Nominate someone special to be an ABC7 Cool Kid
Know a teen who qualifies to be one of the ABC7 Cool Kids? Tell us about them, and you might see your favorite kid on our next broadcast. Your nominee must be between the ages of 14 and 18 and/or a high school student and live within ABC7's five-county viewing area. To nominate a Cool Kid visit: www.abc7.com/coolkid
Here are some organizations that are helping, inspiring and mentoring some of L.A.'s Cool Kids:
Boys & Girls Club of America
The Boys & Girls Club of America offers club programs and services to promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow, all while having fun. It is the place where great futures are started each and every day [Watch video].
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Children's Hospital Los Angeles is ranked one of the nation's top five best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report for 2012-13. For the fourth year in a row, the hospital has been named to the prestigious National Honor Roll by U.S. News & World Report rankings as the only pediatric medical center in California ranked in all 10 pediatric specialties every year.
In December 2012, Children's Hospital Los Angeles also received the designation of "Top Hospital" for patient safety by the Leapfrog Group, which promotes safety and access to healthcare information for patients and is made up of both private and public healthcare providers. CHLA was one of only 12 hospitals nationally to receive this top honor.
If you would like to learn about volunteering at Children's Hospital Los Angeles, call Volunteer Services at (323) 361-2371 or visit: www.chla.org/volunteer or www.chla.org/DogTherapy [Watch video].
Children's Bureau
Children's Bureau has been around for 100 years. Seventy-five different organizations work out of the Children's Bureau's Magnolia Family and offer help to victims of abuse, parenting classes, job training, medical and financial services and foster care and adoption services.
Caine's Arcade
Caine Monroy is a 10-year-old boy who spent a summer vacation building an elaborate do-it-yourself cardboard arcade in his dad's used auto parts store. Caine dreamed of the day he would have lots of customers visit his arcade, but his dad's store, which is located in an industrial part of East L.A., got very little foot traffic - so Caine's chances of getting a customer were very small.
Over the past year, Caine's imagination and perseverance paid off. Caine's Arcade is now a worldwide viral sensation inspiring kids and adults around the globe to use their imaginations. He's also inspired the Imagination Foundation, which promotes and encourages children to get creative through in-school curriculums, after-school programs and events designed to open the minds of young kids.
See the complete list of all of the places featured on this week's episode. [Original air date: Dec. 29, 2012]