Dear Friends:
Leo Buscaglia’s philosophy of love, empathy and “paying it forward” is needed now more than ever! His message is timeless and healing, and we hope you will share the philosophy during the holiday season with others, whether reading a book by him, from a quote or from a memory.
Besides his unshakable belief in the power of love, Leo passionately believed in the power of community. He purposely set up The Foundation as a non-profit because he hoped to encourage others to share in The Foundation’s vision to pay it forward to small non-profit organizations.
The Foundation maintained its support to multiple community groups this year. Your donations were the support to worthy small non-profits this year, and your gift this year will fund good works in the future.
Many of you have joined with The Leo Buscaglia Foundation in its work of helping smaller non-profit organizations in California. Your participation in any amount is genuinely appreciated and enables greater support to others. We promise to continue to be good stewards of your donation. Information about giving options is available here.
The challenges of 2020 are requiring flexibility and patience in our lives. We are all in unfamiliar territory. May you and your loved ones remain safe and healthy throughout this challenging time.
Sincerely,
President, Leo Buscaglia Foundation
2020 Grant Recipients
American Youth Symphony – Los Angeles, CA. Received a grant to support their Share-A-Stand musical mentorship outreach program. The program offers AYS orchestra members opportunities to gain valuable teaching experience and provide much needed support to music teachers in three Title-1 schools in Granada Hills, East LA and Watts. They work with over 300 middle school music students aged 11-14. The AYS musicians hone their mentorship, teaching and leadership skills while simultaneously supporting the learning objectives of the music teachers with regards to mastering state standards in music performance. The American Youth Symphony’s mission is to inspire the future of classical music by providing advanced training to virtuosic young musicians and exceptional, innovative free concerts to the Los Angeles community. American Youth Symphony also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2017.
Beauty Bus Foundation – Santa Monica, CA. Received a grant to support expenses for volunteer recruitment, screening and orientation training; ongoing training (3-4 sessions during the grant period); their annual Volunteer Appreciation event; and to launch a series of volunteer social meet-up events. The mission of the Beauty Bus Foundation is to deliver loving kindness, support and compassion to seriously ill patients and their caregivers through free beauty services in homes and hospitals. These services are delivered to nearly 2,000 clients each year by their specially trained staff and team of 250+ volunteer Beauty Professionals and Beauty Ambassadors. The Beauty Bus Foundation also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2016.
Echoes of Hope – El Segundo, CA. Received a grant in support of their Leaders of Tomorrow program. The program supports low-income, undocumented, current/former foster, formerly homeless and in-need students ages 16-30. Resources include, but are not limited to, housing support, testing fees, graduation fees, textbooks, school supplies, transportation, meal assistance and quarterly workshops and retreats. In 2019 Echoes of Hope assisted over 2500 students. Echoes of Hope strives to awaken the spirit of hope in the lives of children, youth and young adults in need by alleviating barriers and helping them reach their full potential. Echoes of Hope also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2018.
The Foundation for Living Beauty – Pasadena, CA. Received a grant to fund six months of online programs. A month of programming will include: four facilitator led workshops, one movement series that includes three to four classes and one Day Retreat that includes a full day of workshops. Each month will have a theme with topics including gratitude, reclaiming oneself and resilience. The Foundation for Living Beauty aims to educate, uplift and empower women with cancer through wellness retreats, educational workshops and support services. They serve approximately 1,059 women and are currently working to modify their programs to accommodate the Coronavirus pandemic and its impact on in-person services.
Friends of Mark Twain Middle School – Los Angeles, CA. Received a grant to support the Executive Director’s salary for their Seeds to Plate Program. This will allow the Executive Director to work full time to expand the program to other schools while continuing their efforts at Mark Twain Middle School (MTMS). The mission of the Friends of Mark Twain Middle School is to enhance and support the programs and facilities at MTMS. This volunteer organization is comprised of parents, legal guardians, school staff and faculty and community members. One of their programs is Seeds to Plate, a garden based education program currently serving approximately 750 students.
The Friends of the Children’s Museum at La Habra – La Habra, CA. Received a grant to support the third year of their Lil’ Innovators Early Childhood STEM Project. This three pronged project provides 1.) science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning opportunities for preschoolers in three preschools in La Habra serving low-income families 2.) professional development workshops for early childhood education teachers to teach STEM concepts effectively to future preschoolers 3.) opportunities for parent engagement – to help them support the ongoing achievement of their students into the future. The mission of the Children’s Museum at La Habra is to encourage enthusiasm about learning that opens the world to even the youngest child, thereby increasing the chances of academic success. The Friends of the Children’s Museum at La Habra supports this mission through fundraising efforts on behalf of the museum. The Friends of the Children’s Museum at La Habra also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2018.
