People of all faiths are invited to join together to hear from high school principal Linda Junge and pray together for local youth.

By Mary O’KEEFE

The community is invited to the Crescenta Valley 9th Annual Prayer Breakfast on March 7 at St. Luke’s of the Mountains Episcopal Church, 2563 Foothill Blvd. in La Crescenta (at Rosemont Avenue).

The Crescenta Valley Town Council spearheaded the prayer breakfast, which from the beginning focused on youth, but it was after the 2012 suicide of a Crescenta Valley High School student that the breakfast took on an even more focused role of assisting young people.

“The community has been coming together on an annual basis to pray for our children and community,” said Jo Ann Stupakis, member of the CV Prayer Breakfast Committee and CVTC member.

In addition, the breakfast has supported the youth of the community by raising donations for local non-profits that work with youth and the CVTC scholarship program.

The committee is composed of community members from all walks of life. This is Dena Blood’s seventh year on the committee.

“I love that our community comes together every year to pray for our youth because it shows that we acknowledge the trials and pressures they endure every day,” Blood said. “The prayer breakfast is one way that we show our love for and unity with our youth.”

Danette Erickson is a community activist, founding member of the CV Prayer Breakfast and a former member of the CVTC.

“These breakfasts have been at [churches including] Holy Redeemer, First Baptist, [United] Methodist, [St. Luke’s of the Mountains] Episcopal and the LSD [Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints] with faith leaders from all denominations attending over the years,” Erickson said.

Throughout the years there have been entertainment provided by the community including performances from students. This year the CVHS JROTC will present the colors, CVHS Charismatics will be performing and Pastor Paul Tangonan will be performing “Amazing Grace” on bagpipes for the closing of the program.

The keynote speaker on March 7 will be Crescenta Valley High School Principal Dr. Linda Junge. She has worked in a variety of roles in the Glendale Unified School District. Beginning in 1997 as a Spanish teacher, she rose to assistant principal, was at the district office in public information and assessment evaluation, served as principal at Muir Elementary School and, seven years ago, was named principal of CVHS.

Junge graduated from Hoover High School and her husband is a CVHS alum. She will speak on the theme of “Unity of Purpose.”

Tickets for the prayer breakfast are $10 for adults; attendance is free for students/children. Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at the office of Crescenta Valley Weekly, 3800 La Crescenta Ave., Ste 206.

  Mary Okeefe