LOS ANGELES COUNTY : Foundation Gives $250,000 for After-School Programs

In an effort to keep children in school and out of gangs, the Pacific Telesis Foundation on Tuesday made $250,000 in grants to 30 nonprofit agencies in Los Angeles County.

The grants will support after-school enrichment programs focusing on children ages 12 to 14 in East Los Angeles, South-Central Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley. Many of the programs offer homework centers, self-esteem training, cultural opportunities and leadership development.

“Our goal is to help children realize that they have choices in life, and that if they finish their educations those choices can be rich and fulfilling,” said Jere Jacobs, president of the foundation.

Among the groups receiving grants of $10,000 were Chaplain’s Eagles Inc., to continue its “I Can Do It” reading program; L.A.’s Best, to buy art supplies, books, tutoring materials and computer software to support after-school activities in 19 Los Angeles-area schools; Salesian Boys & Girls Club in East Los Angeles, to buy software and connective hardware for its learning center; the African-American Community Unity Center in South-Central Los Angeles, to purchase educational materials to create an on-site library, and the Asian Youth Center in East Los Angeles, to fund field trips to businesses and universities.