Clippers Foundation to Donate $3 Million over 3 Years to City Year Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA – Sept. 11, 2015 – The L.A. Clippers Foundation re-launched today with a historic three-year, $3 million commitment, with matching challenge, to City Year Los Angeles, as part of the City Year Opening Day Ceremonies at Microsoft Square in downtown Los Angeles. This is the largest donation and multi-year commitment City Year has received from the private sector, and is also the single largest cash gift in the history of the L.A. Clippers.
The donation will provide essential support to City Year programs in Los Angeles. Moreover, it symbolizes the Clippers’ franchise goal to be a highly engaged and active member of the community, with a relentless focus on improving the lives of kids most in need of support and services.
“City Year is a vital, important organization that embodies our Foundation’s mission of making a positive difference, every day, to children in L.A.,” said Gillian Zucker, President of Business Operations, L.A. Clippers. “The donation to City Year demonstrates that the L.A. Clippers – from our owner Steve Ballmer to head coach Doc Rivers to every member of the organization - is committed to investing in the education of children in Southern California.”
The Clippers Foundation will focus its support on City Year’s work in five of L.A.’s highest need elementary schools, all located in Watts, continuing the Foundation’s long tradition of providing a strong and positive presence in that community. More than 3,000 students a year will be impacted by the Clippers Foundation in the five targeted schools (93rd Street Elementary School, 99th Street Elementary School, 109th Street Elementary School, 122nd Street Elementary School and Compton Avenue Elementary School).
"The Clippers Foundation gift is transformational for City Year Los Angeles — one that allows us to grow into the largest full-time AmeriCorps program in all of California and the largest City Year corps in the country. This means thousands of kids will get the support they need to succeed in school and beyond," said Andrew Hauptman, Chairman of Andell Inc., and Co-Founder and Chair of City Year Los Angeles. "We are incredibly grateful to Steve Ballmer, Gillian Zucker, Doc Rivers and the entire L.A. Clippers organization for this investment in City Year and in our city’s young people.”
The Clippers Foundation gift will enable teams of 7-12 AmeriCorps members to serve full-time at each school as tutors, mentors and role models to the students who are in need of additional care and support.
In 2014, at least one Watts high school reported a graduation rate of only 51%. The investment in these five schools by the Clippers Foundation will provide a vital foundation for students – 41% of whom are classified as English Language Learners – at the beginning of their educational path and provide them with the early intervention needed to stay on track and graduate.
To reflect the scope of the Clippers Foundation investment, the Clippers logo will also be featured on the jackets worn by AmeriCorps members in the five targeted schools.
The Clippers Foundation aims to set a new benchmark for community impact in professional sports, with a strategy to raise funds and challenge partners to match our donations with public and private funds.
OUR CALLING: CLIPPERS FOUNDATION
Every day, we’ll make a positive difference to a child in L.A.
To meet this commitment, the L.A. Clippers Foundation will first understand their educational environments, from classroom to playground to living room, in communities across Southern California.
The greatest resource of the Clippers Foundation is inspiration, channeled from our players, organization and Clipper Nation. Our greatest tool is investment, through singular grants that set a new benchmark in actual funds and true transparency. Our greatest gift is mobilizing contribution and commitment from everyone we call Partner, including colleagues, corporate sponsors and the community at large.
In every way, our mission is to inspire a child to make a positive difference in their L.A.
For more information on the Clippers Foundation, visit www.clippers.com/Foundation
ABOUT CITY YEAR LOS ANGELES
City Year is an education-focused, nonprofit organization founded in 1988 that partners with public schools and teachers to help keep students in school and on track to succeed. In 25 communities across the United States and through two international affiliates, this innovative public-private partnership brings together teams of young AmeriCorps members who commit to a year of full-time service in schools. Corps members provide individual support to students who need extra care and attention, focusing on attendance, behavior, and course performance through in-class tutoring, mentoring, and after school programs.