Area Groups Prosper as L.A. Foundation Spreads the Wealth

The Los Angeles Amateur Athletic Foundation recently awarded more than $1 million in grants to 25 youth sports organizations in Southern California--four in the San Fernando Valley and Ventura County.

“The organizations submit requests and we see the program in action,” foundation spokesman Patrick Escobar said. “We look for programs that have been established for a while and offer continuous competition for youngsters.”

Among area groups, the Encino Velodrome Assn. was awarded the most money--$20,300--to help run its 10-year-old program, which provides free cycling instruction for riders ages 10 to 17.

Approximately 200 students participate in the year-round program, which makes helmets and bikes available for participants.

“You don’t have to be interested in becoming a competitive athlete to do it,” instructor Ray Joyner said. “A lot of disadvantaged kids come regularly and we’ve seen them grow in self-confidence and do better in school.”

The winter classes meet once a week, but beginning this month through September, five instructors conduct classes twice a week.

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The Thousand Oaks-based Field Hockey Federation received $13,744 from the foundation to start a program for girls in Ventura County.

Hundreds of boys have benefited from the organization’s leagues and clinics since the group’s foundation in 1982. Although girls previously had not participated in the FHF, about two dozen are participating in the recently created program. They practice and compete at a facility built in 1994 at Moorpark College.

“We recruit girls from local schools and provide specialized instruction,” FHF director Walt Robbins said. “We work in association with the U.S. Field Hockey Federation.”

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Children of the Night, a Van Nuys shelter for sexually abused children, received $6,901 from the foundation to start a sports program.

The 24-bed shelter was founded in 1979 by sociologist Lois Lee, who claims her organization has rescued nearly 10,000 youths from prostitution and pornography.

“We wanted to try a sports program because it’s never been tried before here,” Lee said. “So far we’ve had a great response. The kids love it.”

A basketball hoop has been set up in the

shelter’s courtyard and Lee is hiring personnel

to run various sports programs.

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The foundation awarded $4,000 to the Institute of Equestrian Therapy in Simi Valley, which offers mentally and physically disabled youngsters horseback riding lessons.

“Some of the kids, it’s the only time they smile,” Escobar said. “It also provides them with motivation and self-esteem.”

The institute offers 50 lessons a week for disabled children throughout Southern California.

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Skip and Stefani Deal, a husband-and-wife team from Woodland Hills, completed their second L.A. Marathon bike-and-run Sunday.

They finished the 26-mile course on a tandem bike in 90 minutes and the 26.2-mile run in 5 hours 30 minutes. Last year they completed the bike race in two hours and the run in 6 1/2 hours.

“After about 12 miles Stef’s back cramped up, so she took a lot of water and Advil and we walked for about five miles,” Skip Deal said. “Then, at about the 18-mile mark, she perked up and we started running again. We never slowed down after that.”

Not until the day ended, anyway. They spent what was left of the afternoon shopping.

Skip and Stefani are 47-year-old grandparents who work at Warner Brothers Studios in Burbank.

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Jon Sharp of the Lancaster-based Team Nemesis this week became the first person to win three consecutive Pulitzer Aviation Trophies in the award’s 76-year history.

Given by the National Aeronautical Assn., the trophy recognizes aviation speed accomplishments.

Sharp will be presented with the award at a ceremony Monday in Washington, D.C.

Team Nemesis is undefeated in 21 of 23 races and holds eight speed records and five consecutive Reno National Championships.

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The Tri-Valley Figure Skating Club will sponsor the Open Skating Championships on March 15-17 at the Easy Street Arena in Simi Valley.

The event is sponsored by the U.S. Figure Skating Assn. and will feature dance, artistic, free skating and extemporaneous categories.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children.