President & CEO Inland Empire United Way

It’s astounding what a group of residents can do with some paint and paint brushes.

Last month, 300 volunteers showed up on a Saturday morning determined to beautify Alcott Elementary School in Pomona.

The school was built decades ago and was in great need of a major splash of color to liven up its bland brick walls.

With 96 percent of students on the free or reduced lunch program, this is a school of families struggling to make ends meet and to provide the best for their children.

United Way’s goal was take a giant step by creating a campus environment that instills hope, hard work, and success in its students. As School Board Member Roberta Perlman stated, “School climate makes a huge difference in student success.”

Volunteers were organized into 10 teams, each with a volunteer project leader and a distinct assignment for the day. Nine murals were completed throughout the campus, reflecting the school’s values and mascot, reinforcing the importance of reading, science and technology, and reminding students that they are on a path toward higher education and the career of their dreams.

The entire playground was lit up in bright colors to inspire kids to move and play. Hopscotch, four square, tetherball, and basketball courts of plain concrete were covered in blues, yellows, reds and greens.

Monday morning, 900 students returned to their school and found a new campus.

It was the same buildings and same people, but a new energy permeated Alcott Elementary. As volunteers toured the finished product, students clapped and cheered, waving ‘thank you’ signs. As one student said, “Our playground looks like a rainbow now.”

When I asked the Principal, Juan Arretche, what he thought of the completed artwork, his response was simple. “The word that comes to mind is ‘transformed.’ This campus has truly been transformed for our students.”

Gerdau, US Bank, the Hope Reigns Foundation, AMLI, Molina, and UPS were a few of companies that helped to make the project possible. It was one day of sweat equity that will pay significant dividends to Pomona students for years to come.

To find upcoming volunteer opportunities, visit ieVolunteers.org.