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Support pouring in for Michael Valenzuela

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A car wash organized for the Valenzuela family on Saturday was a success, raising more than $4,000. (Photo contributed)
A car wash organized for the Valenzuela family on Saturday (March 30) was a success, raising more than $4,000. (Contributed Photo)

PALMDALE – This past weekend the community came out and dug deep to support the family of Michael “Speedy” Valenzuela, the soccer-playing Knight High School graduate killed in a school bus crash on March 25.

A fundraiser car wash at Sky Burgers on East Palmdale Boulevard drew a huge turnout on Saturday. The car wash, which was organized by the Palmdale Youth Soccer League and Agents of Change, raised more than $4,000.

Michael Valenzuela support 1An additional $471 was raised Saturday by the Palmdale Youth Soccer League, and $500 was donated by Valenzuela’s alma mater Knight High School, organizers said.

One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Valenzuela family to help cover the cost of the funeral.

The Palmdale Youth Soccer League has also gathered more than one thousand signatures, so far, on a petition to install a traffic light at the intersection where Valenzuela was struck by a school bus as he rode his bicycle to soccer practice. (Read more on the collision here.)

At least five identical petitions are being circulated right now, and the group hopes to present the signatures to the Palmdale City Council at its next scheduled meeting on Wednesday, April 3.

To add your signature to the list, contact Kat Sanchez at 661-733-1973 for more information on where the petitions will be located or email publicity@pysl.com

To make a personal donation to the Valenzuela family, visit any Bank of America and ask to donate to the account of Juan and Michael Valenzuela. The account number is 325019314271.

There will be an additional fundraiser this coming weekend. The details will be announced as soon as they become available.

Related stories:

Loved ones remember teen hit by school bus

Palmdale School District statement on fatal school bus crash

Teen hit by school bus dies from injuries

Team Chelsea, which was renamed Team Speedy in honor of Valenzuela, played their first game without Valenzuela on Saturday. The group knelt and said a prayer before the game. They also flashed a banner titled "In Loved Memory of Michael Valenzuela 1994-2013" (Contributed photo)
Team Chelsea, which was renamed Team Speedy in honor of Valenzuela, played their first game without Valenzuela on Saturday. The group knelt and said a prayer before the game. They also flashed a banner titled “In Loving Memory of Michael Valenzuela 1994-2013” (Contributed photo)
A supporter signed a petition that was circulated at Domenic Massari Park calling on the city of Palmdale to install a traffic light signal at the intersection of the fatal collision.
A supporter signs a petition that was circulated at Domenic Massari Park calling on the city of Palmdale to install a traffic light at the intersection of 55th Street East and Avenue R, where the fatal collision took place.
The AV Revolution dedicated their soccer game on Sunday to Valenzuela, who helped coach the team. The team altered their uniforms to put "Speedy" on the sleeves.
The AV Revolution dedicated their soccer game on Sunday to Valenzuela, who helped coach the team. The team altered their uniforms to put “Speedy” on the sleeves.
Jackie Perez (far right) and members of the Palmdale Youth Soccer League have led the movement to organize community support for the Valenzuela family.
Jackie Perez (far right) and members of the Palmdale Youth Soccer League have led the movement to organize community support for the Valenzuela family.
A makeshift memorial, that includes dozens of candles, stuffed animals and flowers, marks the Palmdale intersection where Michael “Speedy” Valenzuela was struck by a school bus on March 25. A white bike showed up at the memorial on Saturday. It’s the exact model that Valenzuela always wanted and had hoped to purchase, his friends said.
A makeshift memorial, that includes dozens of candles, stuffed animals and flowers, marks the Palmdale intersection where Michael “Speedy” Valenzuela was struck by a school bus on March 25. A white bike showed up at the memorial on Saturday. It’s the exact model that Valenzuela always wanted and had hoped to purchase, his friends said.

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Filed Under: Palmdale

5 comments for "Support pouring in for Michael Valenzuela"

  1. Michael was somebody who meant very much to me. I could honestly say I loved him. My family and I were very close with him, and now he’s gone. It’s hard to accept the fact that somebody who once was such a big part of your life is now gone. One can’t simply set aside such a big part of their life. I can’t let go, move on, stop grieving. I don’t know what to do. This dangerous intersection, carefree driver, took the guy I loved, and yet the city still hasn’t installed the traffic light they promised the city and thousands of petition signers. How many more lives will it take before they realize that the intersection is dangerous? They already took the one that meant most to me. Michael was the most considerate, quirky, funny, talented, inspiring, honest, real person I’ve ever known. His smile is unforgettable, it brightened anyones day. His potential was such a great potential that anyone could look up to it and wish to have the same to achieve their goals, because he knew he would never give up on his. He had his whole life planned out, and it was taken away. Not just from him, but everyone who cared about him. Why can’t the city at least satisfy us who still mourn by putting in this traffic light at 55th and avenue R? Do they not care about the safety of us all? Our feelings? I would feel better knowing that if his life had to be taken, at least something good came out of it. So far all thats come of this is the loss of the most amazing person possible to have been taken. Of all people… God takes the best, never the worst, I guess that’s the reason he picked him first. If it were Michael’s fault, God would have taken the bus drivers life, not Michael’s, because he only takes the best, and he wanted this driver to live with what she did. She took him from us, and the city isn’t preventing the intersection to take anyone else. who will be next before they realize?…

    • Its been three months today and nothing has happened with this promised traffic light, they even said they were planning this out before the accident..

  2. It is hard to see him go because i mean he is my friend he used to play soccer with my sisters soccer team and when i would practice he would watchand it is hard to see him go…….. WE ALL MISS U SPEEDY ;'( ;(

  3. Juan I’m praying for you and your family. God needed another Angel and even though we were not ready for Michael to go. But God needed another Angel with him so he called Michael. Michael may you RIP always remember how many hearts you touched.

  4. Wow i still can’t believe his gone i meet him and talked to him a few time…. He was a funmy young guy its.just so sadd to know his gone r.i.p Michael