CRENSHAW : Alphonse’s Youth Center Faces Eviction

Youth foundation director Chilton Alphonse, who attracted national attention several years ago 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.

Owner Charles Colbert gave Alphonse until April 1 to pay his back rent or move out. Even so, with Colbert’s plans to sell the building, the only way Alphonse can stay long-term is to come up with $100,000--enough to buy out 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.

Alphonse has tried for the past month to raise money by selling seating 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 chairman Bernard Kinsey for extensive community service.

But ticket sales have not yet generated enough to cover the $50,000 cost of the event, although Alphonse says it will take place even if less than $50,000 in tickets are sold.

“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 if his fund-raising efforts fall short, he doesn’t know what his next step would 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.”