Local former ‘5th Grader’ gives back to other youth

Alana Ethridge, a 12-year-old San Diegan who was on the first season of "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?", is offering scholarships to local youth who participate in after-school activities.

Somewhere between a full-time public school schedule, soccer games and volleyball practice, and commuting between San Diego and Los Angeles for auditions, 12-year-old Alana Ethridge finds time to give back.

This fall the local seventh grader and aspiring actress offered 20 $50 scholarships to help local disadvantaged youth cover the cost of after-school programs.

“I know a lot of kids at my school who don’t get to do after-school activities because they can’t afford to,” said Alana, a San Diegan who was on the first season of Fox’s hit trivia show “Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?” “Not everyone has the support.”

The scholarships – available through Alana’s organization Alana’s Achievers – help pay for youth ages 4-16 to participate in arts, community service and athletics programs after school. In some cases, the scholarships will award gas cards to parents who provide transportation for their children to and from extra-curricular activities.

The scholarship money was provided through a grant by Youth Venture, a nonprofit that works with youth to inspire social change.

Alana’s organization was founded by Alana and her mom through Athletes for Education, a San Diego-based nonprofit that helps professional athletes, entertainers and business leaders develop youth-oriented mentor programs.

“You have to give back, always,” said the bubbly child actor.

Alana said she’s been fortunate to have a supportive single mom, who drives her to and from L.A. for work. She knows not all kids her age have a support system or a stable home life, and she counts her blessings. She also knows the value of education, she said.

Through a Youth Venture Summit this summer, Alana – who, at age 12, was the youngest of 17 Youth Venture Ambassadors – toured Boston University, MIT and Harvard University. While some child actors opt to home-school, Alana’s been in public school since kindergarten and has no intention of stopping. She has her eyes on Ivy League schools, and wants to foster a love for learning in her peers.

“My teachers and my friends have always been so supportive, and I try to be supportive of what my friends do,” Alana said. “[Kids] just need guidance and some of them don’t get it.”

Alana’s also active with another organization, Tra and Alana’s Reading for Life Mentorship Program, which pairs third and fifth grade students in two San Diego schools with local athletes and celebrities in reading-aloud activities. The program – a collaborative with former San Diego Charger Tra Battle – offers rewards to students and classes that improve reading habits.

The reading program is also a part of Athletes for Education. AFE President Steven Haynes said Alana is an energetic role model for other youth.

“It’s extremely rare to find someone who juggles everything the way she does, particularly as overwhelmingly involved as she is in every step of the process, whether she’s defining goals or setting a vision for the program,” Haynes said. “I think she’s pretty unique.”

Haynes met Alana at a charity event last year and was impressed with her enthusiasm. He approached her later and asked if she’d be interested in starting a youth-oriented organization.

“In so many ways she’s a young adult, but she never forgets to have fun,” Haynes said. “She’s able to roll into her personality the dynamic duo: Alana the entertainer who acts and is in commercials and on television; and Alana the kid, who just relates to other kids on a level that is so amazing. She makes them feel special; every one of them.”

Adding to an already busy schedule, Alana will also participate in two San Diego Unified School District programs this school year: Youth Women’s Leadership Development, and Game On, a program targeting truant at-risk youth.

Alana’s mom said her daughter has “big dreams” for Alana’s Achievers, and the reading program.

“My dream for Alana’s Achievers is to go worldwide and help as many kids as possible,” Alana said.

For information on  Alana’s Achievers visit www.alanaethridge.net or contact alanas_achievers@yahoo.com.

Tags: Alana Ethridge, Alana's Achievers, Athletes for Education, San Diego Chargers, SDNN

This entry was posted on Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 at 5:50 pm and is filed under Arts & Entertainment, Lifestyle . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.