Do you remember your first trip to the beach? The anticipation, the excitement, the feeling of sand between your toes and that first dip in the water?
On Saturday, August 29, 30 kids enjoyed an incredible afternoon at Dockweiler Beach with volunteers from Loyola Marymount MBA Alumni and Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters (CBBBS). The kids got to do more than just play games in the sand and swim in the waves. They learned how to surf!
Surfing 101
Through the nonprofit surf camp, Surf 4 Kidz, volunteers taught the children the basics of surfing – including catching a wave and standing up on a board. For most of the “Littles”, as they’re called by Big Brother Big Sisters, it was their first time experiencing the beach even though all are from Los Angeles County.
Surf 4 Kidz was founded by MBA alumnus Paul Leach ’10. “One of the kids told me it was the best day of his life. Having that kind of impact is incredible!” Paul is also the vice chair of the MBA Alumni Association and a wealth management advisor for Merrill Lynch.
The Education of the Whole Person
Partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters provided a fun way for all participants to continue the tradition of service within a Jesuit university. It is a key part of what we refer to at LMU as The Education of Whole Person.
Volunteering often gets overlooked as a practice of making genuine, valuable connections. This experience, for the children involved and for the volunteers, left a lasting impression.
CBBBS dedicates itself to helping youth of all beliefs and backgrounds in Los Angeles reach their potential through relationship-based mentoring.
To learn more about opportunities for MBA alumni involvement, visit the MBA Alumni Network section.
