Children In Need Benefit From More Than $280,000 in Grants

Los Angeles — The California Community Foundation announced today that it awarded $281,585 in grants to 12 Los Angeles nonprofit organizations providing access to quality child care or offering arts-based educational enrichment activities to low-income children in Los Angeles County. The grants range from $16,585 to $25,000 and were awarded through the Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation

A $20,000 grant awarded to Inside Out Community Arts supports its flagship program, The School Project, which uses theater, voice, movement, drawing and visual arts exercises as building blocks for youth to write and perform original plays inspired by issues in their lives. Founded in 1996, Inside Out brings much needed after-school arts programs to middle school students in South Los Angeles, Cypress Park and Northridge.

Founded in 1994 as a supporting organization of the California Community Foundation, the Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation was created through the will of Thelma Pearl Howard — Walt Disney's housekeeper for 30 years — to benefit disadvantaged and homeless children in Los Angeles County. It is staffed by the community foundation and has an independent board of directors.

Since inception, the foundation has awarded more than $3.2 million to organizations providing Los Angeles County's disadvantaged children with arts-based education and exceptional child care services.

"Mrs. Howard was a compassionate woman who truly cared about helping others. We're pleased that we can fulfill her charitable vision of helping disadvantaged and homeless children," said Antonia Hernández, president and CEO of the California Community Foundation.

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.

Below is a list of the grant recipients:

Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation

Armory Center for the Arts, Pasadena ($25,000)
As a leader in the arts education field, the Armory Center for the Arts is committed to providing accessible public space for contemporary art exhibitions and performances, studio art classes for all ages and a variety of educational art programs to schools and the Pasadena community. A $25,000 grant supports the Fun with Language, Arts, and Reading (FLARE) project, where students create original works of art while learning about other artists and building vocabulary and research skills.

Children Today, Long Beach ($16,585)
Children Today was founded in 1998 to provide free child care for homeless families in the Long Beach area. Children Today's The Play House is a no-cost, licensed child care center that provides homeless children ages five and younger with safety and stability, nutritious meals, clothing and health care services. A $16,585 grant supports the Family Connections project, which is designed to build relationships with families enrolled at The Play House through parent workshops, take-home activities, teacher training and counseling services.

Connections for Children, Santa Monica ($25,000)
The mission of Connections for Children is to improve the education, development and well-being of all children by providing assistance and support to families, child care professionals and the community. The organization received a $25,000 grant to support its Fun Visits program, which provides new curriculum ideas to the agency's network of child care providers.

Dramatic Results, Long Beach ($25,000)
Because all children learn in different ways, Dramatic Results has created an LBUSD-approved, arts-based curriculum for underachieving and at-risk students that measurably improves math and literacy skills, conflict resolution skills, critical thinking and self-esteem. A $25,000 grant from the foundation supports the organization's Math In A Basket program, which uses an arts-based curriculum to make the abstract concepts of math real and meaningful.

East Los Angeles Classic Theatre, Monterey Park ($25,000)
Founded in 1995, East Los Angeles Classic Theatre works to improve the literacy skills of disadvantaged students through interactive theater experiences. A $25,000 grant supports Beyond Borders: Literacy Through Performing Arts, a performing arts program that addresses the academic needs of middle school children in East Los Angeles, Baldwin Park, Montebello and San Gabriel.

Gabriella Axelrad Education Foundation, Encino ($20,000)
The Gabriella Axelrad Education Foundation provides quality dance instruction at little or no cost to low-income youth in Los Angeles County. A $20,000 grant supports a weekly dance program provided to the elementary and middle school students attending Camino Nuevo Charter Academy in Central Los Angeles.

Heart of Los Angeles Youth (HOLA), Los Angeles ($25,000)
Located in the Rampart District in the "Heart of Los Angeles" HOLA has offered a safe haven for youth since 1989. A $25,000 grant supports HOLA's arts and culture program, through which students can participate in a wide variety of arts classes including painting, mixed media, piano, guitar, voice and illustration.

Inside Out Community Arts, Venice ($20,000)
Inside Out Community Arts was founded in 1996 with the goal of bringing much-needed after-school arts programs to at-risk middle school students throughout Los Angeles. The organization received a $20,000 grant to support its flagship program, The School Project, which uses theater, voice, movement, drawing and visual art exercises as building blocks for youth to write and perform original plays inspired by issues in their lives.

A Place Called Home, Los Angeles ($25,000)
A Place Called Home provides inner-city youth with a safe place to come after school and helps them learn the skills needed to lead a productive lifestyle free of the gangs, drugs and poverty surrounding them. The center runs programs in tutoring, mentoring, recreation, nutrition, fine arts, computer training and gang prevention. A $25,000 grant supports the Creative Expressions performing arts program, which offers instruction and performance opportunities in dance, music and fine arts.

Puente Learning Center, Los Angeles ($25,000)
With campuses in Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles, Puente Learning Center offers children and adults the educational resources needed to succeed in school and broaden their options for the future. The center's charter school received a $25,000 grant for its music education program, which helps students explore creative expression through music and movement, foster a sense of achievement and self-esteem through performance opportunities, and improve attitudes toward learning and teamwork.

Santa Cecilia Opera and Orchestra Association, Los Angeles ($25,000)
Entering its 11th season, the Santa Cecilia Orchestra performs throughout Los Angeles County, offering free or affordable concerts in low-income Los Angeles communities. The orchestra introduces thousands of children to classical music and orchestral instruments each year. A $25,000 grant supports the Children's Choir program, which serves second through sixth grade students at four school sites. While teaching children how to read, write and play music, the program teaches important learning skills such as discipline, concentration and conceptualization.

Woodcraft Rangers, Los Angeles ($25,000)
The mission of Woodcraft Rangers is to promote healthy youth development, especially in low-income areas that offer limited opportunities for young adults. A variety of camping activities offers children a chance to explore nature, engage in new activities and take part in experiences otherwise unavailable to them. After-school clubs aim to increase academic performance and leadership skills by providing positive after-school alternatives to students ages six to 18. A $25,000 grant supports photography clubs at two middle schools in the San Fernando Valley.