Community: Charity league recruiting, preparing for fundraiser
Interacting with children and delivering holiday baskets are some of the memories Melissa Galan and her daughter Rachel have shared as part of the Burbank chapter of the National Charity League.
The organization gives daughters, known as Ticktockers, and their mothers a chance to volunteer together for the benefit of 35 local philanthropies.
The chapter is having a membership drive this month and there will be an informational meeting for prospective members on Jan. 31. For more information, visit burbank.nationalcharityleague.org.
The annual fundraiser will be on Feb. 6 at the Castaway restaurant and will feature dinner, dancing, casino games and a silent auction. To attend, email burbank.nationalcharityleague@gmail.com.
Melissa Galan is co-vice president of membership for the chapter and grade-level advisor for Rachel’s 11th-grade Ticktocker class. Rachel, 17, is president of her Ticktocker class. She attends Burroughs High School.
The Galans joined the chapter when Rachel was in the ninth grade.
Rachel’s favorite volunteer activity has been spending the day with children at Child S.H.A.R.E., a nonprofit organization that finds homes for abused and at-risk children, and provides essential support to their foster and adoptive families.
The Ticktockers help them with art projects, decorate cookies and play organized games.
“It gives their parents a break, and we call it shadowing, when we take a foster kid for that period of time and just enjoy the day with them,” Rachel said.
Another favorite activity for the mother and daughter is the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life. They set up candles in the paper bags during the evening ceremony.
Rachel’s mom enjoys participating in the Burbank Coordinating Council’s Holiday Basket program. They have delivered baskets to recipients, which she said is always a heartwarming experience.
“We go to Washington Elementary School very early and to see the whole community come together to deliver these baskets to the needy families is really awesome,” Melissa Galan said. “Every year, we get one super appreciative family. Your heart melts when you bring in these goods, and they start to cry because they are so thankful and the kids are smiling because they are getting Christmas gifts. To see that, it makes you appreciate what you do have and it’s so nice to give back.”
A unique project that Rachel’s Ticktocker class has done is to go to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and decorate a ward floor. They did it twice last year. During the summer, they did a Hawaiian theme and, last spring, decorated for Easter.
“Watching the nurses and kids as their floor is being decorated is very special,” Melissa Galan said. “One little boy pulled us into his room to decorate, and we put up fish stickers and balloons.”
Alumni group honors special faculty
Toast to those golden days of high school and raise funds for scholarships by attending the quarterly mixer from 6 to 8 p.m. today hosted by the Burbank-Burroughs Alumni Assn. at Once Upon a Page store, 2527 W. Magnolia Blvd.
Retired faculty members being honored are Ken Tada, Carolyn Bailey Grogan and Mary Rago.
Tada was a student at Burroughs from 1961 to ’64 and served as Associated Student Body president in 1963. He coached at Burroughs from 1965 to ’80 and was head tennis coach for the varsity and junior varsity teams from 1972 to ’80. He taught at Burroughs from 1970 to 2002 and was Associated Student Body advisor from 1990 to 2002.
Grogan began teaching in 1968 at Luther Burbank Junior High as a ninth-grade English instructor. She taught there until the fall of 1990 when the district changed from junior high schools to middle schools, and ninth-graders went to high schools. A graduate of Burbank High School, Grogan returned there to teach ninth-grade English and 11th-grade English Honors classes, along with being California Scholarship Federation advisor for many years.
Rago started her career with the Burbank district in 1974 at Muir Junior High School as vocal music teacher. In 1978, she moved to Burroughs, where she taught English and a small music program. Soon after, the vocal music program became her full-time assignment. She retired after teaching there for 28 years and seeing the program grow from 30 to more than 200 students in seven choirs, acclaimed for their excellence in both concert and show choir mediums.
The suggested donation to attend is $5, which goes to scholarships for graduating seniors of both high schools.
Employees serve as Santa’s elves
Logix Federal Credit Union employees volunteered a day to help in the Santa Room at the Burbank Temporary Aid Center, known as BTAC. Clients registered in advance for the opportunity to select toys for their children.
Barbara Howell, the center’s president and chief executive, said she was appreciative of the local business’ commitment.
“Logix employees have been volunteering for three years and their staff is always kind and thoughtful,” Howell said. “Our clients are so happy to work with them and shop for their children. It makes a huge difference during the holidays.”
Clients are able to pick gifts for their children, and with that, they are able to give them the holiday they deserve.
“We know that the holiday season is stressful for people, in general,” said Alethia Calagias, senior community relations specialist for the credit union. “To be able to help BTAC clients experience this positive event and bring joy to them and their families is priceless. Everyone deserves to celebrate and enjoy the holidays.”
BTAC hosts this event annually with toys donated from the community. Volunteers from a variety of community groups help make it a success.
Will the real raccoon please stand up
The best way to complete the old year is to visit the float barn on New Year’s Eve and watch the Burbank Tournament of Roses float head down Flower Street as it leaves for Pasadena. I joined many others taking photos and videos and marveling at the adorable raccoon family aboard the “Are We There Yet?” entry.
Just outside the gate, I was talking to longtime Roses volunteer Janet Diel and Veterans Committee volunteer Barbara Bartman. When we looked down — a real raccoon had come to the fence by the wash to see what all the commotion was about. It made our night.
--
JOYCE RUDOLPH can be reached at rudolphjoyce10@gmail.com.