By PHOEBE SOLOMON
Staff Writer
University High School’s (UHS) Call Me Hope Club (CMH) hosted its first ever Hope-Fest on March 15 at Bill Barber Park.
CMH is a club focusing on outreach and support for those at UHS and in Orange County facing mental illness, abuse, childhood trauma and chemical dependency. Hope-Fest served as a platform on which to raise funds for people facing such challenges. The festival also served to advertise and promote the types of systematic support systems available to anyone suffering through such difficulties. Club President Debbie Yuen (Jr.) explains that “There are children who need help everywhere in the world and CMH hopes to touch those in our own community.”
CMH collaborates with outside organizations such as The Boys and Girls Club and the Think Together Foundation, who also strive to solidify socially conscious efforts in the community.
Hope-Fest featured the art and science projects of elementary and middle school students, as well as musical and dance numbers. The Irvine Police and Fire Department, along with Mayor Steven Choi, were in attendance. Clubs from UHS and other Irvine high schools were present at the event, and many sold food.
Call Me Hope Club’s Hope-Fest will be an annual event.