Amgen Donates $1.8 Million To Teach For America Efforts

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. The Amgen Foundation has pledged to donate $1.8 million to Teach For America, announced the foundation of the Thousand Oaks-based biotechnology company. The renewed partnership aims to increase the number of outstanding math and science graduates who join Teach For America’s teaching corps by 2013. The new pledge brings the foundation’s total support to more than $7 million since 2004. “With the Amgen Foundation’s generous support, Teach For America has been able to triple the number of corps members with math and science expertise dedicated to raising achievement levels in high-need classrooms across the country,” said Wendy Kopp, CEO and founder of Teach For America. The foundation is Teach for America’s Founding National Math and Science Partner. Each year, it supports 100 new Amgen Fellows, who are selected from the incoming Teach For America corps members with undergraduate degrees in math and science. Each fellow receives a $1,000 signing bonus and can receive additional financial support. “The Amgen Foundation shares Teach for America’s commitment to high quality science and math education, which is such a critical building block for our nation’s future innovation and economic strength,” said Jean J. Lim, president of the Amgen Foundation. Local Nonprofits Get Grants Two local nonprofit organizations that assist in gang prevention have received grants from the Jewish Community Foundation of Los Angeles, the foundation announced. Communities in Schools of the San Fernando Valley and New Directions for Youth Inc., based in North Hollywood, each received $20,000 grants. The foundation gave out a total of $200,000 in cash awards to 10 Los Angeles area organizations. Communities in Schools of the San Fernando Valley’s award will support its Female Empowerment Program, or FEP. The program offers case management and mentoring to gang-oriented teenage girls, ages 15 to 18, in the northeast San Fernando Valley. “With the addition of The Foundation’s grant, FEP will be able to serve an additional 15 clients, for a total of 55 young women over the next year,” said William Rodriquez, the program’s executive director. New Direction for Youth Inc.’s grant will allow the group to provide 300 North Hollywood gang-related and at-risk youth, ages 14 to 25, with services that include individualized support, literacy training and structured after-school programs. Hospital Employees Donate Antelope Valley Hospital employees, volunteers and physicians donated 152 bikes, numerous helmets and $1,675 for children during the holidays, the Lancaster-based hospital announced. The donations were presented to the Marines for their Toys for Tots program. The hospital has supported the program for more than 15 years and has participated in the bike and helmet collection for eight years. “I appreciate the generosity of the employees, volunteers and physicians during the holiday season,” said Edward Mirzabegian, the hospital’s CEO. “No matter how tough times may be, AV Hospital employees always find a way to help others.” Women’s Gym Donation Total Woman Gym & Day Spa in Woodland Hills recently gave food and toys to both a local food pantry and local women’s shelter, the gym announced. The gym delivered 50 canned goods and 20 toys to the shelter on Jan. 4 and Jan. 5. The items were collected during the gym’s Old Fashion Holiday Open House that was held from Dec. 17 through Dec. 19. “The celebration was our gift to the members, who, in turn, gave to the community’s needy,” said Debbie Gordillo, day spa advisor at the Woodland Hills site. “This spirit of community is what Total Woman is all about.” Each member who brought in two canned goods or a toy was offered discounts on spa items and services. Studio Employees Volunteer Fifty employees from Hasbro Studios in Burbank recently participated in a holiday event for families at L.A. Family Housing, the studios announced. L.A. Family Housing offers supportive services for families transitioning out of homelessness and poverty. The event, which 65 families attended on Dec. 22, included activities such as face painting, arts and crafts, caricature drawings and Hasbro games. Hasbro Studio employees helped wrap more than 500 gifts at the event. Parents were able to choose up to three games and toys for each child to unwrap on Christmas. The employees also served dinner to the families. – Compiled by Jessica Vernabe