In October, Palisades High sophomore Dane Elkins will be representing Team USA at the World Racquetball Championships in Cali, Colombia. The 15-year-old must pay for most of his expenses for the trip and on Sunday, Aug. 24, Veggie Grill in Santa Monica (located at 2025 Wilshire Boulevard) will donate 50 percent of each order to Elkins if customers mention “Dane Elkins U.S. team” before ordering.
Elkins and his family will host a special party there from 4 to 8 p.m., with “America’s Got Talent” magician Paul “The Fantastic Fig” Fegen performing his psychic magic card tricks at 5 p.m., but anyone who orders throughout the day (11 a.m. to 10 p.m.) can help the cause.
Elkins qualified for the World Championships after taking fourth place in singles and winning gold medals in boys doubles (with Ricardo Diaz) and mixed doubles (with fellow Pali High player Atossa Rejaei) at the 2014 Wilson National Junior Olympic Racquetball Championships in Denver, Colorado.
Elkins, a straight A student, created a web page (www.gofundme.com/awz8ls) to raise money for his airfare, housing, food and uniforms. The American team will prepare for the World Championships at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.
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