News | Article from Press Enterprise

Hundreds honor Cesar Chavez by helping out

By Julie Farren, Staff Writer

(March 31, 2007) - REDLANDS - Adam Steil spent Saturday morning assembling chimes for Franklin Elementary School's new playground.

The work wasn't part of the Pahrump, Nev., man's original plans for his visit to Redlands to see his son, Steve, and grandchildren, Emily, 10, and Matthew, 9.
But Steil, 74, was happy to contribute his time.

"It's helping kids," Steil said. "That's our future."

More than 500 volunteers showed up at Franklin to build a playground, paint a mural and plant a community garden in observance of the Cesar E. Chavez Day of Service.

Chavez, who would have celebrated his 80th birthday Saturday, was a migrant farm worker who headed the United Farm Workers Union until his death in 1993.

He was a strong advocate of community service, said Delores Abdella Combs, regional programs coordinator for the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation.
Hands On Inland Empire, a program of the Inland Empire United Way, was one of the partners coordinating Saturday's project, said Jan Stephens, the organization's community resource manager.

Franklin Principal Rhonda Bruce said the school's old metal playground equipment dated to 1970. Bruce applied for a grant from KaBOOM!, a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to build playgrounds within walking distance of all children.

For Saturday's project, Franklin and California Volunteers, a state agency designed to increase service and volunteerism, each provided 150 volunteers, said Tess Mason-Elder, executive fellow.  They built playground equipment and spread 220 cubic yards of wood chips on the playground.

Emmanuel Monroy, 7, a second-grader, was part of the playground design team. He wanted slides, swings and monkey bars and was proud of his contribution.

Jorge Galaviz, 49, helped his volunteer team bolt and secure the playground equipment. Three of his five children -- twins David and Daniel, 7, and Ishmael, 8 -- attend Franklin.

Galaviz's job was to make sure the equipment was level. "It's not hard because all of the team tries to work together to make it easier," he said.
Angela Munez, 31, helped assemble a turbo tower. Her daughter, 9-year-old Alexandra Lopez, attends Franklin.

"They always want the parents and family involved," Munez said.
Eliana Finley, 10, a Franklin student, raked dirt in one of two community gardens planted Saturday. Eliana loves to garden with her mom, Kim Finley, a first-grade teacher at Franklin.

Eliana said she was proud of her contributions. "I can come to the school and I can say, 'I did that,' " she said. "That's important to me."

Reach Julie Farren at 909-806-3066 or jfarren@PE.com.


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