IRVINE

A development company has donated $50,000 to the city to fund scholarships for the Irvine Child Care Project.

The project, which is run by a joint-powers agreement between the city and the Irvine Unified School District, will use the money to help families who cannot afford child-care tuition.

Lakeshore Towers decided to donate the money after reducing the size of its development, a move that meant the company no longer was required to include a child-care unit at the site.

In order to be eligible, parents have to work or live in Irvine and have children who attend schools in the Irvine Unified School District. They also cannot earn more than 50% of the median income in Orange County, which is estimated to be about $63,000 per year.