Interfaith Leaders Seeking New Funds

Leaders of the Valley Interfaith Council hope to get a fiscal shot in the arm with the election of a businessman as mayor and one of its former board members to the City Council.

The coalition of religious groups operates three facilities for seniors, the Bernardi, Pacoima and East Valley multipurpose centers, with about $1.5 million funneled through the Department of Aging and the City Council, said Interfaith Executive Director Barry Smedberg.

Its other efforts, such as the successful Meals on Wheels program for homebound seniors, are funded by private donations.

But VIC was forced to lay off several employees and trim budgets for the recreation centers after the agency received less money from the public and private sectors this year, partly due to the lingering recession and partly due to a shift in demographics that caused more public money for seniors to be spent elsewhere, Smedberg said. And that loss might not be regained right away.

“We may not see any significant change as a result of the election, but we can always hope,” Smedberg said. “If the climate for business in Los Angeles improves as a result of the things (Mayor Richard) Riordan has promised, we would surely see more donations from corporations.”

Smedberg said Interfaith leaders also hope to pitch new projects, including a program designed to raise awareness of different cultures in the Valley, to freshman City Councilman Richard Alarcon, a member of the organization’s board of directors until last month.

“(Former council members) Joy Picus and Ernani Bernardi were very helpful to us,” Smedberg said. “But (Councilwoman) Laura Chick and (Alarcon) have been very active with us. It never hurts to have a former board member on the City Council.”