KYCC was selected as the recipient of a $500,000 grant as part of the 2018 Community Progress Makers Fund. The Fund is a $20 million, two-year initiative by the Citi Foundation to support high-impact community organizations that are driving economic opportunities in our communities by bringing together residents, nonprofits, businesses, and municipal agencies. KYCC joins a group of 40 change agents who are playing a key role in coordinating the efforts of multiple partners toward common goals and working in new ways to address urban challenges in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, San Francisco Bay Area, and Washington D.C., and is the only Korean American organization included.
Through the fund, KYCC will design and implement the integration of financial capability programs into our social service programs.
“We launched this program in 2015 as our version of ‘venture philanthropy’ – a chance to invest in the vision and mission of these organizations who are helping positively transform their communities,” said Brandee McHale, President of the Citi Foundation. “We’re pleased with the results from our inaugural Community Progress Makers and are looking forward to implementing the lessons we’ve learned with this next, impressive group of community leaders as they scale, innovate and drive impact.”
“Communities thrive when families are healthy and stable,” says Johng Ho Song, KYCC Executive Director. “The most vulnerable population in Koreatown, the recently immigrated socio-economically disadvantaged families, are confronted with additional challenges due to the gentrification of the community. To help families cope with the financial complexities of living in Los Angeles, KYCC will integrate financial capability services into all of our social services. The Community Progress Makers Fund will allow us to design the service integration model and build the capacity of our social workers to enhance the impact of our services on our youth and their families.”
In 2016-2017, the inaugural cohort of Community Progress Makers helped more than 14,700 low-income people secure financial assets; built over 10,500 affordable housing units; strengthened more than 1,100 small businesses; and connected 1,800 young people to jobs in their communities.
On Apr. 27, The Korea Times wrote a piece on KYCC receiving this grant.
Below is a list of 2018 Community Progress Makers in Los Angeles:
East LA Community Corporation
Homeboy Industries
Koreatown Youth & Community Center
LISC Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation
Los Angeles LGBT Center
United Way of Greater Los Angeles
