CRENSHAW : Youth Sports Center Facing Eviction
Youth foundation director Chilton Alphonse, who attracted national attention by sinking a hefty portion of his state lottery winnings into building up his nonprofit organization, says he must raise $100,000 by April 1 or close his doors for good.
Alphonse’s Community Youth Sports and Arts Foundation, the sole occupant of a building at 4828 Crenshaw Blvd., received an eviction notice last week. The building’s owner, who is preparing to sell the two-story complex, said Alphonse is three months in arrears on his rent and owes $11,400.
The only way out of the situation is to come up with $100,000--enough to buy out owner Charles Colbert and assume payments on the $175,000 balance of the property loan.
Colbert’s attorney, Byron Nelson, said Colbert wants to sell the property because he is elderly and wants to move out of the state. He said that unless Alphonse comes up with the money, the eviction process will continue.
Although Colbert gave Alphonse until April 1 to pay his back rent, the foundation could be ordered out sooner if the matter ends up in court.
Alphonse has tried for the past month to raise money by selling tables and sponsorships, ranging from $1,000 to $2,500, at an awards dinner Friday at the Biltmore Hotel. The “Visions and Motions” dinner will honor actress-entrepreneur Marla Gibbs and former RLA Co-chairman Bernard Kinsey for extensive community service.
But sales for tables and sponsorships have been slow. Ticket sales have not yet generated enough to cover the $50,000 cost of the event, but Alphonse said the dinner will take place even if ticket sales do not reach $50,000.
“It’s been very tough going,” said dinner coordinator Alicia Watts. “We’ve been hitting anyone and everyone--athletic companies, beverage companies, private corporations. People just aren’t giving.”
Nelson hopes that will change.
“We’re really hoping that after the dinner, he’ll have enough money to stay,” he said. “Otherwise, he’ll have to fight this out in court. And even if he does come up with it, he’ll have to qualify with lenders before he can take over the note.”
Alphonse cited the recent Northridge earthquake and the continued recession as the primary causes for the center’s failing fortunes.
“After the riots, we got a lot of attention,” he said. “But now a lot of corporations are giving money to earthquake relief. Plus everyone’s cutting back. It’s a bad combination.”
Despite cash grants totaling about $200,000 over the past two years and in-kind donations from companies such as Shell Oil, Unisys, Xerox Corp. and Pacific Bell, the cash flow never gained enough momentum to cover the foundation’s operating costs, Alphonse said.
The foundation offers a variety of services and programs for youths, including a Los Angeles Unified School District alternative high school, SAT and ACT preparation courses, an entrepreneurial training program, parenting classes, a group home and a boxing gymnasium.
Alphonse said that should his fund-raising efforts fall short, he does not know what his next step will be. “I guess I’ll just have to fight it out, drag it out,” he said. “But I don’t know if I’ll make it this time.”