LLOYD SCHARF
	Chief of Police

On August 5, 2000, the Ontario, California Police Department will be hosting a very special and unique event. The event will be an opportunity for victims, survivors, and family members of those who have suffered losses in school shootings from across the USA to speak about their experiences and hopes for the future. We have been working with survivors of some of the school shootings and have been contacted by victims of many others asking for a venue to meet and to speak. The families involved have informally dubbed the event THE GATHERING, which seems to be a fitting title.

In conjunction with the victims and families, a benefit rock concert and expo will be held as an outreach to teens in the Southern California area.  The proceeds from ticket sales will be distributed to the victim's advocacy group of choice. The theme of the event is tolerance, and accepting each other's differences. 

These are the primary goals of The Gathering:

1.	To give survivors and families an opportunity to meet, share their experiences, and to address the world.  Emphasis will be on putting a face on the victims, not the suspects, as the media typically does.
2.	To bring attention to, and to promote awareness of the problem of school shootings and possible causes.
3.	To offer alternatives and information on social services available to teens.

The event will be held at the Chaffey High School Stadium, in Ontario, California.  We plan to sell 5,000 tickets to the event, and further youth outreach through media coverage, sales of CD's, videos, and event merchandising.

We are currently seeking the following assistance for the event:
Survivors and victim's families: interested in attending or     speaking at the event.

Talent: bands of various musical styles, and celebrity personalities interested in performing, or speaking.

EXPO: non-profit entities interested in displaying a booth promoting alternatives to violence for teens, or offering social services to teens. Commercial vendors may set up booths on a for-fee basis.

Sponsors: Corporate or individual sponsors willing to donate towards the event costs such as transportation and lodging for victims, staging, etc., merchandise for promotional contest prizes and media, radio, or TV sponsors.

This is a grassroots project, being produced by volunteers on their own time. It is being facilitated by the Law Enforcement of Ontario (LEO) Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.

For further information about the event please contact the following people:

Victims/Families:

Stephanie Curtis (909) 986-0166
e-mail: Stephanie7524@aol.com

Charlene Butolph (541) 726-5911
e-mail: Robertab@uswest.net

Talent, Sponsorship:

Detective Byron Lee (909) 395-2746
e-mail: Firebasez@aol.com

EXPO:

Stephanie Curtis (909) 986-0166
e-mail: Stephanie7524@aol.com

200 North Cherry Avenue

Ontario, California 91764-4197

909/988-6481