Sea Kings Football Spends a Fun Friday in Wilmington!

On a warm Friday morning at our Wilmington Clubhouse, laughter echoed through the basketball court and gym as sneakers raced across the floor and bubbles floated in the air. The Palos Verdes High School football team, the Sea Kings, had arrived at our Clubhouse to mentor our younger Club members through games, drills, and to provide lots of encouragement.

The visit happened during one of our Fun Fridays, when Club members are free to simply have fun. The Sea Kings arrived with organized activities in the gym and outside, including bubble stations, live Jenga, pick-up basketball, and football drills. A shaded tent, along with drinks and snacks, helped everyone to stay cool in the heat during the day.

For our younger Club members, the day was a chance to look up to youth who were not much older than they were; for the visiting high schoolers, it was a chance to give back to the kind of program many of them grew up around. This exchange, with older athletes mentoring younger ones, was the heart of their day of service.

"The Palos Verdes football team graciously created and staffed a lot of activities for our Wilmington members. Through those activities and their mentorship, our staff noted the lasting impact these interactions make on our youth," said Evelenn Santiago, Volunteer Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor. "This has become a continued partnership with the Sea Kings that we’ve been proud to be a part of for the past few years, and we’re excited to see it expanded next year to different regions across our organization."

The partnership also gave our staff a welcome break. With the Sea Kings leading activities for a few hours, staff could relax and join in the morning fun with our Club members.

This day would not have happened without the Palos Verdes High School football team, their coaches, the parents who supported them, and our Wilmington Clubhouse staff. We also want to thank our Club members, who came ready to connect and take part in the day.

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Are you interested in bringing a mentorship or volunteer partnership to a Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor site? Contact Evelenn Santiago at esantiago@bgclaharbor.org to find out more.