The SAM Initiative has announced that L.A. Kitchen, Food Forward, and The Downtown Women’s Center of Los Angeles will be the recipients of this year’s grants totaling $170,000. All three recipients are addressing the community’s most pressing issues of food insecurity and homelessness, according to the initiative.
The initiative is comprised of a group of individuals from Santa Monica and the Westside who have pooled their financial resources and experience to fund and support programs that promote social change.
“We seek to select causes that reflect our passions and we focus on community needs where we can have the greatest impact,” said SAM founder, Mindy Freedman. “The projects to which we awarded grants this year fit with our goal of supporting social change through Sustainability, Accountability and Movement (SAM).”
“The success of The SAM Initiative is due to the collaborative efforts and contributions of its members,” Freedman added. “This group is interested in learning about current issues that face our community and dedicated to making a meaningful difference.”
A $70,000 grant from The SAM Initiative will be used to support wages and fund an apprenticeship program for L.A. Kitchen’s Strong Food social enterprise business. This program will provide the life skills, training, and mentorship to ensure employment success.
Food Forward will receive a grant of $60,000 to support its mission in rescuing fresh local produce that would otherwise go to waste, connecting this abundance with people in need.
The Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) will receive a grant of $40,000 to fund critical move in costs and provide housing and intensive case management services for 50 women.
As The SAM Initiative approaches its fourth funding cycle, it plans to continue building relationships within the community that can have meaningful impact, according to the organization. For more info go to: SAMInitiative.org
