Rotary Club of Pasadena recently joined forces with Five Acres Children’s Guild volunteers to create a mini-carnival for approximately 80 children living in foster care at Five Acres in Altadena.
The carnival was the fruit of the Rotary Club’s “Done in a Day” program, which helps to fund and provide volunteers for special one-day projects for local nonprofits. In addition to a 2019 grant provided to Five Acres’ Pasadena Mental Health Center (PMHC), Pasadena Rotary awarded Five Acres an additional “Done in a Day” grant to enhance their Children’s Guild annual picnic for Five Acres’ residential children.
20 Rotarians and 15 Children’s Guild volunteers were present for the event, which included a barbecue, dessert station, popcorn and Icee stands, carnival games and prizes as well as a blow-up slide and obstacle course for the children in residence at Five Acres.
The carnival was led by Done in a Day co-chairs Cory Brendel and Mary Chalon; Florence Nelson, president of Five Acres Children’s Guild; and Scott Vandrick, Pasadena Rotary Club’s new centennial president and Chief Development Officer for Pasadena Symphony and POPS. The day continued Rotary Club of Pasadena’s ongoing support for Five Acres.
“We have a wonderful relationship with Rotary Club of Pasadena, who has been a long-time funder for Five Acres,” said Karen Germaine, grants manager at Five Acres. “We were thrilled to receive their support of PMHC this year along with the additional Done in a Day grant, which came with hands-on help from our amazing friends in the Rotary and Five Acres’ flagship Children’s Guild volunteers. It was a very special day for the children we serve.”
Now entering its 100th year of service in the community, Rotary Club of Pasadena meets at noon every Wednesday at the University Club of Pasadena. Children’s Guild volunteers plan monthly activities for Five Acres’ foster youth and meet on the first and third Thursday evenings of the month at Five Acres. To learn more about getting involved with Five Acres, please visit 5acres.org or contact volunteer@5acres.org.
