Assisting with scholarships for junior lifeguards

Angelique Flores

Maggie Miller is single and raising three grandchildren on her own.

She works part time and receives Social Security. Her limited income

doesn’t allow her to put all of her grandchildren through the Huntington

Beach Junior Lifeguard program.

But the Huntington Beach Assistance League does.

“On a limited income, it’s out of my reach,” Miller said.

The philanthropic organization has donated $6,000 to sponsor 20 of the

children in the program, paying $300 of the $350 tuition. Over the past

three years, the Assistance League has contributed $12,000.

Last week, members of the Junior Lifeguard program decided to give

something back. They collected items to donate to the Assistance League’s

thrift store, the Bargain Box. The teenagers dropped off four loads of

items, including clothes, appliances and sports equipment.

“It’s our way these parents want to pay back,” said Dave Simcox, the

Junior Lifeguard program coordinator. “It’s a marriage we’ve got going

now.”

The program drew 1,000 participants this year to the eight-week course

that teaches youngsters about the ocean, swimming and takes them on field

trips. Twenty children received financial assistance to attend.

“It’s such a huge program here in our area,” said Shirley McCarthy,

chairwoman of Junior Lifeguard Philanthropic Project for the Huntington

Beach Assistance League.

After looking into the program, the league decided there was a need

for assistance. And they were more than happy to lend a hand to parents

such as Miller and others.

Kimberly Minarcin, a single mother of three, has two children who have

joined the Junior Lifeguard program for the first time. The Assistance

League sponsored Rachael Minarcin, 15. Dave Clapp, who runs Jack’s Beach

Concession, sponsored Bradford Minarcin, 11.

“I only expected partial or half,” Kimberly Minarcin said.

Minarcin, who will go back to work as a substitute teacher in the

fall, is unemployed and attending college to get a teaching credential.

“If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be able to do it,” Minarcin said.

Cindy Downing’s daughter is another scholarship recipient. Throughout

last year, Downing saved little by little so she’d be able to pay this

year’s tuition. But after she was evicted from her apartment during

Christmas, she had to use that savings.

“With my dad’s death and illness, I couldn’t work,” said the single

mother, who usually teaches part time.

So Downing asked the Assistance League for help and received

sponsorship for her daughter for the second time. This summer, Downing

has been busy with Miller, volunteering time to the program’s events and

fund-raisers.

“I put in the work instead of the money,” Downing said.

Having their children in the program is important to the parents, they

said. Downing appreciates the family atmosphere the program provides her

12-year-old daughter, Sierra.

“Without men in her life, [the program] gives a positive male

influence,” Downing said.

The parents like that the program teaches discipline and respect, and

the kids enjoy the friendships and fun.

“I like meeting new people, and I’m learning to be a good lifeguard,”

said Tiani Mahuana’alii, 13, who received a sponsorship.

The program doesn’t have to exclude any children for financial

reasons, Simcox said. The program sponsors one child, and Huntington Surf

and Sport sponsors two, adding to the 20 sponsorships from the Assistance

League and the one from Clapp.

“The city, business community, parents and alumni would do anything to

make sure this program runs and runs safely,” Simcox said. “This is

overwhelming support.”