Day of the Child 2010: A Day to Let Your Hair Down And Appreciate A Smiling Face

This was my first opportunity to attend Children Uniting Nations' 12th annual Day of the Child.  The Los Angeles based non-profit is an organization dedicated to improving the lives of at-risk and  foster youth through positive mentoring and academic advocacy.  The goal of the day is to quite simply bring joy to a group of children that need a little extra light shining in their lives...

Dozens of buses arrived filled with deserving children ranging from young to teenage, all equally excited to participate in a day designed truly for them.  The one requirement: let go and have some fun!  Each child was matched with a mentor for the day that was dedicated to give them much needed one-on-one attention for the entire afternoon.  Dive down a gigantic slide, lose your lunch on the spinning sensation, get your face painted, jump on the ferris wheel -- whatever the kids wanted, the sky was the limit!

This year's event was hosted at the Star Eco Station, where the kids were also able to see rescued animals that also need some extra love - such as aligators, reptiles and parrots..

A sea of over 1,000 mentors and volunteers gave their time - some new comers, some attending for over a decade, and I tell you the adults were just as inspired as some of the kids.  This one quote best captures the emotion for the day: “My mentee said, "I'm glad i have you as a mentor this year! I'm having so much fun" Then when we had to say our good-byes, he looked in his backpack, took out an airplane and said, "Here. This is a souvenir for you to remember me." =') I will NEVER forget this day!!”  - Mentor at Day of the Child

I second that sentiment.  I witnessed so many beautiful children that were able to bond with their assigned mentee for the day - within hours.  I saw tears at the buses as each parted ways. The image I see most?  Smiles.  Face painted smiles, cotton candy sticky smiles of sheer joy, smiles of appreciation, smiles of 'this-is-my-day-and-I'm-absolutely lovin it!'  And you know, a lot of those smiles were from the "bigger" kids!

Thank you to Children Uniting Nations' and all its supporters for an amazing experience.  For at least one day, I learned to just let me hair down and devote myself to helping someone else have a little fun.  It was an up lifting experience that I will hold on to for quite some time.  It was even worth getting a little green in the face on the rides to make my mentee happy -- and THAT's what it's all about!