Hello all,

I hope Thanksgiving Day was wonderful for you.  For more than 10 years, one of our missions at Falcons Youth & Family Services in South Los Angeles has been to put smiles on the face of children, to provide them with new experiences.

According to our babies, we have done a good job. For Thanksgiving last week, we partnered with the Water Buffalo Club and treated homeless families to a five-star dining experience. Their smiles could not be contained.

We have another opportunity to put a great big smile on the faces of seven girls from South Los Angeles.  Recently our cheer team, 11- to 13-year-olds, won the right to compete for the Pop Warner National Cheer Championship in Orlando.

Going to Florida is an opportunity of a lifetime. Imagine seven girls from South Los Angeles traveling with their coaches to spend a week at Walt Disney World, competing, cheering and connecting with girls from all over the United States.

Ten teams from Los Angeles County qualified to go. However most of the teams declined the invitation due to financial reasons.

We, too, face the same financial challenge. But I believe we are connected to people like you who know our work and passion, and you will refuse to let our girls miss this opportunity.

Here is where I need your help. We need to raise $15,000 to cover the cost for the cheer team and volunteer staff.

This amount covers airfare, hotel accommodations, meals and entertainment.

I am asking you to partner with me to help make this dream trip a reality.

Good news. Your donation will go even further. We have a person who will match incoming donations up to $5,000.

Your monetary gift — $10, $20, $40, $80 — will be doubled. Our matching window will close Thursday.

Time is so short. The National Cheer Competition is next week, Thursday, Dec. 10.

To make your matching donation please go to www.fyfs.org. Click on the donate button. If you prefer to make a donation via check, call me at 323.864.8781.

Checks should be made payable to the “Southern California Falcons.” The agency is a 501c3 organizations and all donations are tax deductible and a donation letter will be provided.

Thank you for your help. We are looking forward to sharing our pictorial journey with you.

Mr. Johnson, co-founder with his wife Karen of Southern California Falcons and Falcons Youth & Family Services, may be contacted at fyfs@aol.com