sr-011910-13h1
January
l ~t
Council Meeting: Santa Monica, California
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE -MEMORANDUM
To: City Council
From: Councilmember bloom
Date:
3-
2010
13-H: Request of Councilmember Bloom that Council allocate $6,500 in Council
discretionary funds to Students Run L.A. (a non-profit organization that
provides after-school mentoring and physical fitness programs for at-risk
youth in preparation for the L.A. Marathon), for activities to be held at the
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium at the time of the L. A. Marathon on March
21, 2010. The amount requested will. fully offset Civic Auditorium use fees
charged by the City and will assist SRLA in providing services to
approximately 2,800 student runners, teacher leaders and volunteers who
will participate in finish line activities that celebrate the extraordinary
achievement of young people who participate in the marathon.
Additional information from Michelle Hahn, Executive Director of Students Run L.A.:
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to tell you about Students-Run LA and for
considering-our request to waive the use fee for the Santa Monica Civic on the day of
the LA Marathon.
We are a separate nonprofit entity from the LA Marathon organization. As such SRLA
will not be combining or staging our finish line activities with the LAM. Our finish line
activities will be completely separate and we will be having them at the Santa Monica
Civic.
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We anticipate we will have approximately 2,700-2,800 people on marathon day which
includes both student runners, teacher leaders and volunteers.
I wanted to share with you more specific information about the relationship between
SRLA and Santa Monica PAL.
The Santa Monica Police Activities League (PAL) has participated in the Students Run
LA program for thirteen years, which began in 1997. During this time, 298 boys and
girls at Santa Monica PAL have trained for the LA Marathon with Students Run LA, at a
cost of about $300 per student. (The $300 includes two pairs of running shoes, training
t-shirts, marathon uniforms, race entry fees to monthly community races, post-race
nutrition, finisher's sweatshirts, and other items for each student.) Irr addition,
18 Santa Monica PAL students have been awarded $500 scholarships from Students
Run. LA to attend college or university. SRLA estimates that we have spent $98,400 on
Santa Monica PAL students over these 13 years. In addition, SRLA has trained and
supported three adult leaders who work at Santa Monica PAL to serve as the SRLA
Leaders each year during this period. SRLA has provided them the same services as
the students received (described above), except that SRLA provided these adults only 1
pair of rurining shoes each year. SRLA's cost to support these adults at Santa Monica
PAL, over the same 13 years, is estimated to be $8775. Total support over the 13 year
relationship with Santa Monica PAL has been $107,175.
To give you a broader persepctive, SRLA is an after-school mentoring and physical
fitness program for at-risk youth, to prepare them to complete the Los Angeles
Marathon each year. While running is the core activity of the program; SRLA teaches
students discipline perseverance, and how to set and achieve goals. This year we are
in 170 schools and serving students from 7th-12th grade.
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January 12, 2010
The lessons students learn translate directly into their education: SRLA students enjoy
school, stay in school, and graduate at a higher rate than do their peers. Over SRLA's
21-year history, we have served more than 42,000 students from around the Los
Angeles area. These teenagers have been predominantly from low-income families
attending large Los Angeles area public schools. When they join SRLA and train with
their volunteer teacher/leaders, they accomplish something awesome: The completion
of a 26.2-mile Marathon.
SRLA's success rate is phenomenal and a tradition. Each year, more than 95% of the
students who attempt the Marathon complete it. (In 2009, 99% of the 3,000 SRLA
runners completed the LA Marathon.) More impressively, more than 95% of the high
school seniors who complete the LA Marathon with SRLA graduate from high school,
and most go on to college or university.
(In June 2009, 98% of the 481 SRLA seniors graduated from high school.) These
students have gone on to college, the military, and employment, and many have
married, had children, and settled in our community. But they tell us that their
participation in SRLA was alife-changing experience.
The SRLA students themselves best describe the impact that their participation in
SRLA has on their lives and plans for the future.
