Sports Figures Team Up to Keep Children in School

Students at two City of Industry schools who are at high risk of dropping out will be the beneficiaries of a gala sports memorabilia dinner and auction Monday.

Proceeds will go to help a group of 12- to 16-year-old students at Grandview Junior High School and Workman High School who are participating in a special program encouraging them to stay in school.

Patricia McCormick, a four-time Olympic gold medal winner in diving, has been working with the students to help them avoid drugs and gangs and will help pay for their college or trade school tuition if they graduate from high school.

McCormick organized the dinner and auction, which will begin at 6 p.m. at the Williamsburg restaurant in Long Beach and will feature appearances by McCormick; baseball players Duke Snider, Bob Lemon and Bobby Grich, and Olympians Al Oerter, Tim Shaw, Frank Lubin and Art Mollner.

Items to be auctioned off will include baseballs and swim trunks donated by sports personalities such as John Wooden, Greg Louganis and former baseball Commissioner Peter V. Ueberroth.