The Mission of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove is to provide high quality, affordable, accessible programs for children and youth, which foster positive growth and assist them to reach their full potential, to become competent adults, caring parents, and responsible citizens.
 

April 19, 2008

First Annual Family Fun Festival

Orange County Head Start Family Festival Kicks Off National Child Abuse Prevention Month and Week of the Young Child

Orange County Head Start will host the First Annual Family Festival at Mile Square Park, 16801 Euclid Avenue, Fountain Valley, 92708 (The Forest Shelter Area) on Saturday, April 19 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The event is being co-sponsored by many prominent organizations within Orange County to celebrate the Week of the Young Child - Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove, Services for Early Education & Development (SEED), OC Association for the Education of Young Children, Children & Families Commission, and the California Preschool Instructional Network. In addition, Orange County Head Start is happy to join forces with The Raise Foundation to promote National Child Abuse Prevention Month.

Approximately 100 exhibitors will participate with information booths, carnival games and give-a-ways geared towards families with young children. If parking inside Mile Square Park, there is a $5.00 fee at the Euclid Avenue entrance. If walking in, there is no fee. All event activities are free and open to the general public.

Event Chair and Orange County Head Start Board Member Pamela Wasley said, "As the premier early childhood education program for the federal government, Orange County Head Start is proud to join forces with many community organizations to celebrate the joy of childhood, and to provide their families with continued resources for health and wellness." She explains that healthy diets and lifestyles are a major focus for Head Start families to be promoted at the Family Festival through healthy food give-a-ways and a demonstration by fitness instructors.

Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will give a brief presentation in support of the event's theme to support happy, healthy and safe families. A solemn moment of the program will include a bell ringing and reading of names of Orange County children who lost their lives to child abuse in 2007 by Mike Ryan, Director of Child and Family Services with the County of Orange Social Services agency. Fire Chief Chip Prather of the Orange County Fire Authority will present background on the Safe Surrender Initiative and William Habermehl Orange County Superintendent of Schools will award the District's annual poster and essay contest awards. Other speakers include Lucia Palacios, Executive Director of Orange County Head Start, Inc., Russell Brammer and Kay Kearney with The Raise Foundation and State Senator Lou Correa.

Orange County Head Start is a comprehensive educational program offering half and full-day preschool and early childhood development programs to low income families. Incorporated as a nonprofit organization in 1979, Orange County Head Start, Inc. receives grants to service approximately 4000 children in Orange County and Hawaiian Gardens. Founded in 1964 nationally, Head Start began as a federally sponsored preschool program for low-income children and has since grown to service the diverse health and social service needs of families and children from birth to age five.

For more information about Orange County Head Start or the Family Festival, call 714.241.8920 or visit www.ochsinc.org.