Costa Mesa squad rallies for community

Through a series of selfless acts, Costa Mesa cheerleaders drew closer together.

“There hasn’t been a year that’s been like this,” said Lauren Borboa, a cheerleading junior. “It’s a lot of fun because our whole squad is together.”

When Southern California was aflame, the cheerleaders started a “comforts of home” drive, where they collected toiletries, bedding, sheets and children’s toys for evacuees. It took six trucks to move everything they collected.

When locals were gearing up for the Orange County Fair, the cheerleaders were there steering the cows through city streets and onto the fairgrounds.

The squad has logged more than 1,500 hours in community service so far this year. They participated in the Relay for Life cancer walk, the Race for the Cure breast cancer event in Newport Beach and the Children’s Hospital of Orange County walk, raising more than $2,000.

First-year Costa Mesa High School Cheer Coach Kori Johnson thought getting the girls involved would be harder.

“I didn’t know what I was walking into and I was pleasantly surprised at how enthusiastic they were,” Johnson said. “My vision was to have them be leaders on school campus with high GPAs, and raising school spirit and pride.”

The squad’s collective grade point average is 3.5, Johnson said.

“I like volunteering because I don’t want anything in return and I’m just helping out someone that has a disadvantage,” said 16-year-old cheerleader Brianna Endo.

Brianna’s dad grows pumpkins at home, and they’re usually thrown out. This year the girls donated them to a school for the blind. So far that was one of the squad’s favorite activities.

December seems to be when the girls’ altruism is finally recognized.

The Costa Mesa City Council is expected to recognize them for their efforts, Varsity.com has named them the featured cheer squad for December and they’ll receive the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Johnson’s vision for the squad is coming to fruition.

“It gives Costa Mesa High School a voice in the community. Better publicity, a better reputation,” she said. “People start thinking about the school in a more positive light. It shows what a great high school Costa Mesa High School really is. And it shows the other kids on campus too how important it is to do community service.”

She added, “and we get some great team bonding out of it.”

JOSEPH SERNA may be reached at (714) 966-4619 or at joseph.serna@latimes.com.