Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Holiday season: schools, neighborhood groups and nonprofits host festivals across Hawthorne
Summary
A string of seasonal events — including a school winter festival, a senior dance, a neighborhood 'Grinchmas', a Santa Stroll fundraiser and a brewery 'snow day' — brought thousands of residents together for performances, resource fairs and fundraisers benefiting local nonprofits.
Several Hawthorne-area organizations staged seasonal events over the holidays that combined entertainment with community supports and fundraising, HCTV reported.
Centinela Valley Union High School District hosted a Winter Wonderland to showcase district programs and offer food, clothing and support services; leaders highlighted a college-pathway program at Lawndale High that allows students to earn an associate degree from El Camino College while in high school. "We're really here not just, to provide schooling, but to really serve everyone in the community," a district representative said.
Ramona Elementary School's annual winter festival, a PTA tradition for more than 30 years, drew families for pony rides, student performances and community activities; the broadcast reported an attendance figure of about 2,000 people. "This is one of the few dances that the senior center holds throughout the year," a reporter said in the senior-dance segment, noting raffles sponsored by the senior commission.
The seventh annual Santa Stroll at Hermosa Beach Pier, hosted by Michael's Learning Place, registered roughly 1,900 participants and offered live music, cookie decorating and giveaways to benefit the nonprofit's programs. Cedric Walton, the segment reporter, quoted organizers praising the turnout and describing plans to grow the event next year.
Neighborhood groups also organized events: the North Hawthorne Community Association staged its first Merry Grinchmas at Eucalyptus Park with more than 500 attendees and appearances by Mayor pro tem Alex Montero and council member Faye Johnson; Commonspace Brewery held its annual snow day (about 20 tons of snow) with proceeds supporting Michael's Learning Place.
Reporters noted most events combined recreation with outreach or fundraising; specific program costs, budgets and fundraising totals were not disclosed in the broadcasts.
