Everychild Foundation Awards $1 Million Dollar Grant to Everychild Youth Career Pathway Program

May 4, 2010 - PRLog -- Los Angeles, CA - The Everychild Foundation joined by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Hollywood, came together April 29th at The Fairmont Miramar Resort in Santa Monica to award the organization's 10th grant, totaling $1 million dollars to The South Bay Center for Counseling's Career Pathway Program - a jobs program that will serve 300 at-risk youth in Los Angeles.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa described The Everychild Foundation as the "Better Angels of Los Angeles," and gave a speech during the evening, expressing his gratitude to The Foundation. "We are a city that has benefited greatly because of this organization ... in ten years they have raised over $8 million dollars and helped over 350,000 kids."

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's short presentation was followed by a speech from Everychild Founder, Jacqueline Caster. The Everychild Foundation grant for $1 Million Dollars was awarded to The South Bay Center for Counseling later in the evening.

"The women of The Everychild Foundation have demonstrated a very effective alternative to the traditional charity model of fundraising," Caster said. "Instead of throwing galas to raise funding, we have simply pooled dues as an organization and devoted our energies toward finding the best ways to serve children in need."

The "Everychild Youth Career Pathway" Program will engage 900 low-income, at-risk, out-of-school youth between 16 and 17 years old with information about career and educational opportunities. It will also prepare 300 of these youth for career pathways leading directly to living wage jobs in high growth industries through training and education.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, City Controller Wendy Greuel, Deputy Mayor Aileen Adams and County Children's Commissioner, Carol Biondi, also attended the event. Zev Yaroslavsky commended the Foundation, stating, "The work this organization has done has made a difference in someone's life. A lot of someones... and that is a true gift."

Emcees for the night included, Monica Horan Rosenthal of "Everybody Loves Raymond," and Lew Schneider, writer and producer for the show as well as the current hit show, "Men of a Certain Age." Also in attendance was Leonard Nimoy, who accompanied his wife, actress Susan Bay Nimoy. Mr. Nimoy lends his voice to Everychild's new video, viewable on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99yTyvdgf4Q



About The Everychild Foundation

The Everychild Foundation is comprised of over 200 prominent Los Angeles area women who have come together - and in just 10 years - directly eased the suffering of over 350,000 children in their community, with grants totaling over $8 million dollars without putting on a single fundraising event!  

Instead of planning expensive gala and fundraising events, which are usually costly and time consuming, each Everychild member annually donates $5,000 dollars. The entire membership then votes to award the funds - a single $1 million grant - to a different non-profit each year serving children with an innovative, new dream project that can inspire replication - thus leveraging the dollars for maximum impact.

For more information, please see: http://www.everychildfoundation.org.

Biography

Jacqueline Jacobs Caster, a former attorney with a background in community redevelopment, is the Founder and President of The Everychild Foundation, which provides grants easing suffering of children in the Los Angeles area. Caster, a community leader and activist for a variety of children's issues in California, in particular the needs of youth aging out of foster care and juvenile justice reform, founded the Everychild Foundation in 1999, which she has headed since its formation. She is an outspoken critic of waste in nonprofit fund-raising. Read more from Jacqueline Caster at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jacqueline-caster.