9-Year-Old Twins Are Philanthropists

Tears rolled down Alicia La Maina’s cheeks two years ago as her mother read to her about a child who couldn’t go to camp. The boy’s family was living in poverty because his mother had spent their money on drugs.

Alicia, then 7, and her twin brother, Nicholas, went to the bank with their mom and took out $25 of their savings to donate to the Los Angeles Times Summer Camp Fund.

Inspired by the old “Our Gang” series, they then decided to form a book club, with members’ 50-cent dues going to the camp fund.

Now, the twins are 9, the book club has 12 members and, to raise money more quickly, they have launched a refreshment stand that recently raised more than $300.

“I am more proud of them for this than anything. They did this from their hearts,” said Linda La Maina, the twins’ mother.

The twins first tried a slushy stand but ran into trouble. They put ice cubes in a plastic bag and tried to smash them on the driveway of their Calabasas home. They tried hammers, then a meat tenderizer mallet. Finally their father, Fran La Maina, president of Dick Clark Productions, bought wooden mallets for them, but it still was too difficult.

The food stand idea followed, with La Maina subsidizing the twins’ stock of muffins and other breakfast sweets and bottled water as well as book club T-shirts. He declined to say how much he spent.

“I am so thrilled that they are giving their time and effort for others,” said La Maina, referring to the book club members’ recent visit to a senior center for a read-aloud session. “When the kids walked away from reading to the seniors, it was like they just won the biggest game in their lives.”

The food stand made its debut at the Calabasas Farmers’ Market recently, with all 12 club members scrambling for sales. “I wanted to help the kids do stuff they normally couldn’t do. I wanted to make a difference,” said Lauren Callahan, 9.

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The market did not charge the club for the space. “We were happy to help out. It’s nice to have young people involved and to learn to help others at such a young age,” said Linda Evron, the market manager. “I hope this will spread to other children of other communities, to teach children to read and explore.”

One customer picked out 20 muffins, paid $20 and then gave the muffins back--he said he just wanted to donate.

Carol Putam, 47, another customer, said she loved patronizing the stand. “Every kid needs to go to camp,” she added.

The book club members hope that one day they will meet the kids they are helping, and ask if they had fun at camp.

“I would tell them that ‘I hoped you had memories that would last forever,’ ” said Alicia.

Because The Times absorbs the cost of the fund’s administration and Bank of America provides accounting services, all camp fund donations are used for camperships. It costs an average of $125 for a child to spend a week at camp.

Checks, made out to The Times Camp Fund, should be sent to: Times Summer Camp Fund, File No. 53401, Los Angeles, CA 90074-3401. Please do not send cash. All donations are tax-deductible.