Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009
Glendale kids rewarded Saturday for their good deeds
GLENDALE – Sometimes, kids just have a way of taking action where action is needed.
When Spencer O’Brian, 4, was walking with his family in his Atwater Village neighborhood, he was stunned by the litter he found.
“So he got out his wagon and he’s been going out into the neighborhood ever since, about two times a week, picking up trash,” said his father, Edmund O’Brian.
Spencer was one of three children to win prizes Saturday as part of California Dental Group’s annual Good Deed Contest. Other winners included Glendale High School seniors Marta Avetisyan, 17, and Jackie Bettelli, 17.
Spencer and Marta won i-Pods for their second- and third-place entries in the essay contest that netted more than 70 entries. Jackie won the first-place prize – a laptop computer.
After walking up to receive her award Saturday, Marta explained how she saved her pregnant cousin, who became panicked when she couldn’t stay above water in the swimming pool while on a family trip to Palm Springs.
“She was pregnant, right?” asked California Dental Group founder Dr. Kamran Sahabi. “Then you didn’t save one life, you saved two.”
First-place winner Jackie won for her charity work as a volunteer at the ovarian cancer walk.
“My mother died of ovarian cancer last year,” said Jackie’s mom, Andrea Bettelli. “Jackie really did this for her, and she wants to keep doing it every year.”
Andrea Bettelli accepted the prize on behalf of her daughter, who was taking her college board exams at the time of the ceremony.
All those who submitted essays in the contests received certificates of recognition and goodie bags filled with dental supplies.
“Every one of these essays deserves a reward,” Sahabi said. “It’s amazing how many good things are happening in this world. You kids are role models, not only for your families but for your community. With that kind of attitude, you can make a real difference.”
California Dental Group, with four locations in the L.A. area, supports the communities it serves throughout the year with its Good Deed contest, Emergency Treatment Days, Halloween Candy Buyback program and through sponsorships of local youth clubs and teams.
That is so nice that they are doing that
Comment by Jimena — September 24, 2010 @ 9:16 pm