Karen S. Kim
GLENDALE -- The Boys & Girls Club of Burbank would like to thank Adam
Schiff (D-Glendale) for never forgetting the "little people."
Schiff has been chosen as the recipient of the club's 2002 Golden
Achievement Award for the work he's done to support local youth programs.
"He's always done everything he could to promote youth programs in
this district, including in the beginning when he was a state senator,"
said Alex Fey, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank.
Just two months ago, when $75 million in the budget for Boys & Girls
Club of America was in danger of being cut, Schiff stepped up to bat,
lobbying to keep the money earmarked for the youth, Fey said.
The 2002 Golden Achievement Award also recognizes Schiff's support of
the Boys & Girls Club, Glendale YMCA and Burbank YMCA.
In Glendale, Schiff secured $90,000 of federal money to fund starting
the Glendale YMCA's "Your House" teen center program. The teen center
opened in September on a limited basis, but will expand and develop the
program with the additional funding.
"He's making it possible for us to deliver a teen center to the
Glendale community," said Joan Thirkettle, director of community services
for the YMCA. "Without that funding, we would be having to piecemeal a
lot of this program over time."
With the funding Schiff secured, Glendale YMCA will roll out its
Project Safe Place program, which provides 22 local sites that are open
to teens in trouble, Thirkettle said.
In Burbank, Schiff secured $63,000 in funding for the Burbank YMCA's
children's dental clinic, a low-cost clinic for children.
Schiff said his focus as a former state senator and a current
congressman has always been to keep kids on the straight and narrow.
"I think back to when I was a kid, and if you had nothing to do, it
left you plenty of time for mischief," Schiff said, adding that local
youth organizations keep kids busy and productive. "We have really
emphasized kids as a first priority in our congressional office."
Schiff will be honored at an awards dinner and charity auction May 4.
