Media Corner

For Immediate Release
March 14, 2004

Local Water District and City Representatives Join Forces to Bring Sports Program to Middle School Students

HUNTINGTON PARK, CA. - Central Basin Municipal Water District will bring their Ultra Low Flow Toilet Program to the City of Huntington Park on Saturday March 23rd. As usual, Central Basin will be giving away free ultra low flow toilets, low flow showerheads, and free giveaways. What makes this giveaway unique is the sponsorship and participation of the local community; and, most importantly, the fundraising effort these groups are undertaking to help the students of Gage Middle School earn the funding needed to bring basketball and volleyball programs to the Huntington Park campus.

The Huntington Park Water Fair 2002 will be made possible due to the cooperation and support of the Central Basin Municipal Water District, Assemblymember Marco A. Firebaugh, the City of Huntington Park, and the City of Maywood. Besides the toilet and conservation giveaway, local community groups will be in attendance offering residents information on their services and free giveaways.

The main goal of the Huntington Park Ultra Low Flow Toilet Giveaway and the Huntington Park Water Fair 2002 is to assist Gage Middle School in raising funds to complete their basketball court, volleyball court, and purchase related equipment needed for their students. Recently the

Los Angeles Unified School District offered Gage Middle School $15,000 to build a basketball court at their Huntington Park school site. The funding will be made possible if the administration, staff, and students of Gage Middle School are able to raise enough money to match the $15,000 offered by the local school district.

In order to help bring a basketball program to Gage Middle School, Central Basin Municipal Water District Director Charles Trevi�o stepped in and offered to bring his conservation program to Gage Middle School and the City of Huntington Park. Joining the effort, local Assemblymember Marco Firebaugh offered to provide assistance with the Water Fair. Always ready to serve the residents of Huntington Park, the Huntington Park City Council sponsored the program by providing funding for an additional 300 ULF toilets to supplement the program. In addition, the City of Maywood and its respective water companies also provided funding for additional conservation items.

The key to the fundraising effort is the community relations aspect of the District's conservation program. Central Basin chooses a community-based organization to assist with the Conservation Day ULFT Giveaway. In exchange for assisting with the logistics of the giveaway, Central Basin awards the organization, in this case Gage Middle School, with $15 for each old toilet returned for recycling. Thanks to the support of the City of Huntington Park and Maywood, Gage Middle School has the opportunity to earn $12,000 courtesy of Central Basin Municipal Water District.

Although $12,000 brings the students of Gage Middle School closer to their $15,000 goal, the students are still $3,000 away from having a basketball and volleyball program available as part of their physical education program. In addition, the basketball and volleyball program would provide the Huntington Park students with an after school sports program. Gage Middle School could use your help in raising the additional funding. If you would like to contribute to the basketball and volleyball programs at Gage Middle School, you may send a contribution to the following:

Henry T. Gage Middle School
Basketball and Volleyball Youth Program
2880 E. Gage Avenue
Huntington Park, CA 90225

The Huntington Park Water Fair 2002 and free Ultra Low Flow Toilet Giveaway will be held on Saturday, March 23rd at Gage Middle School. The Ultra Low Flow Toilet Giveaway begins at 8:00 a.m. and is run on a first come - first serve basis. In order to receive a free toilet, you must bring a copy of your water bill, and a current photo ID or Driver's License with a matching address. Come out to Gage Middle School on Saturday, March 23rd and help the Huntington Park students raise the funding needed for their basketball and volleyball programs. For more information on the Water Fair and Giveaway call

(323) 582-6090