About fifty girls from Charles H. Kim and Murchison elementary colleges in LA were hosted by a bunch of volunteers from Mattel and LA’s Best for a day of music, food and activities.

The event was a joint effort by El Segundo-based Mattel and LA’s Best, an after-school enrichment program operated together with the L. A. Mayor’s Office and the L. A. Unified College District. “This is a method to show girls to different environments and give them a different look at life,” announced Lynette Bynoe, director of volunteers for LA’s Best. A different environment, indeed.

Ornamental chocolate waterfalls, elaborate food spreads, jars of candies, stacks of cupcakes and pink – a lot of pink. All of the while, music by Beyonce blared from the speakers. “It’s a spellbinding day,” recounted Deborah Dicochea, associate boss for the Mattel Children’s Foundation and Charity Programs. “This is crucial for tiny girls.” except for a day of fun at the Mattel facility in El Segundo, the event wanted to reveal the young girls to the chances waiting for them after they enter adultness. Girls were treated to karaoke, makeup sessions by volunteer cosmetologists, lessons in fashion design in a Mattel sound stage and an opportunity to pose on the catwalk.

On a circular board ad girls were inspired to put down what they needed to be when they grew up. There were doctors and vocalists, a few sea biologists and even a travel writer. “Many of these children are coming from areas exposed to violence and crime,” announced Catherine Stringer, vice chairman of development and public affairs for LA’s Best. The non-profit organization depends on fund-raising and non-public donations for a portion of its program funding. Like many public teaching schemes in the state, LA’s Best has felt the consequences of the recession.

Stringer asserted she is concerned about what programs should be available to kids signed up to the program next year.

“We serve 28,000 scholars, but we might be serving thousands more. If we’re not ready to raise extra funds for next year, we could have to slash programs.” meanwhile, the organization continues to provide inner town kids from LAUSD colleges with access to facilities and events they would not routinely receive – days at the park, journeys to the beach, afternoons exploring their fantasies. Sunday’s event was an excellent example of that, Stringer claimed. “We work to help in keeping children out of trouble,” she announced, as a bunch of girls sang in front of a karaoke machine. “And we need girls to understand they can be anything they need when they grow up.”.