Archive for Wednesday, February 20, 2008
After-school help program gets gift
Irvine Co.’s Donald Bren funds an expansion of THINK Together to schools in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Developer and philanthropist Donald Bren on Tuesday reached beyond the Orange County communities he helped build and define, announcing an $8.5-million donation to benefit after-school programs in Santa Ana and east Los Angeles County.
The gift will bolster Santa Ana-based THINK Together, an after-school program that extends the school day for children who need extra coaching with classwork or homework help, often because their parents are working or lack English skills. The program provides an additional hour of schooling, homework assistance and physical education.
Bren, whose Irvine Co. and Donald Bren Foundation have contributed more than $200 million to public schools and universities, was motivated to choose THINK Together after a January speech by state Education Supt. Jack O’Connell challenged listeners to “imagine if every school had access to a successful business partner to provide mentors, materials and opportunities for students.”
The donation is Bren’s largest outside the boundaries of the old Irvine Ranch, which included Irvine, Newport Beach, Tustin, Orange, Laguna Beach and Anaheim, said John Christensen, Irvine Co. spokesman.
Beyond having shaped the identity of cities like Irvine and high-end enclaves such as Newport Coast, the Irvine Co. owns about 400 office buildings, 40 retail centers, 90 apartment communities, two hotels, five marinas and three golf clubs.
“My goal is for this funding to help close the achievement gap and truly make a difference by providing resources that otherwise would not be available,” Bren said in a written statement.
THINK Together, which has a $25-million annual budget, already operates in 13 Santa Ana schools. The funding will allow the program to expand to each of the 36 grade schools in Santa Ana Unified School District, said schools Supt. Jane Russo. Programs in Los Angeles County are just beginning.
The infusion of funds could play a role in improving test scores in a district where they have traditionally lagged, Russo said.
Save/Share:
- Greetings from the energized GOP base
- CT scans can be better medicine for doctors than for patients
- Sarah Palin's appeal to working-class women may be limited
- How to determine your bank's financial health
- In Mexico, a police victory against smuggling brings deadly revenge
- Before Rielle Hunter was linked to John Edwards, she searched for enlightenment -- not scandal.
- L.A.'s Wilshire Boulevard Temple rebuilds on past glory
- California's community colleges having a swell time
- Sarah Palin's style: the issue at hand
- Yes, there are options in treating cancer
- Brett Favre's debut with Jets carries intrigue
- Ohio State receiver calls out USC football program on issue of class
- Senator to president: A new day
- U.S. takes control of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac
- Palin investigator is biased Democrat, says Alaska Republican
- How to determine your bank's financial health
- Andy Murray upsets Rafael Nadal to reach U.S. Open final
- Police: Gary Coleman hit man with truck in Utah
- Russia ships to join Venezuela naval exercises in Caribbean
- Dodgers' sweep comes gift-wrapped, but they'll take it
