Schools

Evening Under the Oaks Benefits At-Risk Youth

Oak Grove Center For Education, Treatment & The Arts hosted its seventh annual benefit dinner and auction Saturday.

The stories keep them coming back.

That is what guest after guest who attended An Evening Under the Oaks in Murrieta Saturday said.

Guests such as Murrieta Mayor Pro Tem Rick Gibbs, who said he has faithfully come out to the annual dinner and auction that benefits

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The 24-hour residential center on Jefferson Avenue in Murrieta serves at-risk youth, and relies heavily on fundraising to carry out its mission.

"They do some really great work for part of our population that needs some help," said Gibbs, as he and his wife browsed auction items. "When the kids get up and tell you their stories, you just go 'oh my gosh,' how did you even survive your childhood? This is the least we can do is come to this and show our support."

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Oak Grove Center CEO Tammy Wilson expected at least 350 guests for the event, which included student entertainment.

"What people like is coming and seeing the kids perform," Wilson said.

A new $1.4-million gymnasium and multipurpose room was under construction just yards away from the grassy area where guests mingled, sipped on beverages and snacked on hors d'oeuvres.

According to Wilson, Saturday's event would help raise money to install a floor for the gym. Since the center set out to build it two years ago, and fundraising events. The gym was scheduled for October completion but may be finished sooner, she said.

"We are picking up speed," Wilson said. "We are very, very thankful."

Lexus of Riverside was the presenting sponsor of the evening, while countless others pitched in for the cause as well.

Murrieta resident Lee Stout said it was his second year attending the event. This year he arranged for his employer, Watkins Spas, to donate a spa for the auction.

"It was actually the kids who spoke last year—they really touched me, they really hit me," Stout said. "We wanted to try to do something special, so when I went to work for Watkins I convinced them to donate the spa."

Some guests had personal connections with Oak Grove Center, such as Murrieta City Councilman Alan Long. He previously worked as a counselor at Oak Grove while he was in college.

"They do extraordinary things here, they have a high calling with what they do," Long said, noting he was happy to seeing the gym coming along.

"I am a firm believer that the more structure we provide for our youth in extracurricular activities, the better off we'll be as a community," Long said.

Local pop band The Brewer Boys, which consists of brothers Justin Brewer, 18, and Nathan Brewer, 14, were on hand to provide dinner entertainment.

"It is a pleasure to be playing tonight," Justin said. "We have been supporting these guys since we started singing."

The evening was shaping up to be the biggest success yet, organizers said.

Barry Soper, chairman of the Board of Directors for Oak Grove Center, was delighted with the turnout.

"I'm thrilled to see all the people here for the greatest cause," Soper said. "It is amazing how Oak Grove changes children's lives."


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