Spring 2009
Inside:
Why Do I Give?
Wine & Cars
A Lifetime of Learning
Five To Live Up To
CTEC Helps Students with Careers
Why Do I Give?
In their own words, donors to the foundations at Fairplex say what drives their support
Don DeLano, horticulturist, Fairplex “My wife, Becky,
and I have been in education for a long time, so we go
by the adage that education is everything. We know that
education is the framework of the foundations at Fairplex.
An education gets you everything in life.”
Kitty Garvey & Mike Kent, owners
Crestwood Corporation
“With our corporation
having been ‘born’ in Glendora, we felt it was
important for us to support Fairplex and the
Glendora Unified School District through the
Big Yellow Bus program. We felt this was a good
opportunity to help in the education of our local children."
Scott Dilley “Because my wife is a local teacher, we get to see firsthand the many
educational opportunities available at the Fair, and this makes us happy to support
the foundations. Plus we see the additional opportunities that can be added.”
Joel & Madonna Siao, parents of two at the CDC “We love the Child Development Center. They do so much for us, they give so much to us that we feel compelled to give back. With the economy as it is, whatever we can do to help others in need, we’ll do. We’re so impressed with what the CDC does, what they offer to our children, we would not put our kids any place else!”
Save the Date!
Wine & Cars Under the Stars is a Summer Classic
Spend an evening with fine wine, classic cars and ebullient entertainment at the third annual
Wine & Cars Under the Stars gala June 20, where the world’s best wines and most amazing“rides” take center stage under a glorious Southern California summer sky.
Benefitting the education programs of the Fairplex foundations, the event is also the official
unveiling of the winners of the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition. What
an excellent two-fer: indulging in award-winning wines and supporting educational
programming offered to the community.
We look forward to seeing you at Wine & Cars – it’s an evening not to be missed. Individual
tickets are $100 and hosting opportunities are available. For more information, visit the
Wine & Cars Web site at winecarsstars.com or call (909) 865-4207.
A Lifetime of Learning Cleverly Disguised as Fun
Continuum – Anything that goes through a gradual transition from one condition, to a different condition, without any abrupt changes.
To a person just starting on life’s journey or one who has a lifetime of abundant
experiences, the foundations at Fairplex provide a rich program of educational opportunities.
Start with the 8-week-old infant in the nurturing care of an early childhood development specialist at the Fairplex Child Development Center. While his mother returns to her full-time job, the infant is rocked to a peaceful nap and awakened by cheerful nursery
rhymes.
That little one grows into an inquisitive 8 year old, who rides in a big yellow bus to
visit the L.A. County Fair with his classmates through the FairKids Discovery Club Field Trip program. He’ll learn that goats provide the number one source of protein for most of the world and that dinosaurs once roamed on every single continent in the world – including
Antarctica.
This youngster returns as a confident high school student and serves as a shining
ambassador on the Junior Fair Board. Here he meets local community leaders who answer
his questions about business, politics and volunteering. The wheels begin to churn – “Maybe
I’ll be a doctor; maybe I’ll own my own business; maybe I can teach!”
In the future, he returns with his own children to view an eclectic exhibit at the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts – instilling in them that supporting local art is just as
important as driving to the big city to see a Picasso show.
And eventually, as a retired senior, he experiences all that is the L.A. County Fair. Now he
has time to take a class: he has always wanted to 
know how to pair the perfect wine with chocolate.
These different opportunities represent the foundations’ commitment and dedication to lifelong learning for our community. The key to success in providing this continuum of learning is its donors – community members who share the values of the foundations. You make it happen.
Your continued support of the foundations makes our popular and high-quality educational programming possible.
You can click on the Donate Now button at the top of the page to make a donation online.
Five to Live Up To
“Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how
far one can go.” - T.S. Eliot
With your help, the foundations at Fairplex reached higher and stretched farther
in 2008. Here are our Top 5 achievements from the past year, made possible
because of YOU!
1) You built two brand new classrooms at the Child Development Center
through your donations to the “Creating Leaders for a Brighter Future” Capital
Campaign, expanding learning for 48 preschool students and their
families and amplifying the Center’s endowment for future generations.
2) You opened the gates for more than 103,000 students, teachers and
chaperones to experience “a day full of learning cleverly disguised as fun®”
through the FairKids Discovery Club Field Trips at the L.A. County Fair.
3) You shared art with more than 400,000 visitors at the exhibit,“HOOFPRINTS: The Horse in Art, Legend and Action,” along with hands-on
workshops, a professional storyteller, artist demonstrations and the first-ever
Trojan Horse Tournament public art competition.
4) You assisted 15 water technology students in the Career & Technical
Education Center (CTEC) pilot program pass the entry level Water Distribution
exam from the American Water Works Association.
5) You provided $22,000 in scholarships to nearly two dozen Junior Fair
Board members and invaluable internship opportunities at Fairplex.
Youth Isn’t a Deterrent to Finding
Success in Tough Economic Times
Career & Technical Education Center Offers Students Possibilities
Just as Justin Castruita was graduating from Bonita High School last summer he was facing a mountain of challenges: rising college tuition; a tough economic market; a general
unemployment rate that was the highest in the U.S. in 10 years (even higher for young men
ages 16 – 19); competition in the job market, not just from fellow graduates but from individuals of all ages who had lost their jobs. A 
daunting outlook for sure.
Justin jumped on a suggestion from teacher George King to enroll in a water technology course offered through the Fairplex Education Foundation’s Career & Technical Education Center (CTEC).
“At first I hesitated a bit. It was six weeks during the summer, everyday for eight
hours,” Justin recalled. “But I thought it could be a good experience.”
Now, one full-time job later, with a lucrative salary and a company car at just 18
years of age, Justin is more than happy to have spent last summer studying. He took and passed the American Water Works Association Water Distribution and the state water board exams, which landed him a position with the East Pasadena Water Company.
“I learned a lot in the water technology class. The class taught us what we can do,”
Justin said. “Now I make more money than most of my friends! I’m thinking of buying a house.”
CTEC’s reach to students like Justin could not happen without the support of generous donors
like you. With the recent $8 billion cut to the state’s education budget, CTEC and the various other programs offered through the foundations are needed now more than ever.
CTEC continues its work this spring with courses in art at the Millard Sheets Center
for the Arts; hosting a runway show alá “Project Runway” for fashion design and
merchandising called “Avant Garde” on May 12; in hospitality business at the Sheraton; and on grounds with landscape design, fleet maintenance and construction skills.
Learning – what an adventure!
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