Drug Abuse Agency Loses Federal Grant

In the beginning, the South Bay Coalition was a grass-roots organization of police, school administrators and concerned residents who educated kids about the ills of alcohol and other drugs.

But the nonprofit group, which serves as an umbrella agency to more than 50 substance abuse prevention organizations, returns to its volunteer status Monday.

A five-year federal grant from the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention has expired and will not be renewed, Executive Director Karen Carr said.

Organization members vow that they will keep it alive by continuing many of their programs, such as the South Bay Youth Project that sponsors numerous events for kids including Late Night Sports, a weekly basketball game that aims to keep kids off the streets.

“The program really works and that feels good,” said Steve Kamakeeaina, a high school student who volunteers with the basketball program.

The South Bay Coalition serves nine South Bay communities, including the beach cities and all of the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Without the program, educators and law enforcement officials will be forced to provide the prevention information and resources themselves.

“We’re going to miss them, there’s no doubt about,” said Barbara Alexander, a counselor at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach.

“They did a tremendous amount, and without them we will have to do that.”