ON CAMPUS AT UCI:Student rides unicycle to help foster kids

For UC Irvine student Adam Brody, who can frequently be seen pedaling his unicycle, life is a balancing act between school and volunteer work.

While pursuing his degree in Earth system science, Brody engages in a variety of activities to help those like himself who come from troubled homes.

Brody is the organizer of a recent fundraiser for Orangewood Children’s Foundation in Santa Ana, which helps abused and neglected children. Brody and members of the Unicycle Club of Southern California rode laps around a track at a San Juan Capistrano middle school, netting about $1,000 for Orangewood from sponsors.

“It was a cool way for kids to help other kids,” he says.

He wants to support the organization that helped him when he was in foster care and enabled him to attend UCI through its Guardian Scholars Program.

“I couldn’t go to college without the scholarship,” he says. “I had the grades but not the financial support. I was on my own.”

Brody doesn’t say much about his childhood — only that he doesn’t want anyone else to experience what he did.

“Foster kids go through the toughest stuff; they’re pulled out of their homes.”

He moved into a foster home his senior year in high school. In 2003, he started the unicycle club; the group has grown to 22 members.

“Some of the kids come from dysfunctional families. Teaching them to ride builds self-esteem.”

Brody also visits local elementary schools to teach kids how to play chess and entertain them with “crazy science experiments” like making slime. After graduating, he hopes to work with children — perhaps as a science teacher.

“Adam has genuine concern for kids,” says Gene Howard, chief executive officer of Orangewood. “He’s a wonderful example of how foster youth can succeed in life despite their painful pasts. I know he’ll achieve great things.”

Cindy Fern has holiday spirit year-roundCome the holidays, Cindy Fern’s office in UCI’s Rowland Hall fills up with toys, games and other gifts. Is Fern running a Santa’s workshop on the side? Moonlighting as an elf?

Actually, she’s in charge of Academic and Professional Women’s Verano Holiday Project, and the goods she helps collect are donated by departments across campus who “adopt” families living in Verano Place housing. This year, the project will help about 15 families, who remain anonymous.

“Many are single parents working on their degrees,” Fern says. “Often, their child has had a health problem that’s drained their finances and they don’t have money for the holidays.”

As chair of Academic and Professional Women’s Community Service Committee, Fern organizes volunteer efforts year-round while working full-time as academic counselor and student affairs director for the School of Physical Sciences.

“If we hear about someone in need, we try to do something,” she says.

For Mother’s Day, Easter, back-to-school and other occasions, the group has donated gift baskets to the needy through Share Our Selves in Costa Mesa and Human Options women’s shelter in Irvine. They’ve gathered clothes for Working Wardrobes in Fountain Valley and recently joined the UCI Stars in sewing a quilt to raise funds for the Avon Breast Cancer Crusade.

The women’s group started the Verano project in 1991. Members deliver families’ wish lists to departments, which gather and deliver the gifts.

“People are amazingly generous,” Fern says. “One donor gave 15 $50 grocery store gift certificates. They’ve given bikes and computers. One year I drove around with a dining room table in my van to give to a family. But often, just giving extra food and used clothing can make a difference.”

For more information, visit the group’s website at www.apw.uci.edu.

‘Hospital Hero’ brings people togetherAs nurse auditor and cost analyst for University of California, Irvine Medical Center, Lila Moulton is more accustomed to quietly crunching numbers than leading a group. Yet she’s overcome her shyness by focusing on a cause: fostering greater understanding of different cultures to enhance patient care.

Because of her efforts, Moulton was the medical center’s nominee for the National Health Foundation’s first Hospital Hero Awards.

“I’m kind of embarrassed to be in the spotlight,” says Moulton, who attended the awards luncheon Nov. 10 in Los Angeles. About 40 honorees from medical centers belonging to the Hospital Assn. of Southern California were nominated for outstanding contributions to their hospital’s mission.

Moulton serves as co-chair and a founding member of the medical center’s diversity committee, which represents 15 cultures and holds seminars as well as fun “patio events” featuring entertainment, educational booths, food and traditional garments.

“We’re hoping this will transfer to the patient’s bedside,” Moulton says. “If you know people’s backgrounds, you can serve them better.”

Madrigal Dinner

King Henry VIII will reign again when the music department presents its popular Madrigal Dinner, a reenactment of the Tudor court that engages the audience in merrymaking, live music and feasting Dec. 9 through 17 at Claire Trevor Theatre. Tickets are $35-$49. Visit https://music.arts.uci.edu /madrigal/.

The NutcrackerFormer San Francisco Ballet principal dancer Evelyn Cisneros-Legate directs Ballet Pacifica’s 40th annual production of “The Nutcracker” at Irvine Barclay Theatre at 7 p.m. Dec. 9-10, 12-17, 19-23; at 2 p.m. Dec. 10, 16-17, 20-23; and at 11 a.m. Dec. 24. The ballet features performances by 21 UCI students and choreography by David Allan, associate professor of dance. Tickets are $28-$38 for adults, $23-$33 for children. For information, visit www.thebarclay.org.

Libraries Speaker SeriesPhilanthropist and environmentalist Joan Irvine Smith will discuss her new book, “A California Woman’s Story,” at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, at Langson Library. A book signing and reception follows at 7 p.m. The talk is free and seating is limited; registration is requested. For information, call 949-824-5300 or e-mail [email protected].