SANTA ANA, Calif.- The Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League (SAPAAL) hosted their annual family holiday party for 2017. The police athletic league provides after-school programs for more than 200 community youths and their families. Santa Ana Police Officer Kenny Aguilar is the director of the SAPAAL. SAPAAL offers after-school homework tutoring, educational career goals, physical activities and local outings such as the summer program “Camp Cove.”
L-R: SAPD Commander Ken Gominsky and Director of SAPAAL SAPD Ofc. Ken Aguilar with SAPAAL Kids celebrating the holiday season with family, friends and community members.
Staff and sponsors of the SAPAAL host an annual holiday party to provide an opportunity for the kids and their families to celebrate their year-long successes with traditional holiday foods, a gift to bring home, face painting and other activities. Invited honored guests included family members, police officers, and local community members who provide a network of goodwill to the continued success of the SAPAAL families.
L-R: HHSA Director John Mendez, Tom Daly CA Assemblymember 69th District, HHSA member Ramiro Tavares, Rep. Lou Correa’s [D-CA46] District Director Claudio Gallegos and SAPAAL Director SAPD Ofc. Ken Aguilar.
Helping Hands Santa Ana a local non-profit represented by Director John Mendez and Ramiro Olivares collected hundreds of toys in collaboration with other non-profits, distributed to the SAPAAL families and the community. HHSA also lead the effort for other SAPAAL opportunities with their annual shoe drive for the SAPAAL kids.
Santa Ana Police Athletic and Activity League kids waiting for the arrival of a special guest.
SAPAAL Program Director Gracie Oropeza-Lambaren with SAPAAL kids around the Christmas tree.
SAPAAL kids and officers gathering around for a moment with the police k-9.
SAPD K-9 Corporal Gripentrog held a demonstration with his K-9 partner Marko at the SAPAAL Holiday party. The kids were able to pet and interact with Marko.
SAPD K-9 Cpl. Gripentrog with his K-9 partner Marko sharing with the SAPAAL Kids. Marko is a four-year-old Belgian Malinois and has been partners with Gripentrog for a year.
Other invited guests included California State Parks Sergeant Kevin Selna, Marja Selna, California State Parks Interpreter Francesca Manheim, Crystal Cove Conservancy Holly Francesca and SAPD Commander Pete Semelsberger.The California State Parks Crystal Cove along with Crystal Cove Conservancy host 100 SAPAAL kids during the summer months. Camp Cove provides a week-long interaction with State Park Rangers, Lifeguards, offers educational classes, hands-on activities and taught ocean water safety by the California State Lifeguards. Camp Cove is supported through donations by the City of Santa Ana, California State Parks, Crystal Cove Conservancy and private donations. Camp Cove partners were invited to the SAPAAL Holiday party as an honored guest to continue the positive interaction of local community leaders with SAPAAL families.
L-R: CA State Parks Park Ranger Sgt. Kevin Selna, Marja Selna, CA State Interpreter Francesca Manheim, Crystal Cove Conservancy Holly Fletcher, SAPD Commander Pete Semelsberger, and SAPAAL Director SAPD Officer Kenny Aguilar.
Staff from Beauty Glam Academy Santa Ana provided holiday face painting for the SAPAAL Kids.
Foothill Senior High School, Santa Ana: California Scholarship Federation Students Community Service Outreach at the SAPAAL Holiday Party.
SAPAAL Kid Miguel Hermosillo accepting his prize raffle winning electric SAPD police car from SAPD Explorer Advisor Post #228 Motor Officer Camilo Kim.
SAPD Commander Ken Gominsky with SAPAAL Kid and SAPD PSO Nancy Lopez.
SeneGence International through HHSA member Albert Mendez provided additional toys to the SAPAAL Kids and the community. California Highway Patrol Santa Ana through SAPD Building Maintenance Tech Andre Montano delivered toys to the SAPAAL Kids and others in the city. Toys “R” Us Santa Ana #7081 contributed toys to the SAPAAL Kids and the community.
Many of the SAPAAL kids attend local Santa Ana Unified School District Schools and are partners for the greater good of the youth in the community. SAPAAL works with the kids at Walker and Jackson Elementary Schools with a joint lunchtime physical fitness program. SAUSD is one of many partners in the city to support the success of the youth. The joint effort is one of the many successes to celebrate the year-end SAPAAL Holiday Party 2017.
In addition to the SAPAAL Holiday party, Santa Ana Police Officers and Jail Staff were able to provide toys to the community while working during the holidays.
The Santa Ana Police Officers Association continues to support the SAPAAL Kids and the community through direct and in-kind donations. For more stories like this follow SAPOA on Facebook and Instagram sapoa31strong. Additional, information at https://www.santaanapoa.com
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