GAP Spotlight: Meet Charlie

“Be true to yourself.”

I enjoy working and volunteering with kids. I volunteer at Salvation Army, I work at We Rock The Spectrum Santa Monica, and at the FACT social skills groups. I recently was honored to received an Outstanding Volunteerism Award for 4 years of dedication from the Salvation Army Bessie and David Pregerson Child Care Center. The center provides child care and housing to low income families, and I feel very blessed to have been a good role model for these youngsters. The kids are always excited to see me, and it always makes my day. I hope to continue working there for many years to come.

I’ve played piano for 16 years, so when I’m not busy you’ll find me stuck to my piano, or maybe watching cheesy horror movies on BluRay. I’m working on becoming more and more independent in my life. I hope to continue with my independent living accomplishments, and this year I hope to gain better cooking skills so I can save money and eat healthier. To stay healthy I like to box, and for fun I hang out with my roommates and other friends from the GAP program. I’ve been a member of the GAP program for 4 years, it has helped me find employment opportunities, improve social skills and supported me in pursuing a certificate in Early Childhood Education from Santa Monica College. I really enjoy the variety of skills I have learned, the volunteer positions, and the fun classes held at GAP. We’re all one big happy family here and I love it.

Great job Charlie! We are proud of your dedication to volunteerism!