By Emily Lundberg
Anaheim – On April 3, $1.5 million in grants was awarded to ten youth service organizations in Anaheim.
The grants were provided by Accelerated Change Together for Anaheim, more commonly known as ACT Anaheim, which is a partnership between Disneyland Resorts, the Anaheim Ducks, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The partnership began when Disneyland led an effort in 2012 to fund the Anaheim Hills Youth Service Assessment which highlighted the challenges that youth face. Anaheim is California’s tenth largest city and, according to the assessment, is home to nearly 20,000 youth who have access to limited or no community services.
Throughout the next three years, the iconic businesses have committed to donating three million dollars in grants for organizations that benefit the city’s at-risk youth. In an article discussing the program on the Duck’s website, Angels’ chairman, Dennis Kuhl, said they hope other organizations and citizens will join ACT Anaheim in the effort to support the City’s youth.
In addition to those three corporations, the Orange County Community Foundation joined ACT Anaheim as a managing partner. This led to an increase in funding for the first grant pool from $1 million to $1.5 million when the foundation donated $300,000 from their donor pool and Disney added an additional $200,000 to their original commitment. Grant applications were accepted November through mid-December of 2013 and ranged from $100,000 to $200,000. According to a press release from the Orange County Community Foundation, decisions were based on “their [each organization’s] ability to address the specific needs addressed in the 2012 Anaheim Youth Services Assessment”. The gaps identified include, but are not limited to, gang prevention activities, programs for older students, and safe places to hang out.
Among the ten grantees were the Boys and Girls Club of Anaheim which received a $175,000 grant, the Anaheim Family YMCA who received $125,000, and Girls Incorporated of Orange County which received $175,000.
