Can Do Day

Date:   April 14, 2008

Not many elementary school students can say they’ve been “published, but Evan Bonnand, Mitchel Davis and Delaina Castillo, after successfully competing in an essay contest, will soon enjoy this unique distinction.

Bonnand, a fourth grade student, formerly at Rancho Elementary School , but now being home-schooled, received the top prize of $150 in U.S. Savings Bonds.  Second place and $100 in bonds went to Davis, a Helen Hunt Jackson third grader, and Castillo, in third grade at St. Jeanne de Lestonnac, placed third and earned a $50 bond.

The annual essay contest, open to third and fourth graders in Temecula elementary schools, tested their knowledge of the history of Ronald Reagan Sports Park .  Students from a total of 12 elementary schools – for more than last year -- took part in the contest.

When they read their essays at the Third Annual Can-Do Day Celebration at the Community Recreation Center and received their awards, they were pretty excited.  But Janese M. Reyes of Community Little Book had a surprise for them.

She disclosed that arrangements have been made with Friends of Ronald Reagan SP, sponsors of the contest and the Can-Do event, to have their essays published in ad space in the Community Little Book’s 2008 phone book, coming out in July.  “We wanted to do something special for these children,” Reyes said.  “We felt they should get a positive experience of what the Can-Do spirit can mean for them.” 

FRRSP president, Perry Peters, explained, “We present the Can-Do Celebration annually to highlight local citizens who continue to exemplify the “typical American sprit” that President Reagan saw in us in 1983, when he praised our community’s success in creating the sports park without government funding.   “Janese already had helped a lot,” noted Perry Peters, “by printing 5,000 contest forms we distributed to TVUSD and private elementary schools, as well as home-schooled students.”  He added that her company was a major donor to his organization’s Can-Do Monument Fund and pledged an additional donation at the recent fund-raising reception for Edwin Meese III at The Humphreys Estate.

The monument design depicts a family of four working on turning virgin countryside into a sports park, with an approving Ronald Reagan in ranch attire, looking on.  Peters said the fund was $10,000 richer, thanks to the Meese event.