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| For Media Interviews Contact Promotion in Motion 323-461-3921 irwinzuckerpr@aol.com brad@promotioninmotion.net |
| Kenny Kahn Author of The Carny Kid: Survival of a Young Thief, has been called by Dennis Miller the "World's Funniest Attorney." |
| Click here to read a feature article in the Sunday Los Angeles Times by Times Staff Writer Cecilia Rasmussen |
Kenny Kahn has a story to tell that is uplifting, tragic, heartbreaking and heartwarming.
He grew up in the projects of East Los Angeles parents whom he called,"the perfect
negative role models." After they were evicted from a middle class neighborhood in
Santa Monica, Kenny was left to his own devices in order to survive the local gangs
lurking about and the rest of his teens in years with virtually or adult involvement, care of
supervision. Literally, except for summers, he was on his own from age 12 on into
adulthood.
During the summer he was being trained by his father as an apprentice carnival thief,
and he was extremely accomplished at separating the local folks from their money. But
while the summers were spent on the road, the rest of the year it was
all Kenny could do to stay away from the drug dealing, heroin shooting gallery that was
their apartment in the Ramona Gardens.
One of the most eye opening parts of his childhood was when he contracted Polio at the
age of 15. The fright at being diagnosed with such a horrible disease scared the hell out
of young Kenny, but through the White Memorial Hospital, a Seventh Day Adventist
hospital, with help from the March of Dimes, he was given the proper treatment.
Kenny was astounded at how clean the facility was, in comparison to his own house, and
how these people that were strangers him treated him so well. This watershed event also
a call from a 13-year old Jewish girl from the Fairfax District who heard about his
situation. They became close over the phone and, when they eventually met, Kenny was
astounded at how beautiful she was.
Kenny eventually recovered and brought his body back, through tremendous hard work,
to the point where he could play sports again. His will power to succeed was fostered by
good people at his high school and a deep desire to break away from his crazy parents.
Kenny's story is proving an inspiration to inner city children throughout the country as he
emphasizes to them that "you are not your circumstances, you have the power to change
your life no matter how bad you might think you have it. Never give up and don't let other
dictate your the Fate of your Life."
He grew up in the projects of East Los Angeles parents whom he called,"the perfect
negative role models." After they were evicted from a middle class neighborhood in
Santa Monica, Kenny was left to his own devices in order to survive the local gangs
lurking about and the rest of his teens in years with virtually or adult involvement, care of
supervision. Literally, except for summers, he was on his own from age 12 on into
adulthood.
During the summer he was being trained by his father as an apprentice carnival thief,
and he was extremely accomplished at separating the local folks from their money. But
while the summers were spent on the road, the rest of the year it was
all Kenny could do to stay away from the drug dealing, heroin shooting gallery that was
their apartment in the Ramona Gardens.
One of the most eye opening parts of his childhood was when he contracted Polio at the
age of 15. The fright at being diagnosed with such a horrible disease scared the hell out
of young Kenny, but through the White Memorial Hospital, a Seventh Day Adventist
hospital, with help from the March of Dimes, he was given the proper treatment.
Kenny was astounded at how clean the facility was, in comparison to his own house, and
how these people that were strangers him treated him so well. This watershed event also
a call from a 13-year old Jewish girl from the Fairfax District who heard about his
situation. They became close over the phone and, when they eventually met, Kenny was
astounded at how beautiful she was.
Kenny eventually recovered and brought his body back, through tremendous hard work,
to the point where he could play sports again. His will power to succeed was fostered by
good people at his high school and a deep desire to break away from his crazy parents.
Kenny's story is proving an inspiration to inner city children throughout the country as he
emphasizes to them that "you are not your circumstances, you have the power to change
your life no matter how bad you might think you have it. Never give up and don't let other
dictate your the Fate of your Life."
| Read a Press Release about Kenny Kahn winning IRWIN Award from Book Publicists of Southern California for Most Inspirational Campaign 2005 |
