Opus Community Foundation Announces 41 Grant Awards to Charitable Organizations in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington

IRVINE, Calif.--()--Opus Bank (“Opus”) and Opus Community Foundation (the “Foundation”) announced today the Foundation’s approval of 41 grant awards to charitable organizations that Opus and the Foundation believe will strengthen and engage the communities which Opus serves.

The grants were awarded to nonprofit organizations in Arizona, California, Oregon, and Washington that focus on education, financial literacy, community health services, work readiness programs, and the arts.

Arizona:

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.

New Pathways for Youth received a grant to support its Transformative Mentoring program, which provides college and career readiness for youth living in poverty.

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.

Scott Foundation received a grant to support its Practice of Compassion youth program, which teaches foster care children mindfulness through art and nature.

California:

Bay Area Financial Education Foundation received a grant to support a hands-on workshop for high school economic teachers, which will provide training for classroom activities, access to resources, as well as textbooks and other materials.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast received a grant to support its programs, which provide after-school academic assistance, career preparation support, health and fitness instruction, and academic enrichment opportunities to 5,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Huntington Valley received a grant to support its Twilight Education Project, 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.

CASA of Contra Costa County received a grant for its program, which recruits, trains, and supports volunteer advocates as a voice for the best interest of abused and neglected children during the court process.

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.

Crystal Cove Alliance received a grant for its Marine Protected Area Citizen Science Cruises, which take students in 8th grade through 12th grade out on the ocean to engage in ongoing scientific research projects.

Illumination Foundation received a grant to support its programs, which work to break or prevent the cycle of homelessness through targeted, interdisciplinary services including housing, case management, medical care, mental health services, and workforce development.

JOYA Scholars received a grant to support its college preparation programs, which provide mentoring, tutoring, college visits, as well as ACT/SAT preparation courses for low-income students.

Kidsave received a grant to support its LA Weekend Miracles program, which provides older Los Angeles County foster youth with lasting connections to stable adults through weekend visits with host families.

KidWorks received a grant to support its University Starts Now program, which provides low-income students in kindergarten through 12th grade college preparatory classes as well as college counseling.

LINC Housing received a grant to support its LINC Cares youth program, which provides educational support and activities such as tutoring, mentoring, arts and cultural field trips, and a summer literacy program that creates positive outcomes and opportunities for children and their families.

Laguna Outreach for Community Arts (“LOCA”) received a grant to support its art therapy programs, which provide art therapy to individuals with physical and developmental disabilities and the opportunity to sell the art pieces they create to the local community.

Moneythink received a grant to support its Southern California financial education programs, which provide today’s youth financial literacy for college and workforce readiness through technology-based solutions.

Muckenthaler Cultural Center received a grant to support its Arts Education Outreach program, which brings innovative STEAM education opportunities to underserved areas in North Orange County through collaborations with school districts, foster care sites, libraries, and other community partners.

Mychal's Learning Place received a grant to support its programs, which help children and adults with developmental disabilities to become independent, productive members of society through daily living skills classes, job placement and support, and after-school education and enrichment programs.

OCCHC/SteppingUP received a grant to supports its programs, which transition extremely low-income families towards greater self-sufficiency by assisting them with housing and education.

Operation HOPE received a grant to support its programs, which provide financial literacy and financial services to low-income youth and adults.

Operation Jump Start received a grant to support its college preparation and scholarship programs, which provide individual mentoring, educational case management, developmentally-based educational workshops, college tours, community service initiatives, and social programs to at-risk youth in Long Beach.

Pretend City received a grant to support its “Go Foods Go” field trip program, which educates preschool and kindergarten classes on healthy eating, physical activity, and teamwork through the children’s book “Stone Soup.”

SFV MAPS Charities received a grant to support its senior citizen programs, which provide small funds to seniors for minor household fixes that allows them to stay in their homes and maintain their independence.

South Bay Children's Health Center received a grant to support its programs, which provide out-patient dental and mental health services to low-income children and their families.

