SACRAMENTO - Allen Brandt, a volunteer from the West San Fernando Valley, was presented with the California State Lottery's "Heroes in Education" award on "The Big Spin®" show. Lee Meriwether, longtime actress and TV’s first Miss America, presented the award.
Actress Lee Meriwether was honored to be on hand to help pay tribute to Mr. Brandt. She has appeared in countless TV shows and has recently appeared on the long-running soap All My Children. Meriwether is best known for her role as Catwoman in the very first Batman movie and currently, she is working on the television movie The Ultimate Gift.
Allen Brandt was laid off from his long time job twenty five years ago, and unsure what to do with himself. Too young for retirement, he began going to elementary schools in West San Fernando Valley to see if they could use his help. They could, and he has been serving kids at Woodlake, Lockhurt, Pomelo and Hamlin Elementary Schools and Hale Middle School ever since.
Brandt helps out with day to day school administration duties and also tends to kids in the cafeterias, but he is best known for his musical contributions to the children’s lives. He goes from classroom to classroom leading flag salutes and teaching kids patriotic songs and old standards he learned as a child in the 1930s. With limited funding for musical programs, Allen Brandt provides the historic musical education the children would not otherwise receive. The 75 year old is known as "Grandpa" to the hundred of students he has served, and provides a fatherly figure to those who may not have a father at home. Allen Brandt considers being laid off the best thing that ever happened to him, but it was actually the best thing to ever happen to the students of West San Fernando Valley.
The California State Lottery’s "Heroes in Education" award has been presented monthly on "The Big Spin®" show, since 1999. The Lottery partners with celebrities to present these awards, which recognize special individuals who volunteer time and resources to their schools and communities.