Sharing the season

Courtesy of the AVP
1/13/2003
Association of Volleyball Professionals Eric Fonoimoana and Albert Hannemann started the holiday season on a charitable note by hosting a fundraiser with high hopes of helping kids.  
The Dec. 12 Winter Warmth Celebration 2002, held at Sangria Restaurant in Hermosa Beach, Calif., served not only as a kickoff party for the South Bay’s winter season but also as an evening to provide children in Los Angeles with literacy programs, in-classroom libraries, academic scholarships and volleyball training. 
The evening included dinner and drinks, a disc jockey, casino games leading to chances for prizes and a silent auction all provided to help the causes of the Dig for Kids Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to providing youth in low-income communities increased opportunities for athletic and academic achievement.  
“The fundraiser went well,” said Fonoimoana, who presides over the Dig for Kids Foundation. “The most difficult task is being organized and well prepared and I always worry that not enough people will show to have a profitable event.”  
But the AVP’s Most Valuable Player’s worries were unfounded as over 200 people attended the event raising nearly $15,000 according to Fonoimoana’s bookkeeping.  
Hannemann, vice president and program director of the foundation, said that thanks to the event, a lot more area children should receive mentoring and coaching in volleyball in 2003.  

Through the foundation, kids receive a combination of academic tutoring from college graduate pro athletes, high school players and students, volleyball exposure and instruction from pro volleyball players and safe after-school supervision.  
In addition, the kids receive motivational lessons and instruction on discipline, the setting and achievement of goals and life balance through the program.  
Attendees, including such dignitaries as the AVP’s Canyon Ceman, Mark Lund (from Volleyball Magazine) and some members from the Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach, Calif. City Council, enjoyed the opportunity to win great prizes including a Palms Casino, Country Club (in Las Vegas) golf package.  
“It went very well,” said Fonoimoana of the gala sponsored by Bud Light and Paul Mitchell. “I thought we had a great staff and we were well organized.”  
Hannemann, who preaches to kids about the importance of education and how volleyball helped him achieve his goals in life, said that of the four fundraisers produced by the Dig for Kids Foundation, the Winter Warmth Celebration 2002 proved the most successful and would definitely be on next year’s schedule.   
“It was a semiformal event including dinner, a silent auction and a raffle drawing for great prizes,” Hannemann said. “It was nice to be able to have a party that everyone could dress up for and know that their donations went entirely for the kids.”