The Jester & Pharley Phund received a grant to support its reading programs, which promote literacy by providing reading assemblies, competitions, and awards programs to low income schools using the book “The Jester Has Lost His Jingle.”

The Wooden Floor received a grant to support its educational programs, which provide middle and high school students individualized academic mentoring and college readiness counseling.

WHW received a grant to support its Employment Success program, which provides disadvantaged men, women, and teens comprehensive employment support services to achieve economic self-sufficiency.

Oregon:

Oregon Museum of Science and Industry received a grant for its Teen Science Alliance program, which provides job skills training and a tiered internship program that allows students to explore STEM careers.

Self Enhancement, Inc. received a grant to support its Youth Potential Realized program, which provides students and families support through coordinated in-school, after-school, post-high school, and wrap-around services.

Washington:

Emergency Food Network received a grant to support its programs, which acquire, store, transport, and distribute approximately 15 million pounds of food each year to food banks and hot meal programs in Pierce County and other sites in Western Washington.

Imagine Children's Museum received a grant to support its education program, which provides preschool children hands-on STEM education to foster academic success as well as social interaction and development.

JUMA Ventures received a grant to support its youth employment programs, which provide employment and job training opportunities to low-income youth through concession businesses at the major sports fields in the Seattle region.

Seattle Music Partners received a grant for its music programs, which provide weekly music instruction and mentoring for underserved youth attending schools in Seattle’s Central District.

Sherwood Community Services received a grant to support its programs, which provide support to those with developmental delays through assessments and therapies for children up to age 3, job placement services for adults, and assistive technology for those with limited communication abilities.

Skagit Asset Building Coalition received a grant to support its Financial Empowerment Centers pilot program, which will provide low-income individuals with financial education sessions in easily accessible locations.

Take the Next Step received a grant to support its programs, which provide advocacy services, mentoring, and counseling to low-income and homeless youth affected by traumatic childhood experiences.

Vine Maple Place received a grant for its programs, which work to stop the cycle of homelessness, create change, and build lives of hope, stability, and self-sufficiency by providing transitional housing and support services, including financial literacy coaching, employment development classes, child advocacy, and case management to homeless single parents or those at risk of becoming homeless.

Additionally, the Foundation provided grants to Junior Achievement of Orange County, Junior Achievement of Northern California, and Junior Achievement of Washington to support their financial literacy programs, which teach students in grades K through 12 to understand finances, complete fundamental financial tasks, improve their circumstances, and thrive in the real world by instilling accountability for one’s finances.

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 services, 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.

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About Opus Bank

Opus Bank, the Official Bank of the Pac-12 Conference, is an FDIC-insured California-chartered commercial bank with $7.5 billion of total assets, $6.1 billion of total loans and $6.2 billion in total deposits, as of June 30, 2016. Opus Bank provides superior ideas and solutions, and banking products 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, healthcare, media and entertainment, corporate finance, 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, LLC. Opus Bank’s subsidiary, PENSCO Trust Company, is a leading tech-enabled alternative asset IRA custodian with over $12 billion of custodial assets and over 48,000 client accounts, which are comprised of self-directed investors, financial institutions, capital raisers, and financial advisors. Opus Bank operates 56 banking offices, including 32 in California, 21 in the Seattle/Puget Sound region in Washington, two in the Phoenix metropolitan area of Arizona, and one in Portland, Oregon. Opus Bank is an Equal Housing Lender. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit our website: www.opusbank.com.

Contacts

Opus Community Foundation
Ms. Katie S. Ellis, 949-250-9800
Executive Director
or
Opus Bank
Mr. Jeff L. Leonard, 949-251-8146
SVP, Director of Corporate Strategy/Communications

Contacts

Opus Community Foundation
Ms. Katie S. Ellis, 949-250-9800
Executive Director
or
Opus Bank
Mr. Jeff L. Leonard, 949-251-8146
SVP, Director of Corporate Strategy/Communications