Socially Responsible Housing Creates 30 New Homes

This is a regular feature on philanthropic activities by Valley-area businesspeople and companies. The Glendale Housing Authority and the San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity presented a new affordable housing development in Glendale on June 5. Eleven families received keys to their new town homes at the development’s grand opening ceremony, according to a statement released by the city. The Glendale Housing Authority contributed $1.5 million in funding assistance in the form of land and silent second mortgage for the homebuyers, according to the statement. The San Gabriel Valley Habitat for Humanity provided volunteer labor, donated materials and fundraising. The Glendale Housing Authority also provided $4.2 million for the project, which cost about $13 million to develop. The Housing Authority of the County of Los Angeles also contributed funds. The project, completed in February, is located at 303 E. Garfield Ave. within the East Garfield Neighborhood Revitalization Area. It provides rental housing for low-income residents. “It met affordable housing needs, it removed blight and it created public improvements to the area,” said Sona Mooradian, administrative analyst for the Glendale’s Redevelopment and Housing division. Grants Partners in Care now has a building to run its health education programs after receiving grants from charitable organizations, the San Fernando-based organization announced. Partners in Care, which provides community health screenings and health education programs, used a $250,000 grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation and a $200,000 grant from the Ahmanson Foundation for the building, said Maureen Finan, the organization’s vice president of strategic communications. The S. Mark Taper Health Innovation Center was presented at Partner in Care’s grand opening event on June 10 with health education programs operating out of the building by the next day, she added. “We have this wonderful new facility to expand the staff (and) run those programs,” Finan said. “We can actually house workshops here now.” The organization provides programs such as Healthier Living, which teaches chronic disease self-management tools, and Matter of Balance, which teaches strengthening exercises to increase stability and prevent falls. Renovation of the building, which was formerly an unused part of Mission Community Hospital’s San Fernando campus, was completed earlier this month, Finan said. The Gardens on Garfield generated over 4,000 applications for 30 available units. The City selected 240 applicants through a lottery and rigorous qualification process. New volunteer program Outsourced sales provider Cydcor is launching a program that connects its sales team members with low- to no-cost volunteer opportunities, the Westlake Village-based company announced. The “Cydcor Cares” program will create opportunities for its members to volunteer at local organizations, such as food kitchens and literacy programs at public libraries, according to a statement released by the company. The team members can also “adopt” elementary schools and provide services such as tutoring, reading, music, drama and coaching. “At Cydcor, community involvement is paramount, which is why we provide every team member with a ‘Volunteer Day,’ of eight paid hours they can use at any time of the year,” said Cydcor CEO Gary Polson. “Our Cydcor Cares program will enable them to take advantage of additional opportunities and resources to use those volunteer hours.” In the past, Cydcor members have participated in various volunteer activities, such as a Heal the Bay beach clean-up and a toy drive for Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, the statement said. Sharing Proceeds Salon Syndicate and Jersey Mike’s Subs celebrated grand openings of their new locations in Encino and Calabasas by donating sales and goods for charitable causes. Salon Syndicate decided to donate 20 percent of the sales from its grand opening event on June 17 to Encino firefighters, the company announced. The donations were set to go to Los Angeles Fire Department Station 83, according to a statement released by the salon. The salon also agreed to donate 10 percent of any booked services. The owners of a new Jersey Mike’s Subs restaurant, which opened in Calabasas on June 16, also agreed to help raise funds for the community. “We firmly believe that as small business owners, it is our responsibility to help support the community,” restaurant co-owner Lisa Sutter said in the statement. From June 16 through June 20, the restaurant agreed to provide a free regular-size sub sandwich for any donation of at least $1 to local schools, according to a statement released by business. The proceeds were set to go to Lupin Hill Elementary School and Arthur E. Wright Middle School. Donations The PPG Industries Foundation has donated a total of $19,500 to four schools near the PPG Industries aerospace business headquarters in Sylmar. The funding supports programs to help students improve their California Standardized Test scores as well as those that help them to build confidence and self-esteem. The recipient schools are Harding Elementary, Sylmar; Herrick Avenue Elementary School, Sylmar; Olive Vista Middle School, Sylmar; Pacoima Middle School, Pacoima.