Cause for Celebration : Hard Work Pays Off for 6 Kids Headed for Olympics

There were hugs, a few tears and a lot of nervous excitement Wednesday morning at Burbank Airport as six Pacoima kids said goodbye to their moms and boarded a flight that began a 10-day journey to the Olympic Games in Atlanta.

The six, five boys and a girl between the ages of 10 and 12, received the all-expenses-paid trip as a reward for their high achievements in an innovative judo program run by New Directions For Youth, a San Fernando Valley nonprofit organization dedicated to working with kids and parents.

“These kids were chosen not just because they excelled in judo but because they have excelled in academics and shown responsibility and commitment to the program,” said Rommel Hilario, counseling program director for New Directions.

Escorting the kids to Atlanta is the bear-like man they respectfully call “sensei,” judo instructor Charles Avelar. The husky, bearded Avelar, who twice tried out for the United States Olympic judo team but never made it, said that he and his wife, Mara, are leaving behind their own four children to “give some kids who normally wouldn’t have the opportunity a chance to see something they can’t even dream of.”

“The only one who could make this happen is sensei,” said Cynthia Perez, the lone girl and, at 12, the oldest in the group. “He’s like a parent to us. The judo group is like another family.”

“I’m so happy for her, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” said Cynthia’s mother, Maure Perez as she fought back tears. “But it’s sad for me too. She’s never been anywhere by herself.”

Almost 50 boys and girls between the ages of 8 and 16 are enrolled in New Directions’ judo program in Pacoima. In addition to instruction in judo, a sport chosen for its emphasis on self-discipline, the program provides academic tutoring and counseling for kids and education classes for parents.

“These are our top-notch students,” Avelar said. “This trip is a reward for the hard work done by the kids and their parents.”

To make the trip a reality the kids sold candy bars and raffle tickets and New Directions received donated plane tickets from America West Airlines and Olympic event tickets from the agency’s chairman, Tom Shapiro, whose business, Academy Tent & Canvas, is an Olympic vendor. The biggest obstacle, though, was finding an affordable place to stay in Atlanta.

“Two hundred dollars per night for a one-bedroom was the lowest offer we had,” said Avelar. “But thanks to a very nice woman in Atlanta we will be staying for free.” That woman, 84-year-old Ceola Jones, offered her home to the group after a psychologist from Pacoima Elementary School contacted Jones’ church in Atlanta.

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Avelar said the group--which besides Cynthia, includes Jesus Carranza, Charles Aguirre, David Hernandez, Isaac Chavez and Marcos Canales--will attend the entire judo competition and have a chance to meet and train with members of the U.S. judo team. They also have tickets for wrestling, weightlifting, archery and track and field events.

Ten-year-old Charles Aguirre said soccer was his favorite sport but that he wasn’t very particular about which events were on the group’s agenda.

“Just going to the Olympics is exciting,” he said, “so it really doesn’t matter which sports we watch.”