$11K grant will keep center open for at least the next year
Published on Page 1 of the July 24, 2013 issue of Morgan Hill Life:
By Marty Cheek
Children at the El Toro Youth Center celebrate after a game of Capture the Flag.
(Photo by Marty Cheek)
The clock was ticking for Morgan Hill’s El Toro Youth Center when the check for $11,000 came in, keeping the doors open for at least another year. Morgan Hill businesswoman Doris Patterson, owner of Smart Products, generously provided the money for the 25-year-old center, helping to keep children off the streets and focusing them on building productive lives.
“I wanted to give them a big hug. It was unexpected,” said Alban Diaz, supervisor at the center. “Really, you kind of know that the community and businesses supports El Toro, but that was unexpected. We were going through one of the toughest moments where we were wondering where are we going to get the money. It was border-line whether we were going to be open or closed — and through that donation, Smart Products helped El Toro to be safe for one more year.”
The Lori Escobar El Toro Youth Center serves 60 kids daily in the summer months and after-school through its tutoring and literacy programs, arts and crafts, sports and other recreation activities, Diaz said. The payoff comes by helping many children avoid at-risk activities and empowering them with the skills they need to do well in school and find successful career paths, he added.
“The more support systems you provide, then kids do way better in life,” he said. “They stay out of crime, do well in school, build their social networks, build their relationship with their parents, build their relationship with their friends. The more people you have believing in you, the more people you don’t want to let down, so the better you’re going to do.”
Throughout the year, the center helps 500 youths and parents who come through its doors. To run the center takes $130,000 a year, Diaz said. Parents pay $60 a month per child. The city of Morgan Hill and local individuals and businesses also provide funding. Money also comes from fundraising opportunities like the Frys.com Golf Tournament.
Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate calls the El Toro Youth Center an important resource for young people.
“We have great public and private schools, but what is there for kids to do after school?” he said. “Especially kids from low income families whose parents aren’t home until later and can’t afford day care or sports activities. Left to their own devices, these kids often find negative outlets, gangs and delinquent activities. What they really need during those afternoon hours is to do their homework with help when they need it, to have positive physical and social activity, and to have access to older mentors they can confide in with their problems and questions. That is exactly what the El Toro Youth Center provides.”
CONTACT INFO:
Location: 17620 Crest Avenue
Hours: 2 – 6 p.m., Monday through Friday
Contact: Alban Diaz
[email protected]
(408) 779-6002
