Community Outreach
Pablove Foundation
The Walther School organizes several community outreach efforts a year. One particularly close to our heart is the annual blood drive for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles arranged with The Pablove Foundation. Pablo Thrailkill Castelaz was a student at The Walther School and was diagnosed with Wilms’ Tumor, a rare form of children’s cancer, shortly before his preschool graduation; he lost his battle in 2009. The Pablove Foundation was founded by his parents, Jo Ann Thrailkill and Jeff Castelaz, in his memory.
In addition to the blood drive, we also hold the Pablove Bilingual Book Drive, which benefits the Children’s Hospital. School families donate bilingual books or give money for us to buy books, and the children decorate stickers (books plates) which are then placed inside of each of the books. It is a wonderful way to involve the children, honor Pablo, and give the wonderful gift of books to the children and families who are receiving treatment at the hospital.
Alex’s Lemonade Stand
Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra “Alex” Scott (1996-2004). 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of volunteers across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $35 million toward fulfilling Alex’s dream of finding a cure, funding over 150 research projects nationally.
In 2010, Walther parents, Suzanne Goin and David Lentz, organized a charity event called L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade to raise money for childrens’ cancer research, which raised over $300,000 the first year. The event brings culinary greats together to raise funds and awareness for ALSF.