The Pumpkin Run Team presented AEF with a check for over $6,000 for supporting and volunteering at the event, surpassing our initial goal of $2,500. We had over 1,400 runners and walkers that morning for the 10K, 5K and Kids 1K runs which brought our community together and were followed by the Halloween costume contest and fall festival. I want to thank the Downtown Alhambra Business Association and Run Coordinator, Joanna Vargas, for their continued support of AEF and the children of the Alhambra Unified School District. It was great to see all the school employees, students and parents participate this year.
I will end on this note. When we watch or read news of a mass shooting, we say to ourselves I hope it never happens in my community. I was awoken early Sunday morning around 1:00 a.m. by helicopters circling overhead. I looked at my phone and could not believe what I read, "Mass Shooting in Monterey Park." I was totally in disbelief and immediately texted our AEF Board Member Thomas Wong, also a Monterey Park Councilman to see how he was handling this terrible news. Throughout the day, I was receiving texts, emails and phone calls asking how this could happen in our community. When I went to the soccer field to watch my son play, parents from Alhambra and Monterey Park were questioning how this happens in our quiet close knit community.
There is no answer that anyone can give to understand why anyone would commit such a horrendous act on innocent people enjoying an evening out. Please make sure you observe your child's behavior and do not be afraid to talk to him/her about what occurred. I know I had to talk with my 5th grade son about the incident and talk about why some people behave this way. I found an excellent resource that assists parents with communicating about gun violence at
https://www.nasponline.org/ National Association of School Psychologists. There are many great resources to assist you on the site that will help explain the inevitable.
Make sure to give a hug and tell your child/children you love them each and every day!
Stay safe & healthy!
Steve
Stephen R. Perry
President
