#GiveBackNews Oct. 14th: Athletic Teens Inspire Others to Give Back

In this week’s #GiveBackNews we have two inspirational stories about athletic teens who put a lot of heart into giving back to their community, and several upcoming events where you can give back.

17 year old Jonah Vandever is competing in the Challenged Athletes Foundation’s Triathlon. He was born without a forehead, missing fingers, toes and with his knees on backwards but he was also born with a strong spirit that kept him pushing past every obstacle. Now, after many surgeries and with new prosthetics, he can walk, run and even ski. His determination impressed the late Robin Williams, who had originally planned to team up with Jonah in this year’s triathlon.

When SAG Awards publicist Rosalind Jarrett Sepulveda heard about Jonah’s story she decided to sponsor him with her husband Lamar. The Los Angeles couple has participated in the CAF Triathlon since 2009 as team Pay it Forward, and this year they’re competing side by side with Jonah. If you’d like to help their team and Jonah visit www.payitforwardchallenge.org.

Pacific Palisades teenager Zachary Senator headed up the top fundraising team at UCLA’s “Dribble For a Cure” last weekend, for the sixth year in a row. His group, Team Jackson, raised $29,063 in honor of his younger brother’s memory.

There are several upcoming #GiveBack events in the Los Angeles area. In Thousand Oaks, an opportunity to learn about housing options for seniors with Senior Concerns, in West LA a luncheon benefiting Grief Haven, and the first annual Drumstick Dash at CBS Studios will raise money for homeless families with Hope of the Valley.

If you have a #GiveBackNews story idea, share it with us, and help us make a difference one story at a time! Email news@givebackpr.org.