Young Angels of America began in the family room of Claudia Vallon’s house on Via de la Paz in 2002. A local seventh grader needed a community service project. The service project morphed into a Linkin Park concert. Young Angels of America community service organization was born. It has been teaching local kids event production and fundraising ever since. Each year, the Young Angels produce student dances at the Palisades Woman’s Club and make donations to charitable causes.

This spring, in response to the economic crisis, the Angels ventured out of the Palisades to St. Eugene School in South Los Angeles. The Team provided not only a $3,000 sponsorship for a Nigerian band performance they also staffed the event. Funds for two full scholarships were raised.

The Team also visited St. John the Evangelist school in the Crenshaw District where they presented a check for $1,200 to the student council for the purchase of an LED sign. Young Angels member Jordan Ferguson said on the ride home, “It’s not fair that we have more stuff than they do. We need to put on events at other schools and help them raise money for the stuff they need. Their schools aren’t that far away from ours.”

With that sentiment in mind, the Angels are continuing to mobilize its program. A season of Young Angels dee jay events are planned at schools on the Westside to support schools hardest hit by recent budget cuts. The Dee Jay team will also be performing at schools in South and East L.A. that are often unable to produce their own fundraising events because the cost of rental equipment is prohibitive.

Young Angels long-time audio vendor Rick Ramirez of RNS Audio and professional deejay Renson Blanco have begun teaching a series of Young Angels Dee Tech Workshops at West L.A. Studio Services where student dee jays learn performance and programming skills in preparation for going on the road.

The first Young Angels home dance of the season “FLASH” presents guest dee Jays from the Young Angels Tech Workshop. Chase Brandon, a freshman at Crossroads School, Jordan Ferguson, a freshman at Loyola High School and Aiden Krasnoff, a freshman at Palisades Charter High School will appear with D.J. R.E.N. Funds raised will be used to purchase equipment for the road shows.

The dance is Friday, October 23rd from 7-10 p.m. at the Pacific Palisades Woman’s Club. Middle school welcome. The ticket price is $20 on line or $30 at the door. Tickets may be purchased at www.youngangelsofamerica.org. For more info call 310.573.9913.