FOR A GOOD CAUSE:

Marge Hearn tells people that her late husband Chick, the legendary broadcaster and “voice of the Lakers” always said, “Kids are for real, and it’s up to us to help them any way we can.”

Hearn loved anything to do with kids, says his widow, who felt there was no better way to honor her husband’s wishes than to establish a scholarship fund in his name through the local chapter of the YMCA.

At the 32nd annual YMCA of Orange County Community Services Reach Out Awards Friday evening at the Costa Mesa Hilton, Marge Hearn presented the inaugural Chick Hearn Legacy Scholarship Award to Lisset Mendoza, 14, a freshman at Costa Mesa High School.

Arianna Yanez, program director for Youth Development, YMCA of Orange County, wrote the letter of recommendation for Lisset and described her as “a student who has the abilities to achieve as a leader.”

Yanez said Lisset accepted responsibility for her failing grades at the end of the school year by enrolling in the YMCA’s Youth Achievers program, and attended summer school to repeat a language arts class.

She earned the Superstar of the Summer award for perfect attendance and participation, received an A in her class, and joined the marching band at the high school, where she plays the clarinet.

Receiving the $5,000 scholarship award felt good, Lisset said.

“I am very happy, surprised, and thankful for the money.”

She wants to go to college to be either a lawyer or fashion designer, and when asked what would help her choose which profession would be best for her, said the question to ask yourself in that situation is, “What am I willing to live with for the rest of my life?”

Lisset also volunteers at the YMCA of Orange County every day.

She’s participated in the program there since the seventh grade, and said it’s a great place to be because they help with homework and have fun activities for the kids.

She’s taken field trips to Catalina and Balboa and been a part of Coastal Clean-Up Day through the after-school mentoring program.

Lisset returned to the Youth Development Program this fall as a Leader-In-Training, and encouraged her brother and cousins to participate.

In her letter, Yanez stressed how important family support is.

“The family support team is very important as an asset to the development of our teens,” she said.

Silvino Mendoza said he is really proud of his daughter, who “has always wanted to do well in school, and has been a great daughter at home.”

Mendoza said his daughter will use the scholarship money for college tuition — something the family isn’t able to afford.

The theme of the Community Services Branch awards this year was “Reach for the Stars,” and all of the guest speakers stressed the importance of the mentoring program offered through the YMCA.

The John and Donna Crean Reach Out Award for excellence in philanthropy was awarded to local business leader Al Frink, a dedicated volunteer who served on the board of directors for the YMCA of Orange County before stepping down in 2005 to accept an appointment in the Bush administration with the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Frink believes the YMCA doesn’t get the recognition it should for the services it provides, and said the Y “is a one-of-a-kind organization.”

The Youth Community Services mentoring program helps emotionally neglected and abused children, and its “inclusion” program provides counseling and on-site services for autistic and Down Syndrome children.

Steve Sharpe is chairman of YMCA Youth Community Services, and he believes the mentoring pilot program they have just implemented is one that will eventually be adopted nationwide.

The Orange County Mentoring Alliance is a faith-based coalition of volunteers that includes local churches, social services counselors, Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

With close to 15,000 mentors available from the different organizations, the Alliance is the largest provider of mentors in America, and Sharpe believes that will afford them more opportunities to reach more troubled youth than they could before.

Five Laker Girls mingled with guests at the YMCA’s event, signing photos and posing for pictures.

The girls said they enjoy being part of charitable events and personally giving back, especially when it has to do with kids.

SUE THOENSEN may be reached at (714) 966-4627 or at [email protected].