. She loved and touched everyone that knew her. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Harbor Gateway Community as we mourn with them. Janet was named “Pioneer Woman of the Year” by Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino this year and the new Harbor Gateway pocket park was named in her honor. Her quiet strength and great resolve will be remembered by all that encountered her sweet spirit. We love and will remember you forever Janet. We know that you resting in peace with your Heavenly Father.

Born in Point Marion, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1929, Janet Shour moved to Los Angeles in 1950 and settled in the Harbor Gateway. In 1963 she graduated from the Harbor College nursing program and worked at Torrance Memorial Hospital for 25 years until she retired in 1991. Since her retirement, she has been a very active volunteer in the Harbor Gateway community, the Police Advisory Board, LAPD Harbor Division, Wilmington Lion's Club and the Harbor Gateway food bank. She has dedicated much of the last two decades of her life providing youth in the Harbor Gateway a solid foundation to achieve their potential. Since 2006, following the shooting of 14-year-old Cheryl Green, Janet, together with her best friend Mary Ann Cyphers, founded and led the monthly "Mother's Meeting," now called the "MAC Meeting," as a way to inform and problem-solve in the community.  In 2012, Los Angeles City Councilman Joe Buscaino chose Janet as his Pioneer Woman of the Year, "not only because of her love and compassion for her community but for her selfless involvement in the community. This is what makes her so special to us," he said. The Los Angeles City Council annually honors fifteen women of achievement from each of the fifteen Council Districts who have made exceptional contributions in service of the community. On March 22, 2013, following years of advocacy, the City of Los Angeles opened a new "pocket park" in her neighborhood in order to create green spaces that provide opportunities for safe and secure recreational and social gatherings. The park was named after her, "Janet Shour Playground at the Harbor Gateway Pocket Park" and is achieving exactly what Janet wanted: increasing property values, reducing crime, providing a place where low-income families can have a sense of community, and most important, offering recreational opportunities for at-risk youth so they will stay out of gangs and counter other negative influences. While Janet had no children of her own, all of the kids in the community called her "Grandma." 

"Janet is the most humble and hard working woman you will ever meet," said LAPD Sgt. Catherine Plows during the unveiling of the park name at the opening of the park. Janet was preceded in death by her husband Maurice Shour and her brother Donald Doyle. She is survived by her sister-in-law Toshiko Doyle, her nephew John W. Doyle, numerous cousins, countless friends, neighbors and members of the community who will miss her dearly. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Healthy Start Program at the 186th Street Elementary School, 1581 W. 186th St., Gardena, CA 90248.

Learning comes in all different forms

Today was packed with college information for the high school students, while the middle school students worked on teamwork skills during capture the flag.

The high school students had the opportunity to learn about the necessary steps to take to be accepted into the CSU or UC college system. Thanks to a presentation given by California State Dominguez Admissions Office the students are now equipped with key resources such as; A-G requirements, SAT and ACT deadlines and the CSU eligibility index. The goal of today was to empower our youth to take their education and learning into their own hands. When it comes time for our students to apply to college, they should feel confident and comfortable with the application process, as well as knowing they have support and key people to call on if they have questions.

While the high school worked on their college knowledge, the middle school students worked on their teamwork and strategizing skills. Team sports teach skills that can be applied later on in school and the workforce, such as: Being a leader, teamwork, trusting others and working hard for the betterment of the group. Today the entire Middle School program was put into two large teams and competed in “Capture the Flag.” The students took different roles on the field. Some delegated tasks to their teammates, others lead the charge over the line, and many encouraged the team, while few observed the entire scene waiting for the right moment to tag the opposing team. What ever their role, the students have unknowingly learned important lessons and skills they will apply later on in life. Who knew capture the flag could teach so much?

 

Whether on the field with capture the flag or in lecture halls, the students learned a lot today and have gained key skills over the past two weeks. Thank you once again to CSU Dominguez Hills for you help and support to create a positive impact on our students! 

Sponsors make the dream work with teamwork!

The Sharefest kids would like to thank our wonderful sponsor, Mitsui, for paying us a visit today! We know that without sponsors like you, our summer dreams of playing in the pool, and learning about college couldn't happen. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful team!

To help Mitsui feel the YDA love, we decorated a huge “thank-you” sign with their name in bright, rainbow colors. Once they saw it, they greeted us with smiles and shook our hands, not minding that we were dripping from head to toe with pool water! We even took a picture together! It was amazing to meet high profile professionals, knowing that they supported our academic, physical, and mental well-being as dedicated sponsors to our program.

Today was also Creative Writing Day, as Derrick Engoy lead the artistic workshop and taught us how to express ourselves as motivated individuals with dreams and goals we are passionate about. Mitsui got a sneak peek of this passion and enjoyed the workshop as well.

The high school students were located in the computer lab, working on college portfolios. After a leisurely tour around California State Dominguez Hills’ beautiful campus, Chad brought the Mitsui representatives to the computer lab and introduced them to the college prepping group. Mitsui listened closely to student’s responses to Dr. Collatos’ presentation and were impressed to hear about all the work the students accomplished during the program.

Afterwards, we had to say our goodbyes. Hopefully, this won’t be the last time we meet!

We are so grateful to have met such caring supporters committed to our personal and academic development! We hope to see you again, and hope you enjoy your extra-special YDA care package!