Looking Back and Looking Forward

Summertime is always a busy season for the Children's Enrichment Committee, and this summer was no different.

The CEC paid for five "camperships," allowing children who might not otherwise have been able to go to summer camp to enjoy a time of companionship and fun.

We helped a student at our local community college with car expenses, enabling him to get to campus and to the two jobs he holds.

We covered the cost of a digital camera for a teen interested in photography and assisted another one with the fee for entering his school's football program.

Our three Emily Akers Scholarship Fund students are finding their senior years of college a little easier thanks to our continued help.

Autumn is a season to look forward, and the CEC anticipates another year of helping Orange County children through our annual Holiday Gift program, as well as by providing things like cameras and sports program memberships. We are continuing community outreach, informing local service clubs about all we do and what they can do to help us in our mission. And, of course, we welcome new members, people whose commitment to aiding children and teenagers matches ours.

When the members of the CEC have time to look back, we often think about the wonderful meals we've had at John's Harvest Inn, and the extraordinary generosity we've benefited from, thanks to its Dining To Make A Difference program. We wish John and Deb Botti all the success in the world as they move on. Their restaurant and hospitality will be missed.