Here's what a few recent graduates of the Santa Monica PAL program have said about
participating in SRLA:
Andrea Cruz: "I was super surprised at all the attention I was given, not only by the
(SRLA)Ieaders but by other kids also. 1 was so glad that I became involved in (SRLA)
where everyone is caring and is willing to help a stranger out. That made a great
impact on me and made me want to give back.
Fatima Alliyani: "Students Run LA has taught me that I can do anything if I just try my
hardest and put all my strength into what I'm doing.
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Through this opportunity and experience, I learned to have self-confidence, to work
hard for what I want, and to make good decisions now and in the long run."
Luis Evangelista: "Participating in the SRLA program has taught me the essence of
teamwork as well as self-motivation. I know now that working with others can be an
advantage because others like you are there pushing you and supporting you in your
goal, but it also takes self confidence to be able to endure and accomplish your
dreams."
Susana Chavez: "Before I joined the SRLA Program 1 Mad thoughts about continuing
my education after high school, but was concerned about whether I would be able to be
a diligent and successful student in college... Now I feel that l can attend any college of
my choice and, if I stay determined, I could be a triumphant student and have a
successful future."
Jennifer Pacheco: "Before Students Run LA, problems that have no simple answer
seemed hard to follow and understand... Being in SRLA has helped me understand that
every goal is reachable with self-motivation and confidence...Without SRLA, I wouldn't
be the self-motivated person I am today, which has helped me pursue my education."
Mayra Ramos: "As I was participating in the SRLA events I saw numerous people
giving the runners the support because they believed in us and they know that we can
be the future of this world. Watching all the adults encourage us to not stop running
has (motivated) me to continue with my education."
Thanks again for your help with this issue. We are hopeful the City of Santa Monica will
support our marathon day activities. If you have any questions or need more
information about the program or organization, please let me know. I can be reached at
818-654-1623, office or 310-779-7398, cell.
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JAN 19 zoto
Sonia Ramos
From: Michelle Fleenor [michelle@srla.org]
Sent: Friday, January 08, 2010 4:38 PM
To: Council Mailbox
Subject: Item 13 on January 12 Council Agenda
Honorable Councilmembers,
On the agenda for the Tuesday, January 12th Council meeting is a request for a fee waiver on
behalf of Students Run LA (SRLA) in the amount not to exceed $6,500. The fee waiver is for
the use of the Santa Monic Civic on March 21, 2010.
SRLA is 501(c)3 nonprofit after school physical fitness and mentoring program for middle and
high school at-risk youth. The goal of the SRLA program is the training for and completion
of the Los Angeles Marathon.
Currently we have 3,000 students from 170 locations (schools, police explorer and PAL groups)
along with approximately 450 volunteer teachers who are training to run this year's marathon.
This will be SRLA's 21st year participating in the marathon and on average 99% of our
students finish the marathon; 98% graduate high school; and 95% have plans for post-secondary
education.
We are proud of 13 years of serving Santa Monica youth through our relationship with Santa
Monica Police Athlete League (SM PAL). During our parthernship, SRLA has provided the
program to 289 students at $300 per student and awarded 18 scholarships at $500 per student
for a total cost of $98,400. In addition, we have provided the support for PAL leaders to
participate at an estimated cost of $8,775. To date SRLA has supported the youth of SM PAL
at a cost of $107,175.
Our runners are very excited about he new course and finishing in Santa Monica. Because of
the size of our group, the only location for SRLA to stage our finish line activities, is the
Civic.
We respectfully request support from the City of Santa Monica in the amount of $6,500 for a
facility use fee waiver of the Civic.
I'd be happy to answer any questions in advance of Tuesday's Council meeting and I will also
be attending the meeting that night.
I can be reached at 818-654-1623, office, or 310-779-7398, cell.
Thank you for your consideration.
Best Regards,
Michelle Hahn
Executive Director
Students Run LA
6505 Zelzah Avenue
Reseda, California 91335
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JAN 19 2010
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