“STAY-Students Thinking About Youth”: May 2013 “In It to Win It” Honorees (pictured from left to right) : Riley Dun, John Passnnante, Delaney Knipp, Mia Matsunami, Annabella Peca, Berniece Padilla, Claire Hefner, Zoe Gleason, Avalon Miracle, Jasmine Ishihama, and Sophia DePacol. Not pictured are Melanie Perry and Desiree Quinonez.)

OC’s Hair Police is thrilled to announce our very first “IN IT TO WIN IT” recipient. Each month, OC’s Hair Police will hold a drawing in an ongoing effort to recognize the exceptional efforts of a student and/or group of students that have made a positive impact at their school.

OC’s Hair Police is asking for your input by offering us the nominee’s. Please submit your nominee’s through our email on our website, on our Facebook and/or simply give us a call!OC’s Hair Police will reward the winner of the monthly drawing with a donation to their cause.

OC’s Hair Police is thrilled to announce that May’s recipient goes to “STAY-Students Thinking About Youth” out of Newport Heights Elementary(NHES). STAY consists of a group of 6th grade students that are working together to raise money to give back to their school as their tenure ends on the Elementary level.

STAY’s goal this year is to contribute items that make a lasting impression by beautifying NHES or improving upon their student experience. Two considerations are EZ-Up’s to provide shelter for the Special Needs students during outside assemblies or a mural in the MPR (Multi-Purpose Room) emphasizing “Every Child, Everyday, Education for Success.”

STAY’s primary fundraising is via a monthly cookie and lemonade stand. They have also done a Used Book Fair and are planning a Fun Activity Raffle. Member Delaney Knipp stated, “I am always excited for the first Friday of every month because that is when we do STAY. It is so much fun hanging out with my friends and selling lemonade and cookies to kids.”

The STAY members agree that NHES has been such a great experience and given them so much, they want to give back so that younger kids can have an even better experience. STAY members pictured from left to right are: Riley Dun, John Passnnante, Delaney Knipp, Mia Matsunami, Annabella Peca, Berniece Padilla, Claire Hefner, Zoe Gleason, Avalon Miracle, Jasmine Ishihama, and Sophia DePacol. (Not pictured are Melanie Perry and Desiree Quinonez.)

STAY was established at NHES during the 2009/2010 school year. OC’s Hair Police is “IN IT TO WIN IT” with STAY and applauds their efforts of a job well done!!!

Best Day is a subsidiary of O.C.’s Hair Police

Claire Olmstead: June “In It to Win It” Honoree

“Many persons have a wrong idea of what constitutes true happiness. It is not attained through self-gratification but through fidelity to a worthy purpose.” Helen Keller (One of Claire’s fondest quotes)

Claire Olmstead is near completion of her Freshman year at Newport Harbor High School (NHHS) in Newport Beach. She is a member of the High Schools Surf Team and is planning to offer her exceptional athleticism to the Sailors Cross Country Team in the Fall. She is enrolled in Advance Placement (AP) courses and is regarded as an Honor Student due to her high GPA. She maintains aspirations to attend college.

This hard charger however, is a true Soul Surfer. The tender side of Claire finds time to bake and to give. She is a unique young lady in that her perspective is based on a much broader scope than typical teen self indulgence. Reflective of this, were her thoughts that lead her to create a “Club within a Club” at NHHS to benefit homeless children.

As Claire explained, “I have always loved to bake, but I never knew what to do with all of the treats I made. That led me to start thinking about ways that my baking could benefit the community.”

She has often volunteered at Orange Coast Interfaith Shelter (OCIS), a loving place for homeless families, and thought that her baking might enhance the birthday parties that OCIS holds for the children at their center. “When brainstorming about what to do with my baked goods, the monthly birthdays seemed like a perfect match.” said Claire.

In order to be able to offer her sweet treats however, she needed to be represented by a Club recognized by OCIS. Claire would not be deterred to follow her heart and approached the Culinary Club, FHS, at NHHS. FHS was so impressed that they allowed her to create a branch just for the purposes of baked goods and so that homeless children at OCIS would be able to receive something as simple as a birthday cake on their very special day. “ It is really rewarding when you get to do something you love to provide kids with something that they might have never had before. I just feel good and proud that we are bringing joy into people’s lives, even if it is just a slice of cake.”

O.C.’s Hair Police is truly impressed with your fortitude and kindness Claire and is honored to offer a donation to NHHS’ FHS Club so that you may continue baking up happiness one child at a time with “just a slice of cake.”

 Best Day is a subsidiary of O.C.’s Hair Police

Matthew Kenslow: October “In It To Win It” Honoree

Matthew Kenslow has a passion for juggling. He has delighted audiences for years with his ability to not only toss several items of varying shapes into the air simultaneously while continuing the circular motion but, also by adding a very impressive narrative of dates and facts to the act. His interest in juggling began with a stress relief ball given to him by his Aunt Debbie upon her return from an air show.

