On Saturday, August 5, Ambassador Children of Absolutes (ACA) and The West Angeles COGIC Children’s Ministry will present the 5th annual “Summers End Back To School Bash” Free Backpack Giveaway. ACA founder and host, Croyce Allen created the event to celebrate youth heading back to school and make sure they have a new backpack too.
“We want them to be excited to go back to school,” said Allen. “It’s a full day of food, fun, entertainment and we have special celebrity guests.”
This year, Allen will be welcoming Homeboy The Clown as a host and red carpet co-hostesses Jordan and Kennedy Lindsay. The celebrity guests include Kamil McFadden (“K.C. Undercover”), Roshon Fegan (“Shake It Up”, “Greenleaf”), Alkoya Brunson (“Almost Christmas”, “Hidden Figures”) and Tyrone Burton (“The Parent ‘Hood”) and many more.
Allen, 16, created ACA to help youth towards a better future by encouraging education and going to college. Established in 2012, Allen started his organization with his grandmother, Cynthia Keith, with the vision of doing something for the community. The Fairfax High student spoke about what motivated him to start the ACA.
“I love working with kids and I see kids struggling every day,” said Allen. “I just want to help them out and just to let them know that there is somebody for them.
“That’s what we do for the backpack giveaway.”
“I’m his manager and his grandmother, so I’m his biggest cheerleader,” said Keith. “He does the technical search for the celebrities.
“He just tells me who to go get and I go do the contractual work and seal the deal.
“He just my muse.”
The ACA has helped youth start the year off right with their backpack giveaway. One of Allen’s last giveaways managed to put 1,000 backpacks on the backs of youth heading to school.
He ultimately plans to have a place where youth can go after school to do school work, be inspired by guest speakers and receive information. He’s also a member of the West Angeles Church media team, where he puts his editing skills to use. Allen has hopes of becoming a director one day with USC being one of his top picks for college.
“I want to be an editor, producer, a little bit of an actor but mostly to direct and produce movies and TV shows,” said Allen.
“I’m setting him up to be the entrepreneur he’s destined to be,” said Keith.
Both Allen and Keith recently started a talent agency, which they hope will highlight the raw talent hidden with the Los Angeles community.
The 5th annual “Summers’ End Back To School Bash” Free Backpack Giveaway takes place August 5, from 12pm-4pm at the West Angeles COGIC parking lot located at 3010 Crenshaw Blvd. in Los Angeles, CA 90016 on 30th St. For more info, visit the group on Facebook at Summers’ End Back to School Bash.
