Actor Robert Patrick of the CBS show “Scorpion” and some 125 fellow riders from the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club Chapter 101 and other local motorcycle clubs took part in a toy run this weekend for Hillsides, a foster care charity. The riders rode from Canyon Country to Hillsides main campus in Pasadena with a truck load of holiday gifts. Actors Mike Beach and Emilio Rivera from the FX show “Sons of Anarchy” were also among the riders. The toys were collected at the “Scorpion” set and through the Boozefighters motorcycle club.
“This is the second year that Robert and his fellow riders have come onto campus bearing gifts, and it is a tremendous sight to see,” said Hillsides Chief Executive Officer Joseph M. Costa. “Not only did they collect hundreds of toys, the children who live at Hillsides get a huge kick out of talking to the riders and sitting on their motorcycles. This is a true highlight of the holidays for everyone.”
Patrick, made famous for his role as T-1000 in the 1991 movie “Terminator 2,” said that he feels compelled to give back because as a child, he was surrounded by a loving family who supported his dreams. “I love that Hillsides is giving kids a chance for opportunity and to change their lives,” he said. “I know from personal experience how important it is to have someone believe in you.”
Patrick learned about Hillsides through his local Episcopal church, St. Thomas the Apostle in Hollywood. Hillsides has its roots in the Episcopal Church, having been founded in 1913 by an Episcopal deaconess, Evelyn Wile. Besides helping Hillsides, Patrick is a devoted advocate for veterans and has traveled around the world with the United Service Organizations (USO) visiting troops.
The Boozefighters Motorcycle Club is a nonprofit organization that raises funds for veterans and has participated in several toy runs over the years.
The gifts collected through the toy run will be distributed to some of the 13,000 children and families Hillsides serves throughout Los Angeles County. There is still time to provide children and families with holiday gifts and winter outings to help those in need experience the magic of the season. To contribute, please visit here.
About Hillsides
Hillsides provides high quality care, advocacy, and innovative services that promote safe, permanent environments where children and youth can thrive. Headquartered in Pasadena, the agency and its affiliation with Bienvenidos serves 13,000 children and families in Los Angeles County throughout its 35 sites, including school-based mental health offices in Los Angeles, Pasadena, and Baldwin Park. Foster care and adoptions services in approved resource family homes serve families in Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. To learn more about both agencies, visit www.Hillsides.org and www.Bienvenidos.org. Visit Hillsides on Facebook @hillsideschildren, on Twitter @Hillsides, or on Instagram @HillsidesPasadena.
