Photo by Malcolm Ali Left to right: Ted Hope, Eddie Martinez, Charisse Bremond Weaver, Jessica Peres and Assemblymember Mike Davis

On Friday, February 29, State Farm Public Affairs Specialist Eddie Martinez and Agent Ted Hope, along Assistant Jessica Peres presented the Brotherhood Crusade Youth Initiative Programs with a check for $100,000. This grant, funded by The State Farm Youth Advisory Board, will be used to expand Brotherhood Crusade’s existing educationally-enriched Mentoring Program in South Los Angeles.

“These funds will enable children from environments where gang influence is stronger than academic success to benefit from peer-mentoring,” said President and CEO Charisse Bremond Weaver. “We believe that positive peer pressure can be just as effective as the reverse.”

The Brotherhood Mentor Program is founded on the principles of service-learning, which is designed to impact and create meaningful change in the lives of youth, within and beyond the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Brotherhood Crusade is one of 68 organizations to receive a service-learning, youth-led grant across the United States and Canada. More than 300 grant requests were received by the Board.

The State Farm Youth Advisory Board, a diverse group of 30 youth, ages 17-20, was chosen through a competitive process to lead and oversee this $5 million/year signature service-learning initiative. The Youth Board identified the issues, issued competitive grants and will now provide technical assistance, communication and oversight to site grantees. The grants funded student-led service-learning projects in the United States and in the Alberta, New Brunswick and Ontario provinces of Canada.

“State Farm supports service-learning because it combines service to the community with classroom curriculum in a hands-on approach to mastering subject material while fostering civic responsibility,” said Samona Caldwell, PA Manager/CA Zone. “The State Farm Youth Advisory Board is a prime example of State Farm’s commitment to education, our community and our youth.”

The check ceremony was held in front of 30 middle-schoolers at Horace Mann Middle School in Los Angeles. Assemblymember Mike Davis, who was also on hand for the presentation, encouraged the youth to steer clear of gangs and complete their education.

The Brotherhood Crusade is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit institution founded in 1968 to provide necessary resources, program services and a voice of advocacy to traditionally underserved communities. Our mission is to remove and/or help individuals overcome the barriers that deter their pursuit of success and facilitate opportunities for a better quality of life, by promoting health and wellness, enhancing educational opportunities, cultivating economic growth and building community agencies and institutions.

If you would like to make a contribution to the Brotherhood Crusade, please send your tax-deductible gift to: Brotherhood Crusade, 200 E. Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, Ca 90011. Visit the website at www.brotherhoodcrusade.org.

Published in : Family, Education

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