The Dirt

Dos Gringos

"Go Big or Go Home"

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Q and A
- with -
Dos Gringos

CHELSEA KING

Q: What do you mean by "Go Big or Go Home"?

A: This quote and others adorned the walls of Chelsea King’s bedroom and she lived her life to the fullest, embodying this quote. For those of you outside of San Diego, Chelsea King was a vibrant 17 year-old, straight–A student, cross-country runner and musician who loved to volunteer. In 2010, she was attacked and killed while out for an afternoon run in a San Diego park. The Sunflower was Chelsea’s favorite flower and that is where we play a small role. Instead of wallowing in her tragic death, Chelsea’s parents – Brent and Kelly King - along with brother Tyler, have turned this horrible tragedy into a wonderful foundation which has enhanced the lives of many teens for the past 7 years in a way that would make Chelsea so proud.

Chelsea never got to finish her run but this year 8,000 participants completed one for her, just as they have done so for 7 years in a row. This event takes place at the beautiful Balboa Park. It is a place that Chelsea loved and where she played French Horn with her peers in the school orchestra.

Q: What happens after this run?

A: The Sunflower Scholarship. The Kings founded “Chelsea’s Light Foundation” in an effort to both preserve their daughter’s memory and give back to the community by providing special scholarships. To date, $400,000 in Sunflower Scholarships have been awarded to 62 students who proved their value and “tower over others in uniqueness and splendor, who stand out from a crowd, just like a Sunflower does.” (website)

Q: That is remarkable. Anything else?

A: Yes, the Kings were able to get “Chelsea Law” passed in California. This legislation increases the penalties and parole provisions; provides better oversight for violent sexual offenders who commit crimes against children and mandates lifetime parole including GPS monitoring.

Q: And what is Dos Gringos’ involvement?

A: We help by donating Sunflowers to all of their fundraising events. Most importantly, each year, we donate 2,500 Sunflowers that they sell the morning of the run and all of the money going towards the scholarship fund. We donate additional flowers for table toppers when they need them and, Joan Sunders from our team is on the selection committee for the Sunflower Scholarship. Joan helps assess and also reads a significant number of the 400 moving essays which are submitted as the first step in the scholarship process.

That is an amazing story?

YES and we should all try to live our lives like Chelsea did – to the max.
Go BIG or go home for sure!