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Kare Members New Member Info |
Kare Youth League - Arcadia 5150 Farna Ave. In April of 1952, Kare Youth League’s founder, Orrick Hampton, was determined to find land for his boys to play on. He knew he needed some land of his own to truly help the boys and girls in the community. But how could the Boys’ Christian League ever afford land of its own? In his search for land, Orrick came across Clifford Marshburn, who was also interested in helping boys and girls, thus forming a partnership that would give birth to Kare’s Arcadia facility. It was the Marshburn family that offered a lease of the four acres of riverbed in southern Arcadia to Boys’ Christian League at a mere $10.00 per year with an option to purchase for an appraised value. The development of Kare’s Arcadia facility took years of hard work as members, parents and friends of the organization donated their time and resources to develop a facility for children. One remarked, “It was the only place in the world where one had to pay to work.” Such was the humor as they gave willingly of all they could. The Marshburn’s parcel of land gave the children hope. But alone it would not suffice. The Southern California Water Company generously allowed the league use of an acre and a half of its land running alongside the Marshburn land, an offer that still stands to this day! In 1959 the league purchased another parcel of land from the city of Arcadia, which today is home to Hampton Hall, Karelon Hall and the American Savings Pavilion. The Los Angeles Flood Control District was also cooperative in working out the purchase of two parcels in 1972 and 1977 along with the lease of a third parcel in 1992 to give room for parking. Since its conception in 1952, Kare Youth League’s Arcadia facility has become a center of activity for boys and girls of all ages. Today, Kare utilizes every inch of property to meet the challenge of a year round program. The facility currently consists of four fields which are converted throughout the year to accommodate football, baseball and soccer, along with five outdoor basketball courts and one gymnasium. Kare’s bus fleet, which provides transportation to and from activities is stationed in Arcadia. The Rio Hondo Prep campus is located there as well with Pearl Prep Elementary nearby. This property has been the heart of the Kare Youth League program since 1952 thanks to the support of all who have given over the years. Kare Youth League - Covina Kahler Russell Park - (Formerly Wingate Park) Located eleven miles east of Kare’s Arcadia facility, lies Kahler Russell Park, our Eastern facility in the city of Covina. This park serves the communities of Covina, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, La Verne, La Puente, Diamond Bar, Pomona, and more. Members from as far away as Rancho Cucamonga and Newport Beach make the trek twice and sometimes three times a week to attend their practices and games at Kare Youth League. During the mid 1980s a group of experienced young leaders answered the challenge to begin new teams in Kare Youth League in an effort to expand the program and reach more children in the community. The Gators, Tigers and Cardinals were formed and found a home in an abandoned park known as Wingate Park in the city of Covina. The city of Covina and Kare Youth League reached an agreement for a twenty year lease for the eastern and more useable section. The city would provide the water and trash service. Kare Youth League would reactivate the sprinklers, fertilize, water and mow the lawns, maintain the cleanliness of the park and construct needed facilities. Neighbors responded enthusiastically to the reclaiming of Wingate Park. They heartily applauded the young men and women who worked with children every afternoon, and commended their exemplary wholesome moral conduct. Kare Youth League constructed the necessary athletic facilities, stretched the needed fencing, laid underground pipe for electrical needs and brought in a building for office and club rooms. A cemented area for basketball courts was poured with many donations from local companies. During the late 1990s the city of Covina temporarily closed the park to complete some renovations of its own. A nature trail was created along the stream running adjacent to the fields, hockey rinks were built and new basketball courts replaced Kare’s existing courts. Kare added to the park’s renovation with a five room multi-purpose building to house Kare’s Eastern teams. The development of Wingate Park proves that a partnership between Kare Youth League and a city can succeed. The relationship between the city of Covina and Kare has been a tremendous benefit to the community, who would have lost the open space to housing developments if it were not for Kare leaders. Kare looks forward to partnering with many more cities in an effort to expand its program and reach more children in our community. Kare Youth League - Upland
Pacific Christian Center Kare Youth League is proud to announce the start of a new program in the city of Upland. This program began on Saturday, January 21, 2006 with 50 boys and girls in attendance. The basketball program is currently being offered to boys and girls in Kindergarten, first and second grades. Games will be played in the Pacific Christian Center basketball gym. |
