February 9, 2023
PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Leaven Kids Honors Military Service Members and First Responders with Cards for the Troops Event •
Students presented hand-written cards to local community heroes and listened to on-the-job presentations during Leaven Kids’ annual Cards for the Troops event • Such engagements spark important conversations about life after-school and contribute to the development of well-rounded citizens by teaching kids the importance of charity and public service FAIRFIELD, CA - Leaven Kids, one of the fastest-growing non-profit 501(c)3 organizations in the North Bay region, hosted its annual Cards for the Troops event at its Mariposa Learning Center in Vacaville, California, February 9, 2023. During the event, students presented hand-written cards to military members and first responders, and listened to on-the-job presentations from participating guest speakers representing careers in military service, law enforcement, fire safety, healthcare, and city government. Featured speakers included the following community leaders, business professionals, and public servants: Dr. Jeff Gaborko; Physician in Charge, Kaiser Permanente Chief Ian Schmutzler; Chief of Police, Vacaville Police Department Chief Dan Marshall; Chief of Police, Fairfield Police Department Sheriff Tom Ferrara; Solano County Chief Matt Luckenbach; Fire Chief, Fairfield Fire Department Mayor John Carli; City of Vacaville Vice Mayor Roy Stockton; City of Vacaville Joe Allio; Board President, Leaven Kids General Jacqueline Van Ovost; Commander, U.S. Transportation Command General Maryanne Miller (Ret.); Vice President, Leaven Kids Colonel Derek Salmi; Commander, 60th Air Mobility Wing, Travis Air Force Base Each guest speaker shared valuable insight into their chosen profession and answered questions from students regarding their day-to-day duties. The presentation portion of the event was broadcast virtually across 22 Leaven Kids learning centers. A full-scale fire engine was also featured for display at the Mariposa location, courtesy of the Vacaville Fire Department. “The relationship between our youth and first responders is critical to the health of our community,” said Joe Allio, Board President for Leaven Kids and retired Police Chief for the Fairfield Police Department. “The work being done at Leaven Kids, to foster this mutual relationship and provide a platform for meaningful dialogue, is setting a strong foundation for our future.” The Cards for the Troops event is part of a broader initiative by Leaven Kids to host student-oriented engagements with the purpose of developing well-rounded citizens and facilitating thoughtful conversation about career planning. By providing an opportunity for two-way dialogue between working professionals and young students - many of whom are considering their own career aspirations - Leaven Kids can promote long-term thinking regarding life after-school and better prepare students for future career development. Such engagements also promote feelings of service and charity amongst participating students, both of which are important qualities in servant leadership. “Delivering a holistic curriculum that develops the character of our students, in addition to their academic skills, is an important piece within our overall program,” said Mark Lillis, Chief Executive Officer for Leaven Kids. “By writing and presenting thoughtful, hand-written cards to our local heroes, our students are learning about the importance of giving back to one’s community. We believe that this will help develop the next generation of servant leaders: people who are just as committed to their own personal growth as they are to the success and wellbeing of their community.”
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About Leaven Kids Since 2009, Leaven Kids has provided free after-school tutoring and mentoring to some of California’s most at-risk neighborhoods. It serves as an in-community resource for children and their families by building educational centers in areas hardest hit by poverty, crime, and high drop-out rates among youth. With the help of dedicated volunteers, Leaven Kids helps to transform entire communities by providing love and patience to children struggling to learn and succeed in school. To learn more, visit leavenkids.org. Contact for Media Samuel Swanson sswanson@leavenkids.org
