The board of directors of the Canyon City Foundation awarded nine grants totaling $191,105 during a Pre 5K Luncheon at the Rosedale community clubhouse on Sunday, October 3, 2015. This year marks the 10th year that the Canyon City Foundation has awarded funds for programs that continue to improve the quality of life in Azusa.

Board members, Mercedes Castro, Fong Fong Chu, Maricela Cueva, Marilyn Grinsdale and Marianne Hlava participated in a discussion about the mission of the Foundation as well as the intended uses for the funds by the award recipients.

“Our goal is to continue to familiarize the new residents of the Rosedale planned community with the many ways that they can contribute to their new city,” said Miles Rosedale, president of board to the Canyon City Foundation.

The Board of Directors also invited historian and Azusa City Clerk, Jeffery Cornejo to give a brief historical presentation of Azusa and Rosedale community. Residents were delighted to view historical photographs depicting Azusa and the Rosedale community as it once was and how it looks today. Some residents won copies of Images of America, Azusa authored by Cornejo.

“It was an honor to be invited to speak about Azusa’s roots to our newest residents,” he said.
California Grill catered the lunch, one of Azusa’s new eateries and the residents enjoyed Mediterranean gastronomical fare. California Grill generously donated gift cards to their restaurant.

The 2015 recipients are the largest group awarded to date with the total for this 10th year of $191,105! The award recipients continue to represent the priorities of the Foundation in the areas of education and social services. The area of education has typically been an area where the Foundation has invested heavily and it was so again in this funding cycle. Grants in Education addressed the environment, literacy and academic support.

The following is a list of the nine grants approved by the foundation:
The Azusa Library was awarded funds to continue its work in literacy in the broadest terms. They will secure staffing for this area as well as increase holdings, which will appeal to a new population of residents in the city. The Foothill Learning Alliance also received funding to continue its efforts in building a foundation that will support literacy efforts for the library.

Azusa Beautiful was awarded funds to assist in educating residents about environmental issues in the city as well as to help increase their fundraising capacity.

Academic support was funded through three different organizations Neighborhood Homework House, APU Computer Lab and Azusa Unified School District. The Neighborhood Homework House received funding to implement a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math strand throughout their programming model. APU Computer Lab at Memorial Park is a partnership with the city, the school district and APU. APU identifies college students to provide academic support to students at the Lab located at Memorial Park. The grant will update the computers that are currently being utilized. Finally in this category, Azusa Unified received funding to start an educational foundation to support student enrichment programs in the school district.

The area of Social Services had its focus on mentoring and health and wellness. A first time recipient, the Azusa-Glendora Soroptimist, was awarded a two-year grant to mentor young women at the Continuation High School. The grants supporting health and wellness went to APU’s School of Nursing that created the Azusa Wellness Center. This award will support current efforts in overall wellness as well as introduce to residents free colorectal cancer screenings. APU again was the final recipient of the health and wellness programming with their Build Our Kids Success (BOKS) Program. The program, currently offered in three other elementary schools in the district, will offer free structured before school exercise programming at fourth elementary school.

The award recipients expressed their continued appreciation to the Board of Directors for the investment in their programming which increases the education and social services that are delivered in the City of Azusa.

The Canyon City Foundation has funded programs for 10 years in the city and the funds have been awarded to organizations that continue to improve the quality of life for Azusans. The Foundation was established from the sale of the Monrovia Nursery property; now the master planned Rosedale Community. Monrovia Growers established a $2.5 million dollar fund and the fund receives fees from the resale of each home in Rosedale. The Foundation Board makes awards from the interest on the investment. To date the Foundation has invested over $1 million dollars back into the City of Azusa.
More information about Canyon City Foundation can be found at www.canyoncityfoundation.org