Yamaha Cares Sponsors Angels and Special Olympics
BUENA PARK, Calif. Nearly 250 people came out to Boomers in Fountain Valley on a sunny day in early June to participate in the annual miniature golf tournament and silent auction hosted by Alissa's Angels and sponsored by Yamaha Corporation of America. The event raised about $9,500 this year, all of which was donated to the Neuroscience Institute at Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC). Year-to-date, this special group has raised about $215,000 for the CHOC Neuroscience Institute.
A fourth-year sponsor, Yamaha Cares, an employee-based, charitable giving initiative of Yamaha Corporation of America, donated a set of the Real Rhythm Children's Percussion Set, a PSRK1 Portable Keyboard, and a home stereo system, all of which were placed in the event's silent auction.
Several Yamaha employees also helped to raise money by playing in the tournament. Other area merchants participating included South Coast Plaza, Jacks Surf, Legoland, Asics, and EA Entertainment. It was October 1999 when Drew and Lisa Head learned that their six-year-old daughter Alissa had been diagnosed with cancer in her spinal cord. During Alissa's treatment at the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), she and her family witnessed first-hand that, although CHOC's neurological institute is top-notch, the hospital could not afford to purchase new, cutting-edge equipment that would have made treatment a bit easier. Seeing this need, Alissa, her older brother Nick and her girlfriends, along with guidance from her parents, arranged a miniature golf tournament to raise money for CHOC.
"We have adopted Alissa and her Angels here at Yamaha," states Carol Baker, Vice President. "Her own personal strength and the initiative she, her family and friends have taken in support of the Children's Hospital is an inspiration to all of us."
In other Yamaha Cares news, when more than 1,300 athletes gathered at California State University Long Beach for the Special Olympics Southern California 2006 Summer Games in June, Yamaha employees volunteered for another enjoyable weekend of fun, sports and music.
"Employees who have volunteered in the Special Olympics come back year-after-year. They truly enjoy the experience and the assistance they can provide to these Special Olympians," adds Baker. "We are proud of their involvement, and as a company we are deeply committed to the Special Olympics."
In addition to the employees who volunteered with the athletes, Yamaha also had employees and consultants volunteer at a special booth in Sports Expo Park, where athletes, families, and patrons could learn to play a Clavinova digital piano and a Disklavier reproducing piano. The booth was visited by Yamaha's President Yoshi Doi and Sr. Vice President of the Music Marketing Group, Terry Lewis. Yamaha also sponsored the "Honored Guest" tent, which hosted the Special Olympic's honored guests and coordinated the athletic medal and award presentations. Special Olympics Southern California provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. To learn more, visit www.sosc.org.
For more information on Yamaha Cares, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; telephone (714) 522-9011; visit www.yamaha.com/yamahacares.
About Yamaha Cares:
Yamaha Cares is an employee-based, charitable giving initiative of Yamaha Corporation of America, dedicated to promoting education, arts, health and human services and community development in the areas where our employees live and work, and to spreading the gift of music to people throughout America.
 Special Olympians tickle the ivories |
Several Yamaha employees also helped to raise money by playing in the tournament. Other area merchants participating included South Coast Plaza, Jacks Surf, Legoland, Asics, and EA Entertainment. It was October 1999 when Drew and Lisa Head learned that their six-year-old daughter Alissa had been diagnosed with cancer in her spinal cord. During Alissa's treatment at the Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), she and her family witnessed first-hand that, although CHOC's neurological institute is top-notch, the hospital could not afford to purchase new, cutting-edge equipment that would have made treatment a bit easier. Seeing this need, Alissa, her older brother Nick and her girlfriends, along with guidance from her parents, arranged a miniature golf tournament to raise money for CHOC.
"We have adopted Alissa and her Angels here at Yamaha," states Carol Baker, Vice President. "Her own personal strength and the initiative she, her family and friends have taken in support of the Children's Hospital is an inspiration to all of us."
 Allisa presents prizes to raffle winners |
"Employees who have volunteered in the Special Olympics come back year-after-year. They truly enjoy the experience and the assistance they can provide to these Special Olympians," adds Baker. "We are proud of their involvement, and as a company we are deeply committed to the Special Olympics."
In addition to the employees who volunteered with the athletes, Yamaha also had employees and consultants volunteer at a special booth in Sports Expo Park, where athletes, families, and patrons could learn to play a Clavinova digital piano and a Disklavier reproducing piano. The booth was visited by Yamaha's President Yoshi Doi and Sr. Vice President of the Music Marketing Group, Terry Lewis. Yamaha also sponsored the "Honored Guest" tent, which hosted the Special Olympic's honored guests and coordinated the athletic medal and award presentations. Special Olympics Southern California provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community. To learn more, visit www.sosc.org.
For more information on Yamaha Cares, write Yamaha Corporation of America, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622-6600; telephone (714) 522-9011; visit www.yamaha.com/yamahacares.
About Yamaha Cares:
Yamaha Cares is an employee-based, charitable giving initiative of Yamaha Corporation of America, dedicated to promoting education, arts, health and human services and community development in the areas where our employees live and work, and to spreading the gift of music to people throughout America.
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© 2009 Yamaha Corporation of America
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