The Foundation’s special initiatives span numerous years and include an evaluation component.
Areté Rising2022 | Education |
Founded in 2022, Areté Rising is a social enterprise that grew out of the work of the Leonetti/O’Connell Family Foundation. Areté Rising exists to create economic opportunity for young adults through increasing access to curated information, higher education, and customized career guidance. Areté Rising operates three distinct programs: |
altPath is a technology tool for youth to discover and compare career tracks and higher education pathways. Launching Fall 2022. altAid offers hardship grants for youth facing financial challenges impacting their enrollment in higher education. Launching early 2023. LOC Scholars is a scholarship program empowering exceptional students to attain Bachelor’s degrees. |
LOCaid Hardship Grant Program2021 | Basic Needs | $180,000 2020 | Basic Needs | $60,000 2019 | Basic Needs | $60,000 |
The LOCaid hardship grant program assists college students who are experiencing unexpected financial difficulties which may impact enrollment. For many students, a small, unexpected expense – a medical bill, car breakdown, or increase in child care costs – that stretches their budget can lead to them dropping out of college. |
It is estimated that nearly 3 million students face such financial crises each year and leave school over an expense of less than $1,000. With at least one-third of all students saying that they don’t have $500 on hand for emergencies, the LOCaid program aims to support students through these financial crises. |
Past Initiatives
Math Leadership Corps, Loyola Marymount University2019 | Education | $375,000 2018 | Education | $750,000 2017 | Education | $550,000 2016 | Education | $830,000 |
From 2012-2020, MLC partnered with school districts to find sustainable solutions to grow students as mathematical thinkers, problem solvers, and self-regulated learners using a participatory problem-solving approach. Teachers and administrators use this problem solving process to improve student learning and agency, ultimately resulting in student achievement. |
MLC launched in 2013 to guide school districts in their implementation of the then recently adopted Common Core Standards in mathematics by working closely with teachers and administrators and providing professional development that promotes mathematical understanding as well as procedural skill. Beginning Fall 2020, WestEd is scaling MLC's participatory problem solving process by working with school districts to implement new math standards and curricula. For more information contact WestEd. |
Interest Free Micro Loan Fund at Magnolia Place, Jewish Free Loan Association2020 | Com. Dev. & Basic Needs | $50,000 2019 | Com.Dev. & Basic Needs | $70,000 2018 | Com.Dev. & Basic Needs | $45,000 2017 | Com. Dev. & Basic Needs | $33,000 2016 | Com. Dev. & Basic Needs | $275,000 |
The Interest Free Micro Loan Fund offers no cost loans to residents of the Magnolia catchment area in Los Angeles. The loans are administered by JFLA, a nonprofit organization that helps people by offering no cost loans to residents of Los Angeles County. |
For many, JFLA's interest free loans offer a source of clean capital in the face of dire financial circumstances. Many interest-free loans are used to prevent eviction, keep utilities on, and provide emergency medical and dental care. Others use the interest-free loans for tuition, books, lab fees, and transportation to and from school. Additionally, JFLA has seen an increase in clients seeking small business loans for product investment. |