Coffee Breakfast

Courtesy Photo

Mirror Staff

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica is seeking sponsors for its first Great Futures for Kids Breakfast, which will be held April 30, featuring a keynote address by international speaker, award-winning author, passionate peace activist and consultant, Azim Khamisa.

Following the murder of his only son, Tariq, Khamisa chose a path of forgiveness rather than revenge.

This led to the establishment of the Tariq Khamisa Foundation and the subsequent forgiveness movement which has reached millions.

The breakfast event, which will be held 7 am to 9 am at the Riviera Country Club, 1250 Capri Dr., Pacific Palisades launches a community fundraising rally to raise $250, 000 in support of the Club’s Back-a-Youth Annual Campaign.

The funds raised will support a wide range of educational and enrichment programs that encourage lifelong learning, and provide youth development in the arts, education, character and leadership, health and recreation.

Tim Blaylock, president and chief executive officer of BGCSM, said Azim’s message of forgiveness and peace is powerful and engaging.

"We hope to inspire the business community and individuals to share our mission of helping our youth to be the best they can be in life and by giving them the tools they need to succeed, ” Blaylock said. "The campaign’s goal is to raise $250, 000 to ensure the community’s neediest children have access to programs and mentoring that will help them reach their potential as caring, productive citizens."

Khamisa lost his only son in 1995 when he was shot to death delivering a pizza in San Diego. The killer was only 14 years old and became the first 14-year-old to stand trial as an adult in the state of California. He received a 25-year prison sentence.

Devastated, Khamisa did not know what to do. He turned to his faith, began a foundation for his son and reached out to the killer’s family, offering the boy a job at the foundation when his prison sentence is up.

Working with the boy’s grandfather and guardian, Khamisa now shares his personal story of forgiveness with others. Forgiveness, Khamisa says, is what has gotten him through this experience and given him a new purpose to life, adding “there were victims at both ends of the gun.”

Khamisa has become an international speaker, award-winning author, passionate peace activist and consultant. He embodies the spirit of forgiveness and shares with others how he turned a tragedy into positive outcome – a story that many people can learn from.

Sponsorship benefits include corporate recognition at the breakfast, publicity on promotional materials and recognition at the event. The deadline for sponsorship is April 21, 2015. For sponsorship opportunities, more information, or to attend the breakfast contact Kelly Ventimiglia at 310.361.8500 ext. 203 or by email,