The Nissan Foundation Awards South Central Charities
8 July 2000
GARDENA, Calif. - In keeping with its corporate philosophy to support the
growth and prosperity of communities nationwide, Nissan North America, Inc.
will award 10 organizations with programs impacting the social and economic
quality of life in South Central Los Angeles through The Nissan Foundation.
The Foundation's eight-member board of directors and a community advisory
committee, carefully selected local organizations representing diverse
backgrounds, histories and cultures, whose programs carried strong programs in
healthcare, employee readiness, job placement, academic advancement, economic
development and youth encouragement. The total corporate contribution is
$275,000.
The Nissan Foundation's contribution will be shared amongst the following
organizations: South Central Family Health Center, For Women Only, Inc., Para
Los Ninos, The Accelerated School, Watts Health Charities, A Place Called
Home, Southeast Symphony Association, The Salvation Army, Woman & Youth
Supporting Each Other and Making the Right Connections, Inc.
"By providing financial assistance to organizations serving the South
Central area, we can positively affect lives now, and hopefully improve the
quality of life for generations to come," said Bucky Kahl, president of The
Nissan Foundation. "Nissan's social contribution philosophy is grounded in
the simple belief that when people are empowered with education, social and
economic equity, their communities grow and prosper. Our contribution to
South Central Los Angeles is only one example of how Nissan provides for local
communities."
The Nissan Foundation is part of the company's philanthropy program,
Nissan Neighbors. This company-wide, community-focused initiative is
dedicated to addressing a multitude of challenges facing communities across
the country. The Nissan Neighbors program focuses on the following:
1) promoting understanding of culture and the arts; 2) supporting youth
involvement in science, technologies and the environment; 3) strengthening our
communities and encouraging youth; and 4) encouraging safe driving.
The Foundation was established in 1992 as a five-year, $5 million
endowment following the civil unrest that shook South Central that year. It
provides assistance solely for collaborative programs among local
organizations that impact South Central Los Angeles. Through its
philanthropic efforts, Nissan seeks to reinforce its commitment to corporate
citizenship by making positive and visible contributions to our American
neighborhoods.
In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing.
The Nissan Foundation Recipients 2000
South Central Family Health Center strives to improve the quality of life
for the diverse community of inner city Los Angeles, by providing affordable
and comprehensive family health education and care in a culturally familiar
environment. The Nissan Foundation's grant will support The Center's Teen
Peer Counseling Program.
For Women Only, Inc. is a nonprofit organization that provides
employment-readiness training and job-placement assistance to minority and
low-or-no income women with alcohol/substance abuse or domestic violence
issues. The Nissan Foundation's grant will help For Women Only, Inc. to meet
program improvement and expansion challenges.
Para Los Ninos aims to create positive opportunities for at-risk children
and youth through education and support involving families and communities.
Their work includes crisis intervention, childcare and youth services. The
Nissan Foundation's grant will help Para Los Ninos support the South Central
Los Angeles program, implemented in 1998.
The Accelerated School in an innovative charter school in South Central
Los Angeles, redefining public education to help students realize their
intellectual, social, emotional, physical and creative potential. The Nissan
Foundation's grant will enable The Accelerated School to provide a summer of
innovative academic and enrichment initiatives to the South Central community,
through Academic Summer Camp 2000.
WATTShealth Charities children's program at the WATTS Domestic Violence
Transitional Center, is designed to assist victims of domestic violence and
their children in restructuring their lives following the decision to leave an
abusive relationship. This program is the first transitional housing shelter
for women in Los Angeles, who suffer domestic violence combined with substance
abuse, AIDS or mental illness. The Nissan Foundation's grant will support the
WATTS Domestic Violence Transitional Center.
A Place Called Home (APCH) is a youth center located in the inner city of
South Central Los Angeles that provides programs in the areas of gang
prevention and intervention, recreation, the arts, education, job training and
placement, and community outreach. Its mission is to enable inner city,
multi-ethnic youth (9-20 years old) to find dreams and lead a more
self-reliant life. The Nissan Foundation's grant will help with the expansion
and implementation process of APCH's new Computer Education Program, which
will occur over the 2000/2001 year.
The Salvation Army is a nonprofit organization providing services to
families, seniors, young people, the homeless and the general community. The
Southern California division operates over 40 programs and corporations
targeting inner city children and youth, teenage mothers, runaway youth and
homeless adults, elderly persons, families with HIV/AIDS, the disabled, and
indigent or disadvantaged communities. The Nissan Foundation's grant will
support the ongoing efforts of The Salvation Army South Central Los Angeles
Youth Center. The funds will enable The Salvation Army to continue to provide
structured youth development activities for students during their off-track
period and after-school hours.
SouthEast Symphony Association, Inc. is a community-based, nonprofit, tax
exempt organization whose purpose is to promote musical talents of youth
through training and exposure, as well as to educate, enhance and raise the
cultural consciousness of the Los Angeles community. The Nissan Foundation's
grant will enable the Southeast Symphony Association, Inc. to sustain and
maintain their present services and institute a summer session.
Women and Youth Supporting Each Other (W.Y.S.E.) is an after-school
curriculum-based mentorship program that provides young women with resources,
information and support necessary to make responsible decisions about
relationships, sex and their future. The Nissan Foundation's grant will help
W.Y.S.E. to build the capacity of and expand their South Central branch
comprised of mentors from USC serving girls at John Adams Middle School.
Making the Right Connections, Inc. (MTRC) seeks a contribution to provide
direct support to the MTRC Gang Prevention Summer Programs of 2000. The
purpose of the program is to help the younger brothers, sisters, relatives and
friends of known gang members (as well as other "high risk" children), to
choose family, church, school and community connections over any type of gang
associations. The Nissan Foundation's grant will help MTRC to support and
expand this program.
Total amount contributed to nonprofit organizations: $275,000.
