Story by Jessica Lynn, photos by Jessica Boyer-KHTS

The Child & Family Center of SCV held its 11th annual Kid Expo Sunday at Golden Valley High School.

The event featured 130 exhibitors, all from businesses-related to children’s health and entertainment.

“If it’s for kids in Santa Clarita, it’s being represented here today.” said Laura Kirchhoff, Associate of Development for Special Events with Child & Family Center.

Child & Family Center officials were expecting 7,000 people to visit Kid Expo, as is traditional of the event.

“You can find things for your kids to do, whether they’re little ones in strollers all the way up to teenage years,” Kirchhoff said. “We’ve got different companies here that can do things for your kids, offer services for you, whether those services have to do with pediatrics, dental or entertainment. We want to promote healthy things for kids to do within Santa Clarita.”

Some exhibitors at the event were ACTION Family Counseling, Assemblyman Scott Wilk,  Pediatric Dentist Dr. Ron Singer and KID-CO.

“I learned that teasing is the same thing as bullying,” said Isabella Vasquez, eight. “I want to come back next year because they give out free prizes.”

The event also included performances by members of Vibe Performing Arts Studio, Canyon Theatre Guild, L.Y.T.E. Dance Studio, Gold Medal Martial Arts, Shingari’s School of Rhythm and other children’s’ groups as well as food from Jersey Mike’s Subs, Burger Kings and Rita’s Shaved Ice.

“Not only does (Kid Expo) bring a lot of different companies together to offer their services but it brings the community together in a  commonality that’s around kids” said Bob Sharits, Program Director for ACTION Family Counseling.

Child & Family Center is a nonprofit that provides services to promote the mental health of children in the Santa Clarita Valley, Kirchhoff said. “Anything that we can do to create a healthy mind is what we do for these children”

“(Kid Expo) acts as a fundraiser for Child and Family Center. The funds that are raised with this event help to provide the programs that we can offer for the children.”

For more information about the Child and Family Center, [click here].