California Community Foundation Awards More Than $1 Million To Los Angeles Area Nonprofits

Los Angeles — The California Community Foundation announced today it has awarded $1,074,439 in grants to six nonprofit organizations in the Greater Los Angeles area. The grants are part of the foundation’s ongoing commitment to its Nurturing Neighborhoods/ Building Community grantmaking initiative, and are in the areas of early education, employment and health care .

A $200,000 grant was awarded to the East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC) to support the construction of a new health clinic that will provide health care services to uninsured families and individuals. Established in 1970 to provide quality medical, counseling and preventive education services, EVCHC has become a leading resource for low-income community members of the East San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. In addition to primary health care services, EVCHC provides a health education program focused on teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS prevention that serves 20,000 individuals annually.

“We are so fortunate that the California Community Foundation understands the health care needs of the working poor and uninsured,” said Mary Kashmar, director of development at the East Valley Community Health Center. “The foundation’s support of East Valley’s building project will go a long way to help us meet those needs.”

The community foundation’s early education grants include $150,000 to support Hollygrove Children & Family Services’ literacy program for abused children ages six to 13. A $200,000 grant to Para Los Niños supports completion of a facility in Pico-Union that will provide youth services and crisis intervention to children and their families.

Additionally, three grants totaling $524,439 were awarded to support employment-training programs for adults, foster care youth and at-risk young people in southwest and South Los Angeles.

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 $670 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.

Education

Hollygrove Children & Family Services, Los Angeles ($150,000)
Hollygrove Children & Family Services was founded in 1880 as the Los Angeles Orphans Home Society; it is the oldest residential program for children in Southern California. Hollygrove Children & Family Services provides a nurturing home environment for neglected and abused children, creating an atmosphere that will help residents succeed and become productive members of society. A grant from the community foundation expands the Love to Learn literacy program, which provides tutoring, educational specialists and multimedia center with technology-assisted reading and writing programs.

Para Los Niños, Los Angeles ($200,000)
Founded in 1980, Para Los Niños addresses the child care needs of families living below the poverty level in and around downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row, providing licensed quality child care and crisis intervention services. A grant from the community foundation supports the completion of a facility in Pico-Union that will provide youth services and crisis intervention for children and their families.

Employment

Children Youth and Family Collaborative (CYFC), Los Angeles ($103,000)
Children Youth and Family Collaborative’s educational programs prepare foster care and at-risk youth ages 13 to 21 for the transition into adulthood and independent living. The community foundation’s grant supports a two-year program that helps participants obtain employment while attending school and also aids them in pursuing college or vocational training.

Mt. San Antonio College – Regional Health Occupations Resource Center (RHORC),
Walnut ($250,000)
The Regional Health Occupations Resource Center was established in 2001 by the California Community Colleges Chancellors Office as one of nine regional centers to address the training needs of the health care sector. RHORC has created an international health worker assistance center to assist foreign-trained health workers to enter the health care workforce in California. The community foundation’s grant supports an extensive retraining program for 120 board eligible graduates of nursing programs to pass the California State Board Exam.

New Los Angeles Automotive Training Corporation (ATC), Los Angeles ($171,439)
Established in 1992, ATC is a training center providing entry-level job skills to unemployed and underemployed youth and adults in the automotive service industry. The 375–450 hour classroom course provides hands-on training. A grant from the community foundation supports 160 automotive training program applicants residing in southwest and South Los Angeles with remedial math and reading courses.

Health Care

East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC), West Covina ($200,000)
Established in 1970 to provide quality medical, counseling and preventive education services, EVCHC has become a leading resource for low-income community members of the East San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys. In addition to primary health care services, EVCHC provides a health education program focused on teen pregnancy and HIV/AIDS prevention that serves 20,000 individuals annually. A community foundation grant supports the construction of a new health clinic to serve uninsured families and individuals.