Fundraiser Benefits Dream Center, Canyon Hills Family

Skydiver Sean Maccormac of the Red Bull Air Force Team poses with 11-year-old Eric Gray, his family and friends after landing at Lamb's Fellowship Church during a fundraiser today. Menifee 24/7 photos by Doug and Kristen Spoon

Sean Maccormac had barely hit the ground and was still releasing himself from his parachute when 11-year-old Eric Gray ran across the dirt lot and leaped into his arms.

The show of support from Maccormac -- a member of the Red Bull Air Force -- meant a lot to Eric, whose family gladly accepted Red Bull's offer to add to a huge fundraising event for two worthy causes today at Lamb's Fellowship Church in Lake Elsinore.

The main event, organized by members of the church, was a car show and vendor exhibit to raise funds for the Dream Center, an organization whose members go into the streets of Lake Elsinore to seek and help the needy. Coupled with it was a fundraiser organized by the family of Eric Gray to help purchase and train a service dog for their son.

Eric has a peanut allergy that can be fatal if he is exposed to any peanuts, tree nuts or nut residue. An Australian labradoodle named Remy is being trained in Colorado to help Eric detect any evidence of peanuts in food or on any surface he comes in contact with.

The Gray family is organizing several fundraisers, including a July 18 event at Ace's Comedy Club in Murrieta. Today, they set up a booth to sell Red Bull products, lemonade served by Eric's 7-year-old sister Rachel, and seek any donations that might help in their cause.

Thanks to the offer from the Red Bull Air Force and Skydive Lake Elsinore, attention was brought to Eric's cause amid the large crowd attending the Dream Center fundraiser.

Many craft and food vendors were present in addition to a large display of vintage cars and motorcycles. Brett Masters, pastor and executive director of the Dream Center, said funds raised will help the group move into its first leased property -- the site of the old Ambassador Hotel on Main Street.

"I found this church, fell in love with Lake Elsinore, saw all the brokenness around, and it really grieved my heart," Masters said. "Here we have all these natural resources, the lake, proximity to the beach. But there are a lot of people in need here.

"We launched last October. We started with an 'adopt a block' ministry, going door to door, looking for needs. We're just a bunch of humble servants looking for ways to help."

Masters said the plan is to use the old hotel as a site for rehabilitation of the needy, helping them with recovery and life skills. He stressed that it will not be a soup kitchen or homeless shelter.

"Our people will be picking up trash, pulling weeds, doing whatever they can to help," he said. "We're trying to create a vibrant community in Lake Elsinore."

Dream Center volunteers host a prayer meeting each Saturday morning in front of the old hotel and have hosted festivals in the city. Masters said he became involved with the Gray family after meeting Eric's mother, Nicole, through the church and through her work as a therapist.

"She's been a part of this church for a long time," Masters said. "She gave an awesome presentation for our youth. She talked about your identity in Christ, and she was so practical. She's like a life coach. She presented to the kids in such a way I was inspired, too."

For more information about the Dream Center, visit their website here. For information on how to donate to the Gray family or to donate items for the July 18 event at Ace's Comedy Club, visit this Facebook page.