Foundation Funds

It is unfortunate that The Times chose to resuscitate not only old but erroneous information about the California Community Foundation in its report on our new Community Bridges initiative (“Foundation to Send More Money to Poor Areas,” May 14). While we and all foundations were challenged by a community group to designate 75% of our resources to the disadvantaged, the article failed to note that disadvantaged populations already had benefited from at least 87% of our discretionary funding--more than meeting that group’s challenge.

Also missing from the article was the fact that within weeks of last year’s riots, the foundation committed more than $280,000 in grants for both emergency and rebuilding efforts in affected areas. In continuing this effort, the foundation developed Community Bridges to support inter-ethnic collaboration in solving local problems.

We are frustrated that incorrect data that is four years old now (in 1989, the California Community Foundation directed more than 75% of its discretionary grant-making to the disadvantaged) would preempt information that could have been helpful to many community groups across the city: Grant applications for Community Bridges funding are due June 1 and are available by calling (213) 413-4042, ext. 499.

If The Times saw fit to conduct its own research into the foundation’s giving, surely your readers would learn that the California Community Foundation is committed to helping the most needy in our city.

BRUCE C. CORWIN, Board Member, California Community Foundation, Los Angeles