Fund-Raising Sculpture to Be Dedicated Today

An oak tree sculpture that raised about $1.5 million for construction of four apartment complexes for the disabled will be dedicated today at 2 p.m. at a branch of United Cerebral Palsy, the agency that led the fund-raising effort.

The UCP office is at 11051 Old Santa Susana Pass Road, Chatsworth.

About 500 donors purchased leaves and acorns on the bronze, wood and brass sculpture, with contributions ranging from $100 to $25,000, said Ron Cohen, executive director of United Cerebral Palsy.

The contributions will be added to a $4.8-million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for construction of handicapped-accessible apartment complexes in North Hollywood, Santa Monica, Pasadena and Goleta in Santa Barbara County.

The projects will begin this month with construction of a 13-unit apartment complex at 12145 Burbank Blvd. in North Hollywood, Cohen said.

Tenants will pay one-third of their adjusted gross income for rent, and HUD will cover the balance, he said, adding that HUD has not yet established a monthly rent amount.

United Cerebral Palsy will begin accepting applications to live at the North Hollywood complex in about five months, Cohen said, and the project is expected to be complete in about 10 months.

“There aren’t a lot of housing options for the mentally and physically disabled,” he said. “They either live at home with their elderly parents or in an institutional setting.”