Rangers, Raider Team Up for Kids

Los Angeles Raiders defensive end Anthony Smith gave a lot of kids something to cheer about Wednesday, when he passed out 300 tickets to an upcoming NFL football game to youngsters in Universal City.

Smith is a mentor ambassador for the Los Angeles City Housing Authority’s youth mentor program. The kids, ages 8 through 14, were bused in from Watts, Pacoima, Culver City and Rancho San Pedro.

Substituting for the Raiderettes were the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, who gave a special performance for the children at Universal Amphitheatre. The housing authority’s program matches kids enrolled in the city’s youth gang and drug diversion program with volunteer adult role-models.