Photo by: Paul Moureaux, PMX Photography
Rosa Parks Elementary Photo Club received a $5,000 grant from Follow the Light Foundation on Dec. 16. From left to right Scott Heath (Semi-Pro Photographer/Club Leader), Fran Rife (Rosa Parks Teacher/Mentor), Celeste Moureaux (Director, Follow the Light Foundation), Cecelia Verduzco (Principal, Rosa Parks), and Jason Eldridge (Assistant Principal, Rosa Parks).

By Sara Cipollone

Eastvale – Rosa Parks Elementary School is this year’s recipient of the Follow the Light Foundation Grant.
The Rosa Parks Elementary School Photo Club will be receiving a $5,000 grant from the Follow the Light Foundation this year.
The foundation was established in honor of the late Larry “Flame” Moore, the Photo Editor of SURFING Magazine for 30 years, who lost his battle with brain cancer on Oct.10, 2005, according to the foundation’s website. He is described as one of surf photography’s most influential figures, defining the look of surf photos for three decades. The organization was created to help finance the dreams of aspiring photographers.
Celeste Moureaux, co-founder of the foundation and Moore’s sister says that this grant marks the foundations transition from 10 years of recognizing upcoming surf photographer talent to school/club photography recognition.
“Follow the Light Foundation is honored to have such worthy recipients as its first school/club grant awardees,” Moureaux said.  “The Foundation along with the Moore Family is excited to see the legacy of Larry “Flame” Moore touch the lives of so many young and talented artists.”
The Rosa Parks Elementary School Photo Club was started five years ago by one the school’s kindergarten teachers, Mrs. Fran Rife, and parent Scott Heath.
“They are very excited to share their passion of taking pictures with our students,” Rosa Parks Elementary Principal Cecilia Verduzco said. “They dedicate their time to teach students about how to take pictures, angles, color, and lenses. They also spend time reviewing and giving feedback on the photos our students take.”
She says that the Photo Club photo wall was among the first things that caught her eye when she became principal five years ago.
The club is quite a success, with one student even earning money doing portrait photography. According to Principal Verduzco, the grant money will be used to help pay for printing photos and funding the end of the class field trip for the students. She expresses her abundant gratitude towards the Moureaux family for their generosity.