Canyon City Foundation announces its first awards for 2010. The Foundation which has provided funding for organizations since 2006 for innovative programs that serves as a catalyst for community building in Azusa. Prior to the new awards, the Foundation had awarded almost a half of a million dollars to various organizations serving Azusa residents.
The Foundation continues its commitment of building and investing in the Azusa community. “ I believe these grants have made a significant difference in the way United States history is taught and learned at the elementary and middle schools”, states Dr. Tom Andrews administrator of the Keeping History Alive Project. His program has again been awarded by the Foundation in their first phase. The ‘Keeping History Alive’ Project provides incentives to teachers in the Azusa Unified District to expand activities which will bring the historical topic to life for their students. Another recipient also will touch the lives of students in Azusa Unified District; it is the combined award to Link Crew at both Azusa and Gladstone High Schools. The program links freshmen students to upper classmen to assist in the transition into high school.
One of the instructor’s, Cathy Cardenas, states: “Whenever we give our (students) the opportunity to develop leadership goals we enhance our community’s long term capacity for growth and development.”
The final two recipients in the first phase are: Our Neighborhood Homework House and the Wellness Center. Our Neighborhood Homework House has been awarded funds to strengthen their Neighborhood Building program component. Homework House , which is located in two separate neighborhoods, intend to provide tools to parents who have served on the Parent Committee so that they can become a resource provider and connector for other Homework House parents but more importantly for others in their neighborhoods. President Rosedale states, “This is an example of the Foundations’ ultimate goal-building capacity throughout the city”. The Wellness Center has been granted funds to expand its services by creating a satellite office in another part of the city as well as to expand its current “Be A Walker” program. The Wellness Center’s grant will compliment a recent award from the County on Healthy Cities.
The Foundation board continues to deliberate and will announce other 2010 award recipients. For more information about the Foundation, visit its website at www.canyoncityfoundation.org. This year the Foundation had grant applications totaling more than $300,000. President Rosedale stated:’ I am glad that we are being successful in getting the word out about the Foundation’s awards”.