“Samantha’s Pride Awards”

A very important event will take place tomorrow in Newport Beach.  It honors the children you love. I love. And some you have never met…

It’s the annual “Samantha’s Pride Awards”.  The event honors leaders in the community who champion the rights of children. The awards are named for the daughter of child advocate, Erin Runnion. Erin is a tireless fighter and campaigner for the protection and empowerment of kids. There’s a powerful reason for it. Erin’s daughter, Samantha, was taken from her in the summer of 2002 — brutally killed at the hands of a child predator. This beautiful, curly-haired, 5 year-old girl with enormous brown eyes was stolen from in front of her home. Little Samantha fought valiantly kicking and screaming against this stranger who had tricked her by pretending to need help in finding a lost puppy. A massive search was launched. But Samantha’s safe return was not to be. Her lifeless body was discovered twenty hours later. The unspeakable had occurred.

It was under these tragic circumstances that I would meet Erin Runnion. Some time had passed.  But her eyes still held the hollowness of a mother who grieved deeply. And yet vowed to go on. And I was honored she trusted me, this journalist, to tell her story. Over the course of time, I have done dozens of stories on Samantha. On Erin. The court case. And the foundation. And I am moved each and every time.

“The Joyful Child Foundation” was named because of Samantha’s sunny disposition. The sunflowers are the logo because they were “Mantha’s” favorite. Her legacy is one of life-giving, empowerment — quite literally the laughter of children.

In an effort to keep kids safe, “The Joyful Child Foundation” went to work. The foundation is a sponsor of the “radKIDS” program.  It teaches children tools and strategies to escape violence. For example, kids as young as five learn to “think” their way through crisis. They are taught to trust their gut instinct. It’s an amazing success, which Erin has championed locally. Erin is dedicated to this program because she believes that it truly can save children’s lives. It has renewed her sense of purpose.

It’s been nearly a decade since Samantha’s passing. The foundation focuses on her life. Thousands of children’s lives have been affected by her story.  I hope you will consider contributing whatever you can to this worthwhile foundation. Perhaps buy a ticket, donate an item, or give of your time. I look forward to guiding tomorrow’s event. It’s a cause close to my heart.

To learn more, please click here: http://www.thejoyfulchild.org/

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The Ride.

There is a sight that makes even the most jaded New Yorkers stop dead in their tracks, so on my recent trip to the Big Apple I had to check it out for myself. It’s called “The Ride,” and it’s an unusual experience, to say the least.

“The Ride” is a tricked out bus. The seats don’t face forward, they face the left side of the bus, which is one giant picture window. The seating arrangement is like a theatre. The bus is also filled with dozens on TV monitors and special effects.

Once “The Ride” hits the road, it tries to combine a sightseeing tour with a Broadway show. It drives past the usual sights, such as Times Square and the Chrysler Building. But at certain strategic spots, performers come out of nowhere, walk up to the bus and start singing and dancing- a rap song, a Broadway ballad, a break dance, a tap dance– even a ballerina in a dress that lights up, dancing with her partner in Columbus Circle. The performers wear wireless microphones so people inside the bus can hear them.

The concept is ingenious, and first time visitors to the city are eating it up. The bus itself is a giant imposition to other drivers. It was funny watching cabbies backing up to make room for “The Ride.” And pedestrians can’t ignore the bus as it rolls down Broadway with its speakers blaring out passengers singing Sinatra’s “New York New York.”

The 75 minute ride was, well… interesting. You can check it out at experiencetheride.com.

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Fantasy and reality made a head on collision in Times Square last Saturday. It happened at a Broadway performance of “The Addams Family,” starring Brooke Shields as Morticia at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre.

It was a last minute decision to buy these tickets. The thousands of Occupy Wall Street protesters in Times Square made it difficult to move around and shop for tickets to other shows, so we settled on two balcony seats to this one. This is not normally the kind of play I would see, given all the choices on Broadway. But my friend and I decided to make the best of it, promising to leave during intermission if the musical was maybe a little too cheesy.

But, I was pleasantly surprised! I got into it from the moment the orchestra started playing, obligingly snapping my fingers twice during the iconic Addams Family melody almost everyone on the planet knows. The music was grand, the sets were elaborate and the story line proved to be interesting. But the woman who stole the show wasn’t a household name like the ever lovely Brooke Shields. It was the woman who played the venerable, wisecracking Grandma.

And during one of her show stealing scenes, real life made its way into this fantasy. Grandma started yelling “We are the 99 per cent!!” and made several hysterical jokes about the Occupy Wall Street movement, which was protesting just a few hundred feet outside the theater. The audience was stunned for a split second, and then began laughing. It was a most unexpected moment during a show about people obsessed with death, ghosts and goblins. Grandma’s performance made the show thoroughly enjoyable.

