Bravo for positive messages shared, intentional steps taken and for service honored

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A finished mural with an inspirational message stands at Killybrooke Elementary School in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy of United Way)

Costa Mesa elementary school gets murals with positive messages

Students at Killybrooke Elementary School in Costa Mesa arrived at school recently to a pleasant surprise. Their basic brown handball courts had been repainted with bright, colorful murals with the inspirational sayings Be Amazing; Be Kind; We are Leaders; and Respectable, Responsible and Kind Today and Always.

The newly painted murals were an act of kindness by members of the UnitedHealth Group Employee and Community Engagement Committee, who were approached by United Way to support Operation Clean Slate. The campus and community beautification project aims to reduce graffiti vandalism and bring new life to a drab environment.

Twenty volunteers painted the murals along with the artist.

The goal of the brightly colored murals is to inspire kids to make better use of the courts and to create a positive environment, which may lead to better health, more physical activity and increased happiness among the students. It also exposes students to the value of local art.

– Submitted by Maryann Marino

  • Volunteers celebrate a finished mural at Killybrooke Elementary School in Costa Mesa. The mural is part of United Way’s Operation Clean Slate, a beautification project that aims to reduce graffiti. (Courtesy of United Way)

  • A finished mural with an inspirational message stands at Killybrooke Elementary School in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy of United Way)

  • Volunteers work on a mural at Killybrooke Elementary School in Costa Mesa. (Courtesy of United Way)

  • A Marine band walks in a past Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade. This year’s parade is scheduled for March 2 (Courtesy of Patriots Day Parade Association)

  • Participants in the Walk 4 Water fundraiser walk in Huntington Beach to raise money to drill fresh-water boreholes in impoverished villages in Uganda. (Courtesy of Hope 4 Kids International)

  • Tom Eggum, back row center, founding president of Hope 4 Kids International, stands with the Brandom family, longtime supporters of the nonprofit’s mission to provide clean drinking water to those in need. (Courtesy of Hope 4 Kids International)

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Honorees announced for 57th Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade

The Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade committee has announced honorees for the 57th parade on March 2.

Grand Marshal Rick Shoemaker will lead the parade, followed by Honored Patriot Col. Richard Seitz, a Vietnam veteran. Citizen of the Year is community volunteer Karyn Philippsen. Artist of the Year is Mike Tauber, whose tile creations are posted throughout the city. Athlete of the Year is Laguna Beach High School junior and surfing champion Brayden Belden.

Two Junior Citizens of the Year are chosen by the high school staff and will be announced soon.

The parade is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and donations are welcome. For information about entries or program ads, contact Sandi Werthe at shworthy@cox.net.

– Submitted by Sandi Werthe

Seaside Community Church raises $68,300 at 14th annual Walk 4 Water

Seaside Community Church hosted the 14th annual Walk 4 Water fundraiser to raise money for the drilling of fresh-water boreholes in impoverished villages in Uganda.

The 3.5-mile walk in Huntington Beach symbolizes the average distance Ugandan villagers travel each day, only to retrieve dirty drinking water from a contaminated pond, swamp or open pit. As a result, villagers are at risk of death due to lack of clean water sources and improper sanitization.

More than 130 people from all over Orange County took part in Walk 4 Water. During the event, Hope 4 Kids International raised $68,300, surpassing the initial goal of $43,500.

The funds will provide six wells and bring clean water to the villages of Kayango B, Buyukha, Sagam-Kodetai and Bumala in Uganda, Africa.

The wells installed by Hope 4 Kids International last 30 to 50 years with little or no maintenance. In addition to drilling deep water wells, Hope 4 Kids International provides the communities with hygiene and sanitation education, as well as operation and maintenance training.

To learn more about Hope 4 Kids International and its mission to provide clean drinking water to those in need, visit hope4kidsinternational.org.

– Submitted by Hope 4 Kids International

The Bravo! section highlights achievements of our residents and groups. Send news of achievements for consideration to ocrbravo@gmail.com.

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