LAPD Officers Help Acquire Uniforms for Housing Project Basketball League

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Wednesday, April 19, 2000

Los Angeles – This is to announce the donation of uniforms and equipment to the Imperial Courts youth basketball teams. Imperial Courts Housing Development recently lost their activities center and gymnasium, leaving the community without a place to hold organized community events. Cynthia Mendenhal, a community leader, enlisted the help of several young men to organize basketball teams to play in the housing league, in an effort to provide activities for the children of Imperial Courts.

The teams meet regularly to practice and compete with other housing development teams. At each game, the children borrow uniform shirts which must be returned at the end of the game. The children have had to provide their own shoes, which are usually unsuitable for basketball court use. The children are between the ages of 9 and 14 years, and come from low-income families.

Members of the community sought the assistance of the Southeast Area Community Relations Officers. Officers from the Community Relations Section held a meeting with local business owners and sought their cooperation. Mr. Roy Ein-Dar, of Eurostar Warehouse Shoe Sale, offered to donate full uniforms and equipment for all 36 children (two teams).

The presentation will be made on Thursday, April 20, 2000, at 10:00 a.m.

The location for the presentation is:

Eurostar Warehouse Shoe Sale
13425 South Figueroa Street
Los Angeles, CA.

Officers from the Southeast Area Community Relations Section will be in attendance, as well as children from the Imperial Courts Housing Development.

Eurostar would like to invite the media to attend the presentation. Refreshments will be provided.

Please direct all inquiries to Sergeant Jeff Hamilton or Officer Alonzo Calderon, at Southeast Area Community Relations Section, at 213- 485-9909.

For Release 4:00 pm PDT
April 19, 2000