Later that evening, fantasy and reality collided again. After settling into a table at the SoHo restaurant Balthazar for an after theatre meal, who should walk into the same place to sit at the bar with friends? Brooke Shields! With apologies to Cindy Adams, only in New York, only in New York.

Stay tuned!  I will be writing about another play…which I found tremendously impactful.

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“Occupy Wall Street”

I turned a wrong corner in Manhattan late yesterday afternoon and stumbled upon what could have been history in the making- 15,000 people, law enforcement officials estimate, marching up 6th Avenue to Times Square in the latest Occupy Wall Street march. And there were thousands of NYPD cops on hand as well.
The protestors were loud. The cops seemed very aware of the situation; ready with plastic handcuffs and portable fences to contain the protestors. There were lots of lights and sirens. The scene on the surface appeared to be tense and ominous. However, it turned out to be anything but.
I saw passionate marchers from every age group, race and ethnicity. I saw union members and college students. And I saw cops in non-threatening light blue jackets marked “NYPD Community Relations.” Not a single officer wore riot gear. And by and large, neither the protestors nor the police bothered each other. It was an impressive effort on both sides.
They say every generation craves its own Woodstock. I may have witnessed this generation’s, except with drums instead of guitars. Some people speculate that these marchers will go home after the first frost. I’m not so sure.
However, I am sure that the Occupy Wall Street movement is now firmly entrenched into popular culture. Saturday night, while watching a performance of the hilarious musical “The Addams Family” on Broadway, the audience was amused when the Grandma character made two Occupy Wall Street jokes. It was art imitating life, with the “real life” taking place just a few hundred feet outside the theatre doors.

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Tomorrow is the 4th Annual Randy Simmons 5k Challenge Run through Elysian Park. It’s a tough course for runners, joggers and bikers.

The race commemorates the extraordinary life of LAPD SWAT Officer Randy Simmons. Simmons was the first Los Angeles SWAT Officer shot in the line of duty. He was a beloved officer, dedicated father, and devoted husband. Four years ago, he was killed while on a call in the San Fernando Valley. It was a death that rocked the department, and even more so, perhaps, his platoon of fellow SWAT Officers.

Simmons was known as a “thinking man’s cop”. He chose strategy over force. And he was admired by other officers for that ability and his amazing work ethic in the field and in the weight room.

But perhaps Simmons’ most lasting legacy is the work he did in the community. To Randy, his time spent patrolling the streets of some of LA’s most troubled neighborhoods was more than a job– it was a ministry. He literally put shoes on the feet of children in the inner city. Raised money and awareness on their behalf.

And when this giant of a man was murdered, thousands of people, many who had never met him, lined the streets of the city to bid him a final farewell. After decades of covering the news in this city — I had never seen such an outpouring of love and respect for a slain officer. It was truly moving. And much deserved.

Four years have passed since Randy died. But, the legacy of Randy Simmons remains. Please consider participating in the race tomorrow. It’s great exercise, there will be medals for winners. And the proceeds will go to the foundation that bears Randy’s name. One gets the feeling that Randy is still watching over his kids … from his grand perch in the sky.

Please visit the “Official Randy Simmons website” here: http://www.randysimmonsswat.com/randysimmonsswat/

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They are rites of passage in our childhood. That first, favorite teacher. That most treasured park or playground. The joy of kids playing well after the sun has fallen. A simple way of life in the suburbs…. But not so easy for people living in the inner city.

In some of the poorer, more troubled areas of the city, a safe place for children to excel at sports and learn life skills are hard to come by. Thus, “People for Parks.” The group was formed more than twenty years ago, after many of the parks in LA were becoming havens for gangs and crime. This group consists of community activists, environmentalists, business leaders and law enforcement. They decided to go to work and change the dynamic. Their mantra is a basic desire that children should have a safe place to play. A basic goal that young minds and bodies be nurtured in a positive environment. These early life experiences may help them reach their potential. A recreational life-saver, of sorts.

Perhaps, more than ever these parks are truly the heart of a community. Here, they can play sports, refine a hobby and hang out with their friends. Moms and dads can exhale a little bit. Tough times for families everywhere, who want the best for their kids. But struggle to make “good enough.” It’s no wonder, people from all over … are reaching back and helping this generation of kids growing up with more concrete than grass.

On Wednesday, October 12 (tomorrow) I will be emceeing an event for “People for Parks.” Some local heroes will be acknowledged for their hard work and great heart nurturing young people. I am honored to be a part of it.

Please read more here: http://www.peopleforparks.org/ … and consider giving back.

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