NBC4 and Telemundo 52 announced today that six Southern California-based nonprofit organizations will receive a total of $315,000 in Project Innovations 2021 grants.
The winning organizations feature programs that are addressing local community issues through creative solutions in the areas of community engagement, culture of inclusion, next generation storytelling and youth education and empowerment.
In four years, the Project Innovation grant program has awarded nearly a million dollars in grants locally.
“It is tremendously rewarding for our station to grant charitable organizations hundreds of thousands of dollars after an unprecedented year of challenges impacting communities in Southern California,” said Steve Carlston, President and General Manager of NBC4. “The donations will help provide aid to tens of thousands of families and further support communities of color to thrive.”
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This is the fourth consecutive year that both local news stations have recognized nonprofit organizations with Project Innovation grants. Since the inception of the program in 2018, the stations have awarded nearly $1 million in grants to groups providing direct services to diverse communities throughout Southern California.
“As a leading local news source and partner, we are proud to fund the 2021 recipients and support the essential work they lead to address critical issues affecting our communities every day. Issues which were magnified during the pandemic,” said Celia Chavez, President & General Manager, Telemundo 52.
Local Project Innovation 2021 grant recipients include:
One-to-One Advocacy: Court Appointed Special Advocates for Youth advocates volunteer their time to be the eyes and ears of the court for thousands of children and teens in Los Angeles County’s foster care system. Watch an NBC4 story on the organization here.
EmpowHer Youth Program is a social-emotional learning initiative that integrates its programming at several high schools in South Los Angeles and beyond to support teenage girls’ development, offering essential resources including mentoring, embracing the power of their voices, engaging in social justice, and learning STEAM.
Koreatown Storytelling Program extends the group’s Intergenerational Initiative designed to promote a greater understanding and respect between generations in the diverse Koreatown community. The grant will focus on a multilingual, multiethnic oral history and digital storytelling with high school students and elders to investigate the racial, economic and health issues in the community. Watch an NBC4 story on the organization here.
Rise Up & Lead: Las Memorias Internship Program will reach Latinx and LGBTQ+ communities to provide education, leadership, mentorship, networking, and other tools to encourage the next generation of strong civic leaders. The group focuses its work in the greater East Los Angeles area and beyond. Watch an NBC4 story on the organization here.
COVID-19 Relief Family Support Outreach Program reaches thousands of San Bernardino families, particularly African American and Latinx, to provide essential resources during the pandemic and its aftermath. The group also offers support to younger generations through education, employment, leadership building, violence prevention and mentoring.
Fire, Science and Safety Program will raise awareness about fire prevention. This one-of-a-kind program will educate children and families about fire safety through a permanent, interactive exhibit at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. The exhibit will reach hundreds of thousands of people every year to teach about burn prevention, the science of fire and help ensure fire safety at home.
NBC4 in the Community
Project Innovation is presented by the Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation and NBC and Telemundo owned stations located in 11 markets, including NBC4/KNBC and Telemundo 52/KVEA. Grant applications opened January 8 and closed on February 12. This year, the program funding levels increased in each market to $315,000 up from $225,000 and to $3.475 million across the 11 markets, up from $2.475 million.
To learn more about Project Innovation and this year’s local recipients, visit www.nbcla.com/community. To see a complete list of winners nationwide, click here.
