Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club Awarded $150,000 by Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles

Wednesday, August 11, 2021

Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club is honored to be one of seven recipients awarded a grant from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles’ General Community Grants program, which focuses on high-priority social issues. This year’s grants are focused on education equity  and will support community-led organizations that connects students with strong mentors, focuses on the specific needs of young people of color, increases access to health services for students of color and their families, and empowers students to advocate for their educational needs.

This grant will be used to expand Project Learn throughout our organization which reinforces the academic enrichment and school engagement of young people during the time they spend at the Club. Through Project Learn, Club staff use all the areas and programs in the Club to create opportunities for these high-yielding learning activities, including writing, discussions with knowledgeable adults, helping others, homework help, tutoring and games that develop young people’s cognitive skills.

Project Learn aims to offer additional educational resources, as well as enrichment activities, not otherwise available to low-income families in order to increase positive educational performance. The program suggests that youth can overcome the educational adversities they face in many overwhelmed inner-city schools, and that out-of-school programs targeting at-risk youth have increased educational potential.

“Now more than ever, kids, families, and communities need Boys & Girls Clubs to support them during this pivotal time in our history. Under a sustained time of uncertainty, AVBGC is doing whatever it takes to create equity for all kids by providing access to services that promote wellbeing and academic programs to close the education gap. We are thankful to the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles for their belief and investment into the young people of the Antelope Valley,” said Stacey Cantwell, Executive Director of AVBGC.

Foundation President and Chief Executive Officer Marvin I. Schotland stated: “The pandemic has exacerbated existing inequities in our education system that disproportionately affect students of color who lack the resources to successfully learn remotely. This only widens an already-existing education gap which will result in a significant learning loss that will take years to address.”

Aligned in its missions, AVBGC and The Foundation are collaborating to expand inclusive and culturally relevant programs and resources that help close the opportunity gap while promoting and elevating youth voice. In addition, we are expanding policies and partner engagement that uphold principles of diversity, equity and inclusion.

With this grant the Club will also be able to increase program hours and reduce staff-to-youth ratios in hopes to keep the focus on mentoring Club kids towards great futures.

About Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club

Founded in 1991, Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club is Antelope Valley’s largest youth-serving agency with over 3,200 registered members and 20 locations throughout the Antelope Valley. With 127 employees and 111 volunteers that serve youth each year we are able to provide a safe place for youth to learn and grow with life-enhancing programs and character development experiences. Boys & Girls Clubs programming promotes academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. Over 200,000 meals and snacks are served annually and the Club offers free and low-cost programs to the Antelope Valley community. Learn more about Antelope Valley Boys & Girls Club at www.AVBGC.org.

About The Jewish Community Foundation
Established in 1954, the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles manages charitable assets of more than $1.4 billion entrusted to it by over 1,300 families and ranks among the 10 largest Los Angeles foundations. It partners with donors to shape meaningful philanthropic strategies, magnify the impact of their giving, and build enduring charitable legacies. In 2020, The Foundation and its donors distributed $116 million to 2,700 nonprofits with programs that span the range of philanthropic giving. Over the past 12 years, it has distributed more than $1 billion to thousands of nonprofits across a diverse spectrum. Visit The Foundation website for more information and the full press release.