Archives for 2015

Local Los Angeles student Shan Shakoor will continue his education at Woodbury University in Burbank this fall with the help of The Shops at Montebello and Simon Youth Foundation (SYF).

Shakoor, of Glendale, has received a Simon Youth Foundation Community Scholarship valued at $1,500. The scholarship was awarded in partnership between The Shops at Montebello and Simon Youth Foundation (SYF), a national non-profit organization dedicated to providing educational and career development opportunities for youth.

Shakoor is a recent graduate of St. Francis High School in La Canada and exemplified himself through academic excellence, leadership skills, and participation in both school and community activities. He plans to study Business atWoodbury University in the fall.

“We are very proud of the Simon Youth Scholarships program, because it has given us the opportunity to support the academic endeavors of promising youth right here in our community,” said Marida Petitjean, Director of Marketing and Business Development at The Shops at Montebello.

Simon Youth Scholarships are awarded annually to at least one student in every U.S. community that is home to a Simon^®property. This year, approximately $1.1 million will be awarded.

“Simon Youth Community Scholarships reward academic excellence across the country and help students to continue their education,” said J. Michael Durnil, President and CEO of SYF.  “Financial concerns should never be the reason preventing a child from pursuing their dreams.”

About SYF

Simon Youth Foundation, a national nonprofit, exists to help at-risk students, who are on the verge of dropping out of high school, graduate. Through 22 Simon Youth Academies in 11 states and Simon Youth Scholarships, SYF advocates, creates and initiates educational opportunities for students. In partnership with local public schools, SYF has maintained a 90% graduation rate at its Academies since inception, graduated more than 13,000 students, and awarded more than $13 million in scholarships.  Learn more at syf.org.

About The Shops at Montebello

The Shops at Montebello is a modern indoor super regional shopping center featuring four department stores and more than 160 shops, eateries, and restaurants—remaining the leader for shopping in the San Gabriel Valley. The Shops at Montebello is home to Macy’s, jcpenney, Forever 21, Coach, G by Guess, Old Navy and more, with dining options such as BJ’s Restaurant and Brewery, Hikari Sushi, Marie Callender’s and Olive Garden. The Shops at Montebello serves communities in San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles including Montebello, Monterey Park, and Rosemead. With its modernized look and feel, The Shops at Montebello strives to provide the best shopping experience with its retailer and dining selections for the entire family.

Follow The Shops at Montebello on these social media channels:

Twitter: twitter.com/shopsmontebello

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/ShopsatMontebello

Instagram: instagram.com/shopsmontebello

Credit: Shops at Montebello and Simon Youth Foundation.

Nearly 2 million home burglaries are reported in the United States each year, and the majority of these burglaries occur in the summer months. The scariest part of this statistic for parents is the summertime rise in home break-ins typically correlates with when their children are home without an adult.

A recent U.S. Census Bureau report illustrated that 7 million of the nation’s 38 million children between the ages of 5 and 14 are left home alone on a regular basis. And in married-couple families with children, 60% of both parents work, confirming that summer is when children are most likely to be home alone while school is on break.

The Force Training Institute (FTI) provides protection and safety training for some of the nation’s most important assets and largest companies. The safety and security experts at FTI have created the following tips parents can use to teach their children how to respond if a break-in occurs when they are home alone this summer.

Role Play and Discuss: One of the most important things parents can do to prepare a child to learn the proper way to respond to a break-in is to practice. Just like schools have fire and other emergency drills, households should do the same. Parents should talk to their children about the proper way to respond to a break-in, and then conduct a scenario with the child while providing direction and support.. The scenario does not need to be frightening as it is meant to build the child’s confidence and decision-making.

Retreat: The first thing children should be taught about a break-in is to move the opposite direction of an intruder. Even if a child is older, he or she does not know what the intruder’s intent is or if the person has a weapon.

Grab Communications: Whether it is a portable home phone, a cell phone, or a tablet, kids should also be concentrating on grabbing a means of communication to call for help as they are getting away from the intruder and moving to another part of the home.

Barricade: Once they have moved away from the location the break-in occurred at, children should find a secure place to barricade themselves into. This could be a bedroom, bathroom or closet. Any room that has only one door that can be locked and barricaded with a chair or other piece of furniture is suitable.

Try to be Invisible: Hiding under a bed, inside a coat in the back of a closet, in a dirty laundry hamper, or under blankets and pillows on a messy bed are all good options for camouflage. Teach kids to be as small, hidden and quiet as possible.

Call for Help: If possible during the break-in situation, teach children to first send a text message for help to parents, family members or a trusted neighbor or family friend asking for help and for the person to call 911 to come to your home. Make sure your child knows to turn the volume off on a phone or tablet so device noises do not give away a hiding place. If it is not possible to send a text for help, teach kids to call 911 and whisper they need help, tell the operator a break-in is happening, they are home alone, and their address.

Use Basic Self-Defense: In the event an intruder tries to physically harm a child during a break-in, parents should prepare their children to know basic self-defense skills that could save their lives. If an intruder is trying to cause harm or kidnap a child, he or she should know to scream as loud as possible, try to hit the intruder in the groin, eyes or nose, to not be afraid to bite, and to never stop moving, kicking and squirming to try and get away.

Credit:  J. Hart, Force Training Institute.