Pub. 2 Issue 2

12 www.glancda.org Gift of $10,000 will support education, recreation and sports and other programs in Boyle Heights Community G LANCDA Executive Director Bob Smith presented a check for $10,000 to representa- tives of Proyecto Pastoral during the recent annual luncheon of members of the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers Association. Proyecto Pastoral Development Officers Marlene Stang and Mona Hobson accepted the gift in support of Proyecto Pas- toral and its many programs for youth and families of Boyle Heights. “We are delighted to have the continuing support of the Greater Los Angeles New Car Dealers,” said Cynthia San- chez, Proyecto Pastoral Executive Director. “These funds will help underwrite our summer education, recreation and sports programs for hundreds of children in our community. Proyecto Pastoral has been making a difference in Boyle Heights for nearly 29 years.” Proyecto Pastoral was founded in 1986 by Father Greg Boyle, S.J., and by community residents in response to pervasive poverty and gang violence, low educational attainment of children and youth, and limited economic and civic engage- ment opportunities for community members. Programs include two Early Childhood Education Centers, providing a high-quality, pre-K curriculum for children ages 18 months to 5 years; IMPACTO , the four-site after school academic enrichment program serving youth ages 5 to 18 and the Aliso Pico Recreation Center; Comunidad en Movimiento (Com- munity in Action), for public safety and civic engagement; and Guadalupe Homeless Project which provides a 30-day shelter for men at Dolores Mission Church, a Women’s Cater- ing Cooperative, and job training opportunities at a used goods distribution center managed by the GHP program team. In partnership with 13 other agencies, Proyecto Pas- toral is also the lead agency for the Boyle Heights Promise Neighborhood initiative. Over 4,000 people benefit from these programs annually. Mr. Smith noted, “New car dealers account for just over 20% of the retail economy in the greater Los Angeles area and em- ploy over 30,000 people, but together we act locally to make a deep impact on our communities.” In 2012 charitable giving by Los Angeles County Franchise New Car Dealers totaled over $12.3 million to charitable and civic organizations. “Our dealers and employees also volunteer countless hours to make a difference as coaches, mentors and in numerous other roles that benefit our communities.” For more information about Proyecto Pastoral, please visit http://www.proyectopastoral.org . To schedule an interview with Cynthia Sanchez, Executive Director, contact Mona Hobson, Development Director at (323) 881-1774 or Marlene Stang, Development Officer at (323) 881-0008. Contribution to Proyecto Pastoral The summer field trip to Santa Fe Dam by the Proyecto Pastoral IMPACTO summer academic students.  BY CYNTHIA SANCHEZ