The Angels turned Angel Stadium into a back-to-school stop for 800 kids on August 4, giving students from across Southern California a chance to leave with school supplies, new clothes, shoes and some Angels gear before the new year begins.
The Angels Baseball Foundation held its 14th annual “Back 2 School” event and welcomed children from 11 nonprofit organizations, including Anaheim Family YMCA, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, Boys and Girls Club of Huntington Valley, Project Access, Orange County Rescue Mission, Families Forward, Easterseals, KidWorks, Homeless Intervention Services of Orange County (HIS-OC), Priority Center and Higher Ground.
Project Access was one of the groups involved, and it brought 100 of the 800 kids to the Big A. Breanda Morales de Martinez, the organization’s regional manager of resident services, said the event helps prepare families for what comes next.
“We want to set up our residents for self-sufficiency, so it's really important for us to provide our kids with the tools that they need to thrive into the school," said Project Access regional manager of resident services Breanda Morales de Martinez. "Some of our kids will be first time university students at some point in their lives, so it's important to us to partner with organizations like the Angels to be able to give these kids the tools they need and have what they need in the years to come."
Students also got to go through the dugout at Angel Stadium, a perk that made the day even bigger for plenty of them.
“For many of them, this is their first time ever coming to Angel Stadium. And for the stadium to be open just for them makes it all the more special," said Adam Cali, Manager of Foundation and Community Initiatives.
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