LOS ANGELES, Dec. 20, 2017 - Actor Robert Patrick of the CBS show “Scorpion” and some 125 fellow riders from the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club Chapter 101 took part in a toy ride this weekend for Hillsides, a foster care charity. The riders rode from Santa Clarita to Hillsides main campus in Pasadena with several truckloads of holiday toys for the children and families Hillsides, with its affiliate Bienvenidos, serves.
“I am totally astounded by the generosity of Robert Patrick and his fellow riders,” said Hillsides President and Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa during the event as the riders brought in armful after armful of toys. “I want everyone who participated in the toy ride to know that because of them, children and families who ordinarily might not receive gifts for the holidays will be able to have a very Merry Christmas.”
Patrick and his wife Barbara personally provided many of the toys. “We went shopping at Toys ‘R’ Us, and had a lot of fun,” said Patrick. “We filled up five or six carts.” The cast and crew of “Scorpion,” where Patrick plays Homeland Security special agent Cabe Gallo, also donated toys, as did the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club members.
When the riders came onto campus, the children in residence at Hillsides Residential Treatment Services program met the riders, talked to Patrick (many recognized him from his TV role and his performances in numerous movies such as “Terminator 2), and took turns sitting on the motorcycles. “Getting to see the spectacle of so many motorcycles crowding into campus and a chance to test out the motorcycles is a holiday highlight for the children,” said Costa.
This is the fourth year in a row that Patrick and the Boozefighters have provided Hillsides with a toy drive. Patrick learned about Hillsides through his local Episcopal church, St. Thomas the Apostle in Hollywood. Hillsides has its roots in the Episcopal Church, having been founded in 1913 by an Episcopal deaconess, Evelyn Wile. Besides helping Hillsides, Patrick is a devoted advocate for veterans and has traveled around the world with the United Service Organizations (USO) visiting troops.
The Boozefighters Motorcycle Club is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for veterans and has participated in several toy drives over the years.
The gifts collected through the toy run will be distributed to some of the 14,000 children and families Hillsides serves throughout Los Angeles County. There is still time to provide children and families with holiday gifts and winter outings to help those in need experience the magic of the season. To contribute, please donate here: http://bit.ly/hillsidesholidaygiving.
About Hillsides:
Hillsides, with its affiliate Bienvenidos, is dedicated to healing children and young adults, strengthening families, and transforming communities through quality comprehensive services and advocacy. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the agency serves 14,000 children and families in Southern California throughout more than 40 sites, including school-based mental health offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Baldwin Park. Foster care and adoptions services are offered in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. To learn more about Hillsides, please visit www.Hillsides.org. Visit Hillsides on Facebook @hillsideschildren, on Twitter @Hillsides, or on Instagram @HillsidesPasadena.
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CONTACT
Alison Bell
626-390-1640
abell2@hillsides.org
