Local Nonprofits Recieve $822,000 for Critically Needed Services:
Unique Nonprofit Partnerships Benefit Community

Los Angeles — The California Community Foundation announced today that it has awarded $822,000 in grants to seven Los Angeles nonprofit organizations. These nonprofits work to better their local communities by providing essential services in the areas of early education, health and neighborhood revitalization. The grants range from $37,000 to $220,000.

As an organization that understands the importance of bringing together government, business, nonprofit and community-based organizations to provide unique solutions to community needs, the California Community Foundation encourages nonprofit organizations to partner with other agencies and institutions to better meet the needs of their clients.

"Many of these organizations share a collaborative nature that isn't often found in the corporate or nonprofit community," says Judy Spiegel, senior vice president of programs at the California Community Foundation. "A great example is the Cleaver Family Wellness Clinic, which is run by the nonsectarian Our Saviour Center. The clinic establishes and maintains strong partnerships with local health care providers as well as other nonprofits offering critically needed services to the El Monte community."

Partnerships with Foothill Family Service and San Gabriel Valley Medical Center provide onsite counseling for victims of domestic violence or sexual abuse. Additionally, the clinic partners with Childrens Hospital Los Angeles — also a community foundation grantee — to provide weekly onsite pediatric services.

"We really believe that, when nonprofit organizations work together to enhance the services they can provide, the individuals and families they serve are the ultimate winners," adds Spiegel.

Another great example of a nonprofit collaborating with other organizations to more fully meet the needs of local community members is Educating Young Minds, which provides students from South Los Angeles with after-school tutoring, basic skills classes, home study instruction and standardized test preparation.

"In addition to an extensive referral network that includes school counselors, churches and community-based organizations, Educating Young Minds has developed relationships with social service agencies to help address the basic needs of participating students' families," says Angeles Echols, founder and executive director of Educating Young Minds.

Other collaborating partners include About Face, a local violence intervention program, and the Magic Johnson Foundation, which expands scholarship opportunities for qualified students.

Established in 1915, the California Community Foundation is one of the largest and most active philanthropic organizations in Southern California, with assets of more than $600 million. In partnership with its donors, the foundation supports nonprofit organizations and public institutions with funds for health and human services, affordable housing, early childhood education, community arts and culture and other areas of need.

Grants made, by category:

Early Education

Educating Young Minds, Los Angeles ($220,000)
Located in downtown Los Angeles, Educating Young Minds (EYM) provides at-risk Kindergarten through 12th grade students with home study instruction, after-school tutoring, basic skills classes and standardized test preparation. With its 5:1 student to teacher ratio, EYM can accommodate each student's specific educational needs. A grant from the community foundation supports an after-school and Saturday program focusing on at-risk students who need remedial education tutoring.

Marianne Frostig Center of Educational Therapy, Pasadena ($60,000)
Founded in 1951 by Dr. Marianne Frostig, a pioneer in the study, diagnosis and treatment of learning disabilities, the Frostig Center is dedicated to teaching children with learning disabilities who do not have serious emotional disturbances. A grant from the foundation provides support for the professional development and coaching of 75 Walnut Unified School District teachers who will facilitate the successful classroom integration of children with learning challenges.

Health

Church of Our Saviour – Cleaver Family Wellness Clinic, El Monte ($80,000)
Our Saviour Center is a nonsectarian, community outreach service of the Church of Our Saviour. In 1999, the Center opened the Cleaver Family Wellness Clinic, which provides primary and preventative health care services to low-income members of the El Monte community. A foundation grant supports the Women's Healthy Futures project, which offers primary care services and health education classes addressing major health issues prevalent among Latinas.

P.F. Bresee Foundation, Los Angeles ($200,000)
Serving the neighborhoods of Koreatown, Pico Union, Westlake and South Los Angeles, P.F. Bresee Foundation is dedicated to building strong, healthy and safe communities by providing access to health care, homework assistance, job training, recreational activities and other community support services. A community foundation grant supports a new community clinic located at Bresee and operated by QueensCare Family Clinics, a federally qualified health center network.

Neighborhood Revitalization

Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation, Los Angeles ($75,000)
Genesis LA Economic Growth Corporation works with businesses, developers and communities to strengthen low-income neighborhoods through business expansion, job creation, affordable housing development and neighborhood pride renewal. Genesis LA received a grant from the foundation to provide pre-development assistance to economic expansion efforts led by local nonprofits and business owners in South Los Angeles.

Institute for Urban Research and Development, Los Angeles ($150,000)
Established in 1996, the Institute for Urban Research and Development assists public and private agencies in the development of strategic planning and model programs that respond to the housing, economic and social needs of neighborhoods, cities and counties from local, regional and national perspectives. A community foundation grant supports a holistic neighborhood revitalization project in the MacArthur Park area of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness, Los Angeles ($37,000)
Founded in 1985, the Los Angeles Coalition to End Hunger & Homelessness uses public education, technical assistance, public policy analysis and community action to further its goals. A community foundation grant supports the Save Section 8 Coalition, which aims
to convince HUD to reverse its decision and once again allow Los Angeles to use
reserve funds to provide Section 8 vouchers for the 1,500 families whose rental
vouchers were approved but subsequently suspended in February 2004 due to a
change in federal rules.