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Responding to the Community’s Needs
In
the 2005 American Communities Survey,
it was reported that over 19% of all Long Beach
residents (88,686 individuals) live in poverty. It also stated that
about 27.6% of Long Beach children live in poverty. Long Beach now
ranks 26th in poverty of the 70 United States cities with populations
greater than 250,000 that were included in the 2004 United States
Census.
(Source: Press-Telegram 8/29/2006)
Our Philanthropic Programs
are designed to help the citizens in need living in our community. In
the past year, we had ten active programs serving Long Beach residents
and the surrounding areas:
ALa Carte, a
creative art program at Miller Children’s Hospital where our volunteers
reached 1,600 bed-ridden children.
Assault Survivor Kits®
are assembled for survivors of violent crimes. Our volunteers put
together 125 sexual assault kits used by the Long Beach Sexual Assault
Response Team (SART) which is housed at Community Hospital of Long
Beach.
The
Howard Collection,
a museum-quality collection of Asian artifacts, is available to
seventh-grade students and community groups.
Kids on the Block™,
an educational puppet program performed before 8,000 children and
seniors.
Operation School Bell®
provides free school uniforms to elementary, middle, and high school
students in need. In 2005-2006, 4,500 children were served. Our goal for
the 2007-2008 school year is to clothe 5,700 students, with a plan to
clothe 10,000 students each year beginning in 2010.
Our
Orthodontic
Program
serves over 450 active patients and 130 retainer patients from low to
moderate income families. The program will expand to serve 700 patients
by 2011.
Scholarships
were awarded to 80 young adults attending Long Beach City College and
California State University at Long Beach. The Long Beach Unified
School District received support for its music programs.
The
Mentoring
program, run by our CAMEO
auxiliary of professional women, guided 45 promising high school and
college students to higher levels of achievement.
Operation Hug
and
New Life Beginnings
are programs
conducted by Assisteens®,
a high school aged auxiliary, where 420 children and adults were helped.
Operation Hug, in partnership with the Long Beach Fire Department,
provides teddy bears to children in trauma. Assisteens brighten the
residents of New Life Beginnings, a shelter for homeless mothers and
their children, by hosting parties and providing monthly donations of
essential items.
Our funding comes from our Assistance League of Long
Beach Thrift & Vintage Shop, fundraising events, grants, and donations.
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