The Lake Avenue Community Foundation

Vision

We envision connecting churches across the San Gabriel Valley to those who live in economically disadvantaged communities in order that . . .

• At-risk youth have the tools necessary to thrive academically, economically, emotionally and spiritually.
• Volunteers will grow spiritually as they develop meaningful relationships with those across socio-economic barriers.
• Communities are strengthened.
• We experience a thriving interdependent community that reflects the Kingdom of God.

Mission

As a faith-based nonprofit organization, Lake Avenue Community Foundation is unleashing the God-given  potential of at-risk youth providing the tools necessary to thrive academically, emotionally, economically, and spiritually.

Goals

• Academic Success : Help students excel academically and attend college.
• Emotional Health: Help students exhibit sound judgment, good problem-solving skills and meet daily challenges that aid in their success and emotional well being.
• Economic Stability: Help students become economically responsible and stable adults.
• Spiritual Growth: Help students develop a thriving relationship with God.

Demographics

According to the 2000 Us Census, LACF serves a neighborhood containing the highest population density in Pasadena, the highest household density (4,715-7,639 per square mile), the highest household size, (over 4 persons per household). the highest Latino population density (64%, and thus the highest density of limited English proficiency student). another 13 % of our neighbors are African-American. LACF’s neighborhood has an estimated 6,160 youths, ages 5-19 years, per square mile. According to Pasadena Unified School District, this neighborhood contains the highest number of students in all of Pasadena that have free or discounted lunch meal cards for their schools. ¹

Alarmingly, it is our experience that an estimated 50% of the students in our neighborhood will drop out of high school, at best leaving them in the workplace that is already filled with the working poor. Many of our STARS students begin two or three years behind in reading literacy and one to two years behind in math. Parents of our students don’t feel they are able to provide the needed assistance with the child’s school work. Nearly all of our high school graduates are the first in their families to complete a high school education.

History

LACF was founded in March 2001 to acquire and provide resources in support of a wide variety of programs assisting poor and disadvantaged families. Our four key goals with neighborhood youth are: academic success – to help students excel academically and attend college; emotional health – to help students exhibit sound judgment, good problem-solving skills and meet daily challenges that aid in their success and emotional well being; economic stability – to help students become economically responsible and stable adults; and spiritual growth – to help students develop a thriving relationship with God.

In addition to our work with kids, LACF facilitates an outreach to the homeless in Pasadena for Lake Avenue Church. The Homeless Outreach Program focuses on breaking the cycle of poverty and hopelessness while encouraging and equipping men and women in developing intimate relationship with God, the church and their families.

LACF also partners with other non-profits and churches leveraging and maximizing efforts to provide resources to economically disadvantaged communities. We exchange information, work together to leverage resources, and undertake joint activities and initiatives in the areas of housing, education, literacy, health care, and economic development.

Programs
Together, STARS and Mentoring are in relationships with over 100 extremely low-income students in Pasadena, cultivating greater community and hope in the lives of these students and their families.

STARS is an after-school program providing academic support through homework-based tutoring, literacy, technology, training, and enrichment activities. STARS currently serves approximately 90 students K-12^th grade who attend three to four days a week and utilizes more than 80 volunteer tutors. STARS also works with families empowering parents to discover best practices for supporting their children. this includes parenting classes, counseling, support groups, nutrition education and other learning opportunities like ESL and technology classes.

Mentoring provides neighborhood students in Pasadena an opportunity to rise above the challenges of their environment to become college-educated responsible citizens of their community. The mentoring program currently works with 60 at-risk youth many of whom are also in our after-school program and utilizes more than 50 volunteer mentors. Research shows students supported by a committed, responsible adult are more likely to make better decisions, engage in fewer risky behaviors, enjoy healthier relationships, graduate from high school, and succeed in achieving their goals.

Homeless Outreach Additionally, LACF facilitates a homeless program on behalf of Lake Avenue Church. There are nearly 1,000 adults and children who are either live on the streets or in homeless facilities on a given day, like today, in the city of Pasadena. We currently serve an average of 250 meals each week to the homeless and needy in our community and provide both temporary emergency shelter and transitional housing assistance primarily for families with children and single women who are living in their cars or on the streets. In addition, LACF provides relief for families who are about to be evicted from their homes due to a variety of serious life-impacting situations, such as illness, loss of employment, apartment fires, or physical threats to their lives.