Vazquez at “Miracle” Event

December 16, 2010

Toy Giveaway at Hollenbeck Gym

If it’s snowing in the streets of L.A., it must be time for the legendary “Miracle on 1st Street” at the Hollenbeck Youth Center in East Los Angeles. This is one of my favorite charity events as Inner-City Games, Hollenbeck Youth Center and the Oscar De La Hoya Foundation always host a great day for the area’s youth and their families.

In these bleak economic times, this 29th Annual “Miracle on 1st Street” brought thousands of smiles to the SoCal kids who had been waiting in line for hours for the chance to receive a bright, shiny new toy just in time for Christmas. Inside the Hollenbeck gym this past weekend, I saw two famous mugs helping to spread some holiday cheer: former WBC Super Bantamweight Champion Israel Vazquez and the WBC Latino Featherweight titlist Daniel Ponce de Leon were a boxing pair of “Santa’s Helpers” handing thousands of tots a surprise straight from the North Pole.

The popular Mexican warriors always lend a hand in supporting the Boyle Heights community. I greeted the friendly Vazquez (whose birthday is December 25), who is a big hit around the fans and loves being at these community events especially around the yuletide season. The slugger will always be a fan favorite for his four brutal and memorable wars versus Rafael Marquez. I also congratulated Ponce on his recent TKO victory in Veracruz, Mexico against Sergio Manuel Medina. The southpaw is on a seven fight win streak and I asked the champ when his next fight. He commented no plans have been cemented yet but he hopes to be back in the ring soon.

The knockout pair took to the stage with other celebrities, city officials and special guests including Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, actors Tom Arnold, Dax Shepard, Tom Sizemore, Cloris Leachman, singer Little Willie G. of “Thee Midniters,” Councilmembers Bernard Parks and Jan Perry, City Attorney Carmen Trutanich, Judge Scott Millington, Hollenbeck Police Business Council members, among many other luminaries who came out in an enthusiastic show of support.

During the day, I had a nice chat with crooner Little Willie G. and Councilmember Parks about the sweet science. Turns out the singer and the councilman go way back. The two first met at St. Patrick’s Elementary School. “Willie was in the same class as my brother; I was a year ahead of them,” Parks told me. The gentlemen are also big boxing fans. “My cousin is boxer Joey Clemo from Portland,” Willie G. explained, in regards to his love of the sport. “I used to go to the Olympic to see fights–it was great back then. Anthony Quinn, Henry Fonda and others would be there.” As a boy, he’d shine shoes at the famed boxing auditorium and he and Parks also reminisced about the Gillette boxing shows shown in black and white. The boxing aficionados are longtime fans, saying they loved watching fights at both the Olympic and the Forum too.

After some lively boxing chatter, Little Willie G. (who will be performing at the Winter WonderJam Gibson Amphitheatre December 18) really got the party started with a spirited rendition of “Winter Wonderland,” the first song in a set of holiday tunes he sang live for the crowd. Also mingling with the children were the Laker Girls, radio station Hot 92.3 DJs–and Santa Claus himself.

At the podium, Governor Schwarzenegger commended the Hernandez family and the cornerstone of the organizations: Founder and President Daniel L. Hernandez, Beatrice Hernandez and Priscilla Hernandez for their generosity in their commitment to the community through their organizations. Helping families in need was the agenda of the day at the yearly toy giveaway thanks to the Hernandez family, the board and committee members, officers, sponsors, volunteers and countless other individuals.

During the fiesta, the kiddies and their families also got to enjoy a parade of classic cars, a white dove release, sled rides in the snow (a rare treat in the 85 degree weather), crafts, games, refreshments and more. This grand extravaganza was the reward for the patient youngsters and their families. When I first arrived at the gym, I went to see the long line of boys and girls all waiting in excitement for their opportunity with Santa. “We got here at 5 p.m.” one little boy told me with a grin. “I can’t wait to see all the toys!” Families began waiting in line for hours in advance–as early as two days before the toy gifting began. As the mile-long lines snaked across the freeway underpass alongside nearby alleys strewn with discarded couches covered in graffiti, trash and street debris, the toy giveaway offers a glimmer hope to this impoverished city. A new toy can do wonders for a child–bringing a little hope and joy in these harsh times.