The secret's out. We may like a good party at GofG, but we also REALLY like a good cause. Enter Happy Trails for Kids, a truly amazing charity that works with foster kids around the L.A. area to provide them with summer camp and outdoor experiences in order to help them rebuild life's possibilities in a safe and fun environment. Now is your chance to both enjoy a great day of fun and outdoor activities at gorgeous Temescal Gateway Park and make a huge difference for kids in foster care with the 3rd annual Happy Trails Hike-A-Thon on Sunday, October 13th in Pacific Palisades. Read on to find out how you can get involved!
In case you're not familiar with Happy Trails for Kids (though you should be, since they were nominated as organization of the year by the LA Business Journal!), they're a non-profit that provides cost-free outdoor programs to kids in the L.A. foster care system. Basically, for kids who have suffered severe abuse, neglect and abandonment, Happy Trails aims to step in and help be a stable force, providing community, support, lasting friendships and FUN for kids who really need it. Programs include a week-long summer camp, a day at a farm in Malibu and a camper reunion Halloween party. Believe us when we say that this charity is working overtime to get as many kids as possible into this amazing year-round program (currently about 200 participate), but they unfortunately have hundreds of kids on the waiting list and the list continues to grow. With more funding, Happy Trails will be able to expand and provide even more deserving kids (like that adorable one in the photo below) with these life-changing experiences!
Doesn't this all sound great? So now you're wondering how you can help, right? Well, that's where the Happy Trails Hike-A-Thon comes in. Last year's hike raised an impressive $80K! That alone funded more than 100 children participating in the program for a full year (summer camp plus several reunion events, a personalized photo album from camp and more). Help them get there again this year. The day's events includes a stretch and warm up with fitness model Kali Conner, with the first hikers setting out at 9:15 am (you can go solo or hike with a group, and you can start your hike any time during the event). Later in the day, enjoy In-N-Out, music, arts & crafts, a bounce house, face painting and much more. Also, no pressure if you feel more like chillin' out than hiking. You can forgo the hike and still enjoy the food and activities with your family at one of L.A.’s most beautiful nature parks! Some of the sponsors for this year's event include the Salter Family Foundation, FastPay, JAKKS Pacific, Gilchrist & Rutter, Shannon Abrams Psychotherapy and Big Man Bakes (and Happy Trails is always looking for new sponsors to partner with!).
If you can't make it, support a participant by donating HERE or donate directly to Happy Trails for Kids right HERE. If you're interested in becoming a corporate sponsor, be sure to download the sponsorship brochure HERE.
Where: Temescal Gateway Park (entrance at the corner of Sunset Blvd. and Temescal Canyon Rd., Pacific Palisades) When: Sunday, October 13th, 2013, 9am - 3pm
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