Dear Friends:

The Board and I are proud to share with you a description of the Foundation's accomplishments this year.

High on the list is our record of giving. Twenty eight organizations received grants totaling $152,100 for doing good work in fostering the spirit of giving in their communities. (Please see the enclosed 2008 Grant Recipient Summary.)

We are pleased to announce that we have worked closely with Slack, Inc. - Leo's publisher - to establish a relationship with Quotable Cards enabling them to use several of Leo's thoughts and phrases on their greeting cards. The first card will be issued January 2009. The royalties associated with this effort will inure to the benefit of Leo's Foundation.

We are also pleased to announce that the Foundation will serve as a Sponsoring Patron – Opera to assist in the celebration of the 125th anniversary of the founding of the University of Southern California's Thornton School of Music. Leo loved opera and USC. This event will be held during Autumn 2009. We will provide information about the event on our website (www.LeoBuscaglia.org) as 2009 unfolds. You may wish to join us as we reach out to the community and acquaint many with the mission of Leo's foundation.

On behalf of the Board and staff, thank you for your interest and past generosity. As you consider your charitable giving throughout the year, we hope that you will include the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in your plans. With your help we will continue to spread Leo's legacy and to support the good works of organizations that are providing exceptional service to their communities.

With warm wishes,

Paul A. Gilbert
President
Leo Buscaglia Foundation

2008 Recipients

• Achievement Institute of Scientific Studies – Santa Ana, CA. Received $6,000 to expand the number of "bright, economically disadvantaged students" served by their program.
   
• Anaheim Ballet – Anaheim, CA. Received $15,000 to support the expansion of their Community Outreach efforts.
   
• Arts in Education Aid Council, Inc. – Canoga Park, CA. Received $5,000 to help support their arts education programs in San Fernando Valley public schools.
   
• BookEnds – West Hills, CA. Received $1,000 in general operating support for their youth community service and literacy program.
   
• California Youth Connection – San Francisco, CA. Received $3,000 to help support the Los Angeles chapter of their youth leadership program for current and former foster youth.
   
• CASA – Westmont, NJ. Received $5,000 to recruit and train more CASA volunteers.
   
• Cheerful Givers - Eagan, MN.  Received $1,000 to purchase toys for a Birthday Bag Blitz held on Make A Difference Day, October 25, 2008. 1,000 bags were filled and distributed to shelters and food shelves throughout Minnesota.
   
• Children's Nature Institute – Beverly Hills, CA. Received $5,000 to support their Volunteer Program.
   
• City at Peace – Los Angeles - Venice, CA. Received $5,000 to support their 2008 performing arts for teenagers programming.
   
• Common Threads – Chicago, IL. Received $5,000 to help fund the expansion of their after school nutrition/cooking program into the Los Angeles area.
   
• Creative Counseling Network – Los Angeles, CA. Received $6,000 to support their Child and Youth Groups in Commerce, Palmdale, Downtown Los Angeles, and their Saturday Teen Groups in North Hills.
   
• Furnishing Hope – Newport Beach, CA. Received $8,600 to decorate, furnish and stock one refurbished four bedroom, two bath house in Anaheim.
   
• Ginga Arts – Los Angeles, CA. Received $5,000 to support the delivery of Capoeira instruction to 214 at risk boys and girls.
   
• Glendale Association for the Retarded – Glendale, CA. Received $3,000 to help support their Multi-Cultural Program for adults with developmental disabilities.
   
• Guardian Angel Catholic School – Pacoima, CA. Received $7,000 for tuition assistance for needy students.
   
• I’m Too Young For This – Brooklyn, NY. Received $6,000 in general support for their programs serving young adults with cancer.
   
• Kids 'n Kinship – Apple Valley, MN. Received $5,000 to support their volunteer mentoring program.
   
• Kids Korps USA – Solana Beach, CA. Received $3,000 to fund two weeks of their summer volunteer camp.
   
• Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization – Dublin, OH. Received $5,000 to support ten separate educational seminars and ten parent resource libraries.
   
• Project Tomorrow - Irvine, CA.  Received $6000 to expand Science Docent Program in the LA Alliance for College Ready Schools.
   
• P.A.T.H. – Los Angeles, CA. Received $7,500 to support their volunteer program, PATH Connections.
   
• Reading is Fundamental – Los Angeles, CA. Received $7,500 to help with their expanded Motivational Reading Program.
   
• Renaissance Enterprises – Kalamazoo, MI. Received $2,000 to expand their arts and music programs in long term care facilities.
   
• Southern California Foster Family and Adoption Agency – Los Angeles, CA. Received $7,000 to support their Teens in Transition program.
   
• The Center for Violence Free Relationships – Placerville, CA. Received $7,000 to support the development and rebuilding of their volunteer program.
   
• The Solace Tree – Reno, NV. Received $7,500 to support their Camp Solace as well as Solace Tree operating expenses.
   
• Virginia Avenue Project – Santa Monica, CA. Received $3,000 to support their SMART PARTNERS program. 

• Working Wardrobes – Fountain Valley, CA. Received $5,000 to support their Women's Day of Self Esteem event.

For more information, please contact Jeff Jordan at (310) 791-3144 or email: info@leobuscaglia.org