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Alive East Bay Las Lomas Article
- 1. ALIVE M AY I S S U E home health family culture community www.aliveeastbay.com may 2012 SCAN OUR TAG ALIVE 0512.qxd 4/20/2012 4:52 PM Page 1
- 2. A L I V E E A S T B A Y m a y 2 0 1 220 Non-profit organization TLC for Kids Sports, sponsored by O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., announced today that construction broke ground for the Las Lomas Outdoor Memorial Classroom. This is the culmi- nation of a year-long fundraising campaign and school activities in honor of Gavin Powell and Matt Miller, two students who died last year while rafting in a storm-swollen local creek. "I am amazed that all our talking and designing and planning are actually taking shape," said Senior Class Vice President Erin Donoghue. "For a long time I feared that we would not be able to make the memorial idea a reality so this groundbreaking is all that I could have asked for. Students are excited by the prospect of having a new outdoor area on campus. Now that they see work is actually occurring in the space they look forward to seeing the final product." Each year the seniors get together and share ideas for their annu- al Senior Class Gift. "When we thought of the Memorial idea we knew we had to do it," said Donoghue, "None of our other ideas were special enough; nothing else we could do was a big enough project a big enough statementto accurately reflect the statement Matt and Gavin made on our class and campus. The boys left a legacy on every member of the Las Lomas community; our hope was to honor their legacy by creating a space that would ensure they are never forgot- ten." And so the idea began to take shape for the Las Lomas Outdoor Classroom. The designs are even based on sketches that Miller did for a school assignment. While the community has stepped up to support the project through donations and fundraising, the major cost will be covered by O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. and their non-profit organization, TLC for Kids Sports. "As an organization dedicated to improving our local community and youth sports, we were eager to spearhead the Matt and Gavin Memorial Project. It's a true community endeavor, with designs inspired by the students themselves," added Kelly Kolander, President and CEO of O.C. Jones and TLC for Kids Sports. Additional major donors include Berkeley Cement, Inc. and Central Concrete Supply Co., Inc. Construction of the Outdoor Classroom will include concrete pathways leading to a circular seating area. The 5,000sq. ft. area will be planted with native drought tolerant plants and include other quiet seating areas for the students. The entire space will be dedicat- ed to "nature, relationships and education"; all things Miller and Powell adored. O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. and TLC for Kids Sports hosted a special Volunteer Day on April 28th. "The volunteer day allowed family, friends and fellow community members of Matt and Gavin to truly be an active part of the Memorial building process, which is really important," said Kolander. There was a huge community turnout as people were anxious to lend a helping hand to the physical labor involved in the creation of the memorial. Earlier in the year, students remembered Matt and Gavin through various events and activities that included a funk dance party, tile painting, writing messages on posters and more. They also shared memories and ideas for the design of the memorial area. Everyone involved was excited as their collective ideas came to fruition with the actual construction of the outdoor classroom. Many people may relate to Donoghue's heartwarming reaction to the memorial. "I am comforted," she said, "that there is a place at Las Lomas that will never forget Matt and Gavin. They were the two strongest individuals I have ever met, and I think our community will be thankful that these two boys will be continually remembered on campus." About TLC for Kids Sports: TLC for Kids Sports, sponsored by O.C. Jones & Sons, is aiming to improve our local communities and youth sports, one field at a time. This non-profit corporation partners with radio station KNBR 680AM, The Sports Leader, to hold special contests. The winners receive much-needed Tender Loving Care for their youth sports fields. Thousands of children are playing on safer and modern fields. Their vision is for every child involved in youth sports to play on a safe field that is also accessible for the physically challenged. They are seeking out neighborhoods where fields and parks need some strong attention and rebuilding as many of them as they can. In addition, they reach out along the way to local sponsors, donors, public officials and volunteers to give everyone a chance to be involved and to exemplify a true community project. To nominate a field, become a sponsor, or get involved, visit their website at www.TLCforKidsSports.org. About O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc: O. C. Jones &. Sons, Inc., founded in 1924, continues to build on its historic legacy as a leading heavy civil construction contractor and builder of athletic fields in Northern California. They perform paving, grading, excavating, demolition, synthetic surfaces, underground utility, environmental remediation, and emergency response for public and private clients. Their core markets are highway and airport construction; stadiums, athletic fields and parks; commercial; industrial; residential; and intermodal facilities. Visit ocjones.com. LAS LOMAS OUTDOOR MEMORIAL CLASSROOM JENNIFER SEBAY ALIVE 0512.qxd 4/20/2012 4:38 PM Page 20