This simple gift from Aunt Debbie ignited a drive in Matthew with one fateful toss into the air that has allowed hundreds to be entertained for nearly 8 years now. Matthew maintains more than a passion for juggling. Since he can remember, he has always drawn. In 2012, he established an original and hand made card website called KENSLOW CARDS.

Again, a simple gift for his birthday in 2009 afforded him the opportunity to purchase supplies in order to begin to recreate his artistry on a canvas that could then be purchased as an original hand made card. His website is www.kenslowcards.webs.com. On over 95% of his cards, he insists on painstakingly providing his original signature. This multifaceted young man had a speech delay until the age of 3 and has been diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome.

Matthew is a joy to speak with. He references with pride the chronological order of the growth of his online card business and affectionately recants his yearly return to his second grade teacher’s, Mr. Thaddeus Richards, classroom at Newport Heights Elementary so that he may delight Mr. Richards students with his juggling act.

Additionally, Matthew confidently discusses the difficult task of attaining the Gold Medal of Achievement award through the Royal Ranger Program that he has accomplished. This organization is the Christian version of the Boy Scouts and their Eagle Scout medal of honor. Currently, he is a Junior Commander within the program. Matthew is also in his first year of Junior College at Orange Coast College.

It is an understatement to say that Matthew is an anomaly. Throughout his life he has transformed expressions of love toward him into outward gifts of the same to those around him in a vastly growing circle. In nurturing this seemingly natural signature response, Matthew has asked that O.C.’s Hair Police provide our current “In It To Win It” donation to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) at his former High School, Newport Harbor High. This on campus club embodied the simple gift of a “nice atmosphere of people and friends” for Matthew.

O.C.’s Hair Police is honored to promote Matthew’s healthy perspective of human interaction through kindness to the FCA so that they may continue to inspire the Matthew’s amongst us to be our reminder that our differences can be our strengths in unifying where we would have otherwise remained oceans apart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrhCG2NFBRY&feature=em-share_video_user

                                                           Best Day is a subsidiary of O.C.’s Hair Police

Jaclyn, Savi, Khushi, Gavin: “In It To Win It” February Honorees

“From the day my brother was born, he was presented with challenges. I became the overprotective sister…and became even more sensitive about how he was treated then him. I couldn’t imagine his world at the time; I still have trouble trying to wrap my head around the fact that he can’t see all that well. Being blinded by the light thrown onto me…took me to his dark, noisy, blurry world. …having to deal with only being able to see three feet in front of him his entire life, the kid is nothing short of a miracle.”

This insert was borrowed from an essay written this year by Newport Harbor High School sophomore Jessy about her younger brother. Jessy’s younger brothers humble beginnings started at Blind Children’s Learning Center (BCLC). Canyon High School student Jaclyn Skvarla shares in a similar path as Jessy.

Though neither young lady knows the other, each are in high school and both have disabled brothers that attended BCLC. This year, Jaclyn was presented with an assignment that would lead her back to a place where hearts heal as disabled children are nurtured on a course to become more then their families could ever dream of them being as these precious lives manage in the world with much less than the norm.

Jaclyn’s project requirement maintained that the outcome of the plan would have to provide meaningful results that would carry over into a long term gain for the people of an organization. Jaclyn wanted to “…give back some of the joy everyone brought us!” at BCLC by building the school a sensory garden.

Jaclyn offered her idea to her classmates Savi Williams, Khushi Arora, and Gavin Bains whom immediately embraced the concept. The foursome created a plan for a sensory garden in a planter on the BCLC campus. Determined to make a difference, they raised funds through a bake sale allowing them to purchase the needed supplies. The sensory garden maintains labels in Braille and is accessible independently by a wheelchair.

The world is blessed with unsung heroes if just for a moment one steps back to look. BCLC is an environment that answers this calling. Through their respective brothers lives, both Jaclyn and Jessy have been given the ability to maintain a peaceful acceptance of an imperfect world, the understanding of the strength of an indelible spirit wrapped in disability, the richness of love as it faces vulnerabilities ongoing.

BCLC nurtures “A Bond Like No Other”, as Jessy’s essay is titled, for countless young disabled children and their families. O.C.’s Hair Police commends Jaclyn, Savi, Khushi, and Gavin for their sensitivity to the visually impaired and blind students at BCLC as they brighten these children’s lives daily with their gift of a sensory garden.

In this spirit, O.C.’s Hair Police will proudly donate to BCLC’s sensory garden on behalf of Jaclyn, Savi, Khushi, and Gavin as they are deemed our “In It To Win It” current honorees.

                                                                   Best Day is a subsidiary of O.C.’s Hair Police