IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Opus Bank (“Opus” or the “Bank”) and Opus Community Foundation (the “Foundation”) announced today the Foundation’s approval of 19 grant awards to charitable organizations that the Bank and Foundation believe will have an immediate and long-lasting impact on efforts to rebuild and strengthen its communities. The charitable organizations receiving the Foundation’s financial support create enrichment and advancement opportunities that directly improve the lives of individuals and families in the communities Opus serves.
The Foundation has awarded grants to 19 nonprofit organizations in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington that focus on economic and financial literacy, community health and human services, safety net services, the arts, and education for at-risk children. These organizations include:
California:
Boys & Girls Club of Huntington Valley received a grant to support its Twilight Education Program, which provides families the tools and resources they need to succeed, such as English language classes for parents and children, job training classes for parents, and homework help, tutoring, and other enrichment activities for children.
C5 Youth Foundation of Southern California received a grant to support its educational programs, which inspire high-potential teens from under-resourced communities to pursue personal success while preparing them for leadership roles in school, college, work, and their communities through an innovative five year, year-round leadership development and college preparatory program.
Crystal Cove Alliance received a grant for its Marine Protected Area Citizen Science Cruises, which take 8th-12th grade classes out on the ocean to engage in ongoing scientific research projects. College Access Plan received a grant to support its programs, which provide college preparation services to underserved high school students, including assistance with college applications and financial aid, SAT preparation courses, and study skills workshops.
KidWorks received a grant to support its University Starts Now program, which provides low-income K-12 students college preparatory classes as well as college counseling.
The OC Homelessness Collaborative received a grant to support its affordable housing programs, which facilitate lowered barriers of entry for families and individuals and shorter stays for families in the transitional housing system.
OC Human Relations received a grant to support its BRIDGES Safe and Respectful Schools Program, which brings together students, school staff, and parents to create a safe and inclusive school climate through training in conflict resolution, leadership skills, community organizing, and public speaking.
Oak View Renewal Partnership received a grant to support its CIELO program, which provides entrepreneurship training and mentoring to Oak View residents interested in developing microenterprises.
Sage Hill School received a grant to support its service learning program, which will allow Sage Hill students to partner with EB Cole Academy, a Santa Ana charter elementary school, to build a hydroponic garden on the EB Cole campus.
Taller San Jose received a grant to support the Anaheim expansion of its programs, which provide the resources young adults need to transform their lives through workforce training skills and life skills instruction, including financial literacy, healthy relationships, and other personal development topics.
YMCA of Orange County received a grant to support its afterschool programs, which facilitate child development through meaningful experiences, activities, and collaborations that build relationships and a sense of community for students in grades K through 12 attending schools in low-income areas of Orange County.
Young & Healthy received a grant to support its referral programs, which connect children whose parents do not have health insurance with volunteer medical professionals who provide needed medical care free of charge.
Arizona:
Arizona Council on Economic Education received a grant to support its educational programs, which provide economic and personal financial literacy programs for low-income students and their families.
Harmony Project Phoenix received a grant to support its music education and mentorship program, which provides low-income youth access to a musical instrument, after-school music classes, and community performance opportunities free of charge.
Project Access received a grant to support its youth programs, which provide school readiness services, after-school tutoring, and enrichment programs for elementary school students at their resource centers in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Save the Family received a grant to support its programs, which provide emergency and transitional housing, financial literacy education, career development support, budgeting workshops, parenting classes, and self-esteem coaching to homeless families in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
Oregon:
Family Promise of Washington County received a grant to support its programs, which provide shelter to homeless families with children and other programs to help families become self-sufficient.
Portland Opera Association received a grant to support its Portland Opera To Go program, which provides fine arts performances to schools and communities that would otherwise have little to no access to ongoing arts learning.
Washington:
Burlington-Edison Education Coalition for Kids received a grant to support its Back to School event, which provides disadvantaged youth with school supplies, haircuts, and clothing.
Opus Community Foundation
The Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization established by Opus Bank on September 30, 2010. The Foundation targets its philanthropic efforts in the areas of affordable housing, community development, education, financial literacy, community health issues, and the arts. The Foundation’s goal is to stimulate economic change, promote reinvestment, inspire philanthropy, and strengthen the communities around us. For additional information about the Opus Community Foundation, please visit the Foundation’s website: www.opuscf.org.
About Opus Bank
Opus Bank is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with over $5.8 billion of total assets, $4.6 billion of total loans, and $4.6 billion in total deposits as of June 30, 2015. Opus Bank provides high-value, relationship-based banking products, services, and solutions to its clients through its Retail Bank, Commercial Bank, Merchant Bank, and Correspondent Bank. Opus Bank offers a suite of treasury and cash management and depository solutions and a wide range of loan products, including commercial business, healthcare, technology, multifamily residential, commercial real estate, and structured finance, and is an SBA preferred lender. Opus Bank offers commercial escrow services and facilitates 1031 exchange transactions through its Escrow and Exchange divisions. Opus Bank provides clients with financial and advisory services related to raising equity capital, targeted acquisition and divestiture strategies, general mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financing, balance sheet restructuring, valuation, strategy, and performance improvement through its Merchant Banking division and its broker-dealer subsidiary, Opus Financial Partners. Opus Bank operates 58 client experience centers, including 33 in California, 22 in the Seattle/Puget Sound region in Washington, two in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, and one in Portland, Oregon. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit our website: www.opusbank.com. Opus Bank is an Equal Housing Lender.
