Indiana Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel participated
in the California Pizza Kitchen fundraiser for SYF
UPDATE ON TUESDAY, AUG. 23
The total numbers are in, and Indiana Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel and the hundreds of other Simon Youth Foundation supporters who dined in at the California Pizza Kitchen at Circle Centre on Tuesday, Aug. 16, raised $5,000 for SYF programs.
Hundreds had already enjoyed their CPK favorites by the end of the lunch hour, and the guests included Indiana Pacers Head Coach Frank Vogel and his staff as well as SYF Board of Directors Chairperson Deborah J. Simon and other board members.
We’ll update the blog when a total donation amount is announced. The money will support the national network of Simon Youth Academies, which are alternative schools that serve at-risk students who may be homeless, seriously ill, facing parenthood, or otherwise unable to attend their traditional high school, as well as the Simon Youth Scholarships program, which helps send hundreds of high school graduates throughout the country to college each year.
Alex isn’t a quitter. As a child, he struggled with severe anxiety and depression to the point of getting sick at the sheer thought of having to go to school. Alex knew he had to make a change for himself and find ways to cope with his anxiety.
He began to make friends, focus on his schoolwork, and got a job working on cars when he turned 16. Alex found his passion in cars and began an apprenticeship, working early morning shifts before class even started. Because of this, Alex knew he needed an alternative classroom environment that allowed him to pursue his dream of becoming an automotive technician while earning his high school diploma. Alex attended Simon Youth Academy and successfully juggled his passion for his job and his education. Alex is now a full-time automotive technician working for a large Indianapolis-based dealership.