Journey Out – Van Nuys, CA. Received a grant to support 1.) their BRIDGE program, which focuses on social reintegration service for victims of sex trafficking/commercial sexual exploitation, 2.) to help launch their Journey Together program which is a skills based and job-training program which pairs their clients with sheltered animals and 3.) for overall operations and delivery of critically needed wrap around services to victims of sex trafficking. Journey Out has been in operation for 35 years. Their mission is to help victims of commercial sexual exploitation and sex trafficking leave a life of abuse and violence, overcome their fears and empower them to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
L.O.V.E. (Living Our Vision Everyday) Foundation – Sherman Oaks, CA. Received a grant to help support their Sanctuary of Love Resource and Referral Center operations and their outreach, resource and referral events and transformational self-empowerment workshops. The funds will also help them grow and improve their network of partner volunteers. The mission of L.O.V.E. is to transform the lives of homeless and vulnerable young people throughout Hollywood and Los Angeles through educational mentorship and support services to heal the mind, body and spirit, empowering them to be self-sufficient and innovative leaders. Their team of “Love Warriors” collaborate with other nonprofits, volunteer groups, schools, businesses and local government to help our most vulnerable youth by providing the resources, support, training and unconditional love that is missing in their lives.
Los Angeles House of Ruth – Los Angeles, CA. Received a grant to support the operating expenses of one of their transitional shelter houses. This will help them provide a safe and secure transitional shelter program to enable their families to overcome barriers to self-sufficiency within two-years. The mission of the Los Angeles House of Ruth is to provide transitional and emergency housing, permanent supportive housing and permanent housing for homeless and battered women and their children. They believe that when homeless individuals receive the services they need in a timely and engaging manner they can overcome obstacles to self-sufficiency. The Los Angeles House of Ruth also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2013.
OPICA Adult Day Program and Counseling Center, Inc. – Los Angeles, CA. Received a grant to support their Volunteer Internship program including staffing expenses associated with volunteer recruitment, training, supervising and retention as well as activities associated with connecting volunteers to in-need seniors with memory impairment. The program assists families in delaying institutionalized care for their loved ones. OPICA’s mission is to enable adults impaired by dementia to continue to live at home by 1.) providing compassionate and stimulating day programs, 2.) supporting family caregivers through counseling and respite and 3.) increasing community understanding of memory disorders through education, resource referral and professional training. They currently serve 120-170 people.
Save our Youth (SOY) – Costa Mesa, CA. Received a grant to support teen activities in their SOY Center in two main areas: to support their Peer Tutoring, a part of their SOY Academic Program and to support their Community Performance Program which is a part of their Art and Music Skill Development program. Funds will also help to cover general operational costs incurred to operate these programs at their teen center. The mission of SOY is to provide a safe and welcoming space for teens to find hope, to nourish a sense of self and an ability to grow and to develop interests and skills to become productive members of society.
Sharefest Community Development, Inc. – San Pedro, CA. Received a grant in support of their Workday 2020, an annual day of community service projects. They expect to mobilize more than 1,250 volunteers who will make improvements to community facilities that serve over 30,000 people annually. Sharefest’s mission is: “building strong South Bay communities by fostering volunteerism and preparing youth to lead positive change.” Sharefest targets underserved youth at greatest risk of dropping out of high school and engages them in after-school and summer programming that promotes high school graduation and college attendance while fostering leadership, life skills and a commitment to community service. Sharefest also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2017.
Teacher’s Fund – Montecito, CA. Received a grant to assist local teachers as they adapt to the new requirements resulting from the Covid-19 crisis. Teacher’s Fund has shifted their program focus to help teachers as they move to more online/virtual instruction. Teachers can request emergency grants between $70 – $1000 from Teacher’s Funds to help with their student’s home learning environment. Funds are used for such things as digital books, iPads, educational software, math and science apps and audiovisual equipment. Grant funds also help younger students who are not yet able to learn in a completely virtual environment by providing them with tactile materials such as color tiles, pattern blocks, counting bears, etc. The materials provided by Teacher’s Funds during the 2020-21 school year will directly impact 175 teachers and 4500+ students in southern Santa Barbara county schools including Santa Ynez, Lompoc, Buelton, Los Olivos and Solvang. Teachers Fund also received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2018.