2022 Report to Contributors

2022 Grant Recipients

Access Books – Los Angeles, CA.  Received a grant for their Meet the Author program.  The grant will provide for two author visits at two low-income elementary schools in Los Angeles (250 students per visit, 500 total).  A children’s author will read their book and talk about their work and lives and answer questions. The mission of Access Books is to provide high interest reading material to underserved children in Los Angeles by providing low-income neighborhoods with a warm and welcoming school or community library.  Their purpose is to support childhood literacy by making book donations directly to students and to facilitate events around the love of reading.  Access Books received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2019.

Friendship Foundation – Redondo Beach, CA.  Received a grant to purchase supplies such as art supplies, crafts, sports equipment, and games for school clubs. Friendship Clubs will reach approximately 2,500 children during the grant year.  The Friendship Foundation transforms the lives of people with special needs, their families, volunteers, and eventually society. Friendship Foundation's mission is to: 1) bring happiness and companionship to children with special needs in a way that celebrates their uniqueness and individuality through participation in age-appropriate social, recreational and educational activities with their peers; 2) build leadership skills and foster the values of altruism, volunteerism, and sacrifice among student volunteers; 3) impart renewed strength, comfort and peace of mind to the parents of these special children; and 4) heighten the community’s awareness, sensitivity and sense of responsibility with regard to responding to these vital needs.  The Friendship Foundation (then known as the Friendship Circle) received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2010.

Friends of Mark Twain Middle School – Los Angeles, CA.  Received a grant to fund the continued operation of the Seeds to Plate program for one year.  The mission of the Friends of Mark Twain Middle School (MTMS) is to enhance and support the programs and facilities at MTMS in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  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 that operates at MTMS.  It is currently serving approximately 750 students.  Friends of Mark Twain Middle School received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2020.

Journey Out – Van Nuys, CA.  Received a grant to 1.) support and help sustain their newly implemented Survivor Advocate program, which employs a Survivor to help train clinicians on identifying victims of human trafficking, as well as provide crisis response and follow up case management services to identified victims of human trafficking at their bedside (in clinical settings); 2.) provide basic need (food, clothing, hygiene products, and PPE) resources to clients, particularly those who we place in transitional housing.  They expect to serve approximately 300 victims of human trafficking over a 12-month period.  The mission of Journey Out 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.  Journey Out received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2020. 

Kids & Horses, Inc. – Minden, NV.  Received a grant for one Dementia Program Workshop, consisting of three days of non-riding equine-assisted therapy.  The workshops are for up to six adults recently diagnosed with early stages of dementia and their care partners.  They are provided in partnership with The Connected Horse, a research-based program developed by Stanford University’s Red Barn Program and UC Davis’ Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine.  The mission of Kids & Horses is to enhance the wellness and independence of children, young adults, and mature adults with disabilities through Equine-Assisted Therapies (EATs) and through their Hippotherapy program, which combines equine movement with conventional physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech/language pathology.  Kids & Horses received a grant from the Leo Buscaglia Foundation in 2011.

Kingdom Causes Bellflower – Bellflower, CA.  Received a grant to help support their transitional housing home, Margaret’s House.  Margaret’s House is a three-unit transitional home that offers short-term (6-9 months) housing and services for low-income families with minor dependent children.  Margaret’s House provides each family with case management and housing search assistance in a dignified, high-quality living experience.  Funds will go towards the expenses of the program including case management and facility costs.  The mission of Kingdom Causes Bellflower (KCB) is to be a catalyst that inspires, connects, and mobilizes people towards personal and community transformation.  KCB helps people get off the street, provides support services to those at risk of homelessness, creates pathways to sustainable work through social enterprise, and offers ongoing training and education to the community.

Sages & Seekers – Los Angeles, CA.  Received a grant to support their intergenerational program during school year 2021-22.  Program expenses include program facilitators, a Zoom program tech, website maintenance, training, software, program materials and postage.  They anticipate reaching 192 youth and 192 seniors.  Sages & Seekers strives to combat social isolation and dissolve age-related segregation within our communities, while meeting the universal and compelling need of both young adults and elders to make sense of their lives. This is achieved by the simple art of conversation.  Their three programs match up seniors (sages) with high school students (seekers) either in person (currently on hold due to Covid) or online via Zoom.  Programs typically last 8 weeks and strive to increases empathy, reduce ageism, build relationship and communication skills and help to define a sense of purpose.