The Ahmanson Foundation nnual eport A 2005R beverly hills, california The Ahmanson Foundation 9215 Wilshire Boulevard Beverly Hills, California 90210 (310) 278-0770 Table of Contents Mission Statement.................................................................................5 Message from the President...................................................................7 Message from the Managing Director ...................................................8 Profile of Approved Grants 2005 .........................................................11 Five Year Comparative Profile.............................................................11 List of Grants 2005..............................................................................13 Grants in Focus Museum Associates / Los Angeles County Museum of Art Two Acquisitions..............................................................14 Verbum Dei High School: Work Study Program ................................................................26 JWCH Institute, Inc.: Radiology Services for Homeless Clients at the Weingart Center .....................................................38 Dramatic Results: Math In A Basket Program.......................................................48 Arroyo Vista Family Health Foundation: Community Health Center in Lincoln Heights......................56 Chandler School: Summer Enrichment Program for Public School Youth (A collaborative effort of Chandler, Mayfield Senior, Polytechnic and Westridge Schools).....................................66 Hillsides: Transitional Living Program for Emancipating Foster Youth ....76 General Guidelines and Perspective of Interests.................................102 Eligibility and Limitations..................................................................103 Suggested Procedures.........................................................................104 Financial Summary ............................................................................106 Trustees, Officers and Staff ................................................................108 Mission Statement he Ahmanson Foundation, incorporated as a private foundation in the State of California in 1952, was established by financier Howard F. Ahmanson, and his wife Dorothy. Its corpus was augmented in later years by his two nephews Robert H. Ahmanson and William H. TAhmanson. The Foundation’s broad purpose, as stated in the articles of incorporation, is to administer funds for charitable, scientific, educational, literary, and religious purposes, all for the public welfare. Currently the Foundation concentrates its funding on cultural projects supporting the arts, education at the collegiate and precollegiate levels, medicine and delivery of health care services, specialized library collec- tions, programs related to homelessness and low-income populations, preservation of the environment, and a wide range of human service projects. The vast majority of the Foundation’s philanthropy is directed toward organizations and institutions based in and serving the greater Los Angeles community. Simultaneously, the Foundation is particularly committed to the support of non-profit organizations and institutions which continually demonstrate sound fiscal management, responsibility to efficient operation, and program integrity. Through such focused interests and shared vision with the non-profit sector the Foundation endeavors to increase the quality of life in Southern California and to enhance its cultural legacy. 5 6 The Ahmanson Foundation Message from the President hese two most recent years have yielded more economic promise than those that began the 21st century resulting in our ability to increase funding to non-profit institutions and agencies in need of Tsupport. When faced with the economic downturn that followed the growth experienced in the last decade of the previous century, we modified our funding behavior in order to position ourselves to continue to serve the community. This modified practice was followed for several years by maintaining the general number of grants made in the 1990s and by not restricting our giving to institutions and agencies with whom we had an established relationship, but remaining open to new and broad ranging needs. However, we reduced the magnitude of grants for capital requests. Maintaining that course, with due fairness and consistency, we have been able in more recent years to increase both capital capacity and programmatic contributions to human services. We continue to prioritize our responsibility to the non-profit community and to the good of society by finding means for sustaining the quality of services and the integrity of programs that meet so many human needs. Since the founding of The Ahmanson Foundation over 17,000 grants have been made which equal two-thirds of the size of its current endowment in dollars. We are mindful and grateful for the good work that is being accomplished by the non-profit community and remain dedicated to helping them sustain their effort. Robert H. Ahmanson President July, 2006 Annual Report 2005 7 Message from the Managing director n a world faced with turmoil, chaos and uncertainty, it is often difficult to rise to a point where one can overcome one’s frustrations and concerns and look to the genuine needs of people who are victims of Ithis climate. It becomes apparent, however, that the institutions and their leadership, as represented in the grants that have been highlighted in this Annual Report, have all applied a vision that offers true hope for the people they serve. Providing a path to growth and greater meaning in an individual’s life yields hope. Without it, life becomes entrenched in anger, confusion and little accomplishment. With it life becomes filled with expectations, dreams and achievable goals. At Verbum Dei High School in the heart of a severely impoverished community, young male students participate in a curriculum which includes academic studies and applied work opportunities in order to prepare them with skills and tools to work in a business or professional environment while completing all the standard requirements for a high school diploma. Academic rigor and job-readiness skills obviously yield greater hope for a promising future. The services provided at the JWCH Clinic in the Weingart Center offer the homeless population of Skid Row prompt access to a digital radiology system which can track their medical diagnosis and make referrals to specialized care. For years there have been minimal availability and continuity to health services within this environment. Math In A Basket is a program brought to the public schools at the 5th grade level introducing children to conceptual elements of geometry while applying them to the artful creation of basketry. Success in mathematics is a building process and when one gets behind, it is difficult to continue to move forward. This unique program brings the discipline and joy of creativity to a field of study that often is a major challenge for young people. 8 The Ahmanson Foundation Four of Pasadena’s independent schools pool their resources each summer and offer courses and recreation to students from the public school system. Each school site is organized to meet specific academic goals within appropriate age groups. The opportunity of experiencing life and study on the campus of these independent schools along with support and help from independent and public faculty, help to inspire life-long learners. Arroyo Vista Family Health Center has had a history of perpetual growth. Today its many clinics bring primary, preventive and specialty care to over 120,000 unduplicated patients who are uninsured or underinsured, and who otherwise would not have access to quality health care. Serious mention should be given to the emancipation of foster youth and the brilliant manner in which Hillsides has developed a program to address this important issue. Much of this fragile population becomes homeless or unable to survive without the special support this program brings to self-sufficiency and independence. Lastly, one cannot overlook the perpetual hope that is focused in the Arts. As a core area of the Humanities, the visual arts provide interpretive expression to the finest achievement humanity is able to reach. In both genres of sculpture and painting, quality gifts were made this year to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. As you read these highlights and peruse the many grants listed in this report, I trust that you will discover how many of them provide HOPE for the people living and working in the greater Los Angeles area. Lee Walcott Managing Director July, 2006 Annual Report 2005 9 10 The Ahmanson Foundation Profile of Approved Grants 2005 In Dollars •$46,038,405 In Numbers • 511 Culture $8,820,700 19% Culture 81 16% Education 16,699,800 36% Education 209 41% Health 10,137,305 22% Health 57 11% Human Services 10,380,600 23% Human Services 164 32% New Grantees 68 • 13% Five Year Comparative Profile 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 Dollars $32,563,705 $18,913,706 $25,383,343 $37,591,350 $46,038,405 Culture 25% 20% 22% 30% 19% Education (incl. Arts Ed.) 28% 40% 44% 30% 36% Health 30% 9.5% 10% 20% 22% Human Services (incl. Religion) 16% 30.5% 24% 20% 23% Number of Grants 489 458 446 449 511 Culture 17% 18% 19% 18% 16% Education (incl. Arts Ed.) 40% 39% 39% 37% 41% Health 10% 9% 10% 12% 11% Human Services (incl. Religion) 33% 34% 32% 33% 32% New Grantees 18% 16% 15% 13% 13% Annual Report 2005 11 The Ahmanson Foundation List