Patty Williams’ daughter married a marine deployed to Afghanistan. Through his letters and stories back home, this young marine mentioned that adjusting to the tough Afghani terrain was not just tough physically, but mentally as well.  Patty started assembling care packages that he shared with all of his fellow marines. That caring act grew into Gratitude to our Military Day. On September 9th, residents from all over the South Bay came together at the Cabrillo Beach Youth Center to give back to our deployed troops by donating and assembling care packages.  Everyone was encouraged to donate basic convenience items such as sun block, toothbrushes and deodorant.

If you would like to know how you can help by donating items for care packages, contact Natalie Rodgers at my office at (310) 831-1799 or email natalie.rodgers@mail.house.gov.

This summer, I had the opportunity to host eight talented student interns in my Congressional District Office in San Pedro.  From Matt and Gloria, graduate students studying public policy, to Eloiza and Nazeri from Banning High School, I was blessed to have engaging young people in my office. Their energy and excitement were definite assets in serving the constituents of our district.  

Our internship program is a year-round, on-the-job training experience. The program gives students the chance to explore public service and government as a career option. Zoe Jimenez discovered this summer while working on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals that she has a passion for immigration law.

If you or a student you know are interested in participating in the Student Internship Program in our District office, contact Reymundo Sauceda at my office at (310) 831-1799 or email rsauceda@mail.house.gov.

*Photo: With Cody and Clay Busia, Summer Interns

Last weekend, I headed down to Point Fermin Park for the 21st Annual Festival of Philippine Arts and Culture (FPAC). This yearly event celebrating cultural diversity is put on by FilAmARTS and the City of Los Angeles. FPAC is the largest gathering of Philippine culture in Southern California, and I am so proud they've chosen to call San Pedro home since 1994. There, I had the opportunity to congratulate their awards recipients including long-time San Pedro residents Tony and Angelita Ringor and Philippine Consul General Mary Jo Barnardo Aragon.

This month, I want to highlight our Grant Services Program. If your organization is considering applying for a federal grant, or wants to know what resources might be available to you, we want to help.

This month alone, we have met with an independent film maker, a small business that focuses on security of our bridges and ports, and the local branch of a national youth development agency. Let me give you a quick summary of some (definitely not all) of the Grant services we’re offering:

• *Providing information on a wide range of federal grants programs, including facts about financial and non-financial (i.e. Federal property or federal facility use grants) assistance;
• *Clarifying and/or assisting with certain details of proposal development, initial grant applications, and follow-up/reporting  procedures;
• *Writing letters of interest or support to various granting agencies;
• *Where permissible under House of Representatives Ethics rules, making informational inquiries on behalf of grant applicants
• *Suggesting other sources for grant assistance in both the private and public sectors.
• *Providing occasional training events, workshops, etc. to help constituents to gain some understanding – whether rudimentary or advanced - of the grants process.

My staff and I have given a lot of thought and planning to this line of service, and we’re looking forward to meeting with more individuals and organizations to help de-mystify the federal grants process. For more information, contact Eric Boyd at my office at (310) 831-1799 or email ericf.boyd@mail.house.gov.