Painted Turtle Kids Hang Out with Football Pro

David Garrard

David Garrard, a quarterback with the Jacksonville Jaguars, knows what it's like to suffer from a debilitating disease: he has battled Crohn's Disease since 2004. However, that didn't stop the football great from playing ball or hanging out with some new friends at The Painted Turtle in Lake Hughes. The nonprofit organization provides overnight camp experiences, free of charge, to kids dealing with a serious illness. In 1999, Hollywood star and philanthropist Paul Newman co-founded The Painted Turtle to provide year-round recreational, therapeutic and medically safe experiences for children with life-threatening and chronic illnesses.

On September 16, the organization will host Under the Turtle Moon, their second-annual benefit, at Aqua Dulce Vineyards. For tickets or sponsorship information, visit www.thepaintedturtle.org.

Santa Clarita Snow Storm in July

On July 29, over 20 tons of snow dropped at Mountasia Family Fun Center. The freak weather must have thrown off the calendar in the North Pole, as Santa and hundreds of goodwill elves descended on the event with toys in hand, destined for needy kids in the SCV. The collaboration of Courtney Bourdas Hen of Farells Ice Cream Parlour and Mountasia Fun Center, snow-donor Legacy Real Estate Group, represented by Debbie Penny, and Deputy Gerri McCorkle of the SCV Sheriff's Department was organized so that every kid in the SCV would have a present to open on Christmas morning. Besides enjoying the snow, kids like Lucy Heine also benefited with free miniature golf and arcade play in exchange for their toy donation worth $10 or more.