Project Access

Project Access creates opportunities for the empowerment of low-income residents living in affordable housing communities, to achieve greater self-sufficiency and independence through access to education, health and human services.

Looking for a way to get involved?

TOP 5 Current Needs of Project Access

5 new desktop computers
Sponsors for the September 17th PATRONS Fundraiser
Dedicated Board Members representing the Corporate Community
A printing services partner
Cash donations to help us reach our 2005 fundraising goal

If you can help, please call (949) 253-6200 x305. Thank you!

SAVE THE DATE! - September 17, 2005

The Fun and Excitement of Las Vegas are
Coming to the OC!

A party you won’t want to miss.

Check our website for details http://www.project-access.org/

Sponsorships opportunities are available!

David’s Reading Capacity Improves Four Levels at Warwick Square, Santa Ana
By Mercy Ugarte, UCLA Masters Student and AmeriCorps Volunteer

When I first began as an AmeriCorps tutor, I met David , who is eight years old. He was not timid or shy until I suggested that we read a book together. Then, he became embarrassed and his confidence disappeared because he knew he could not read at his third grade level. So, we began by reading books for kindergarteners – sitting together for an hour a day, five days a week, learning new words, playing word games, and having a great time doing it. Soon, his self-confidence began to improve along with his reading, and he was no longer scared to open a book, or to attempt to read it. David is now able to read books at a 3^rd grade level, and we have turned our focus to reading comprehension. David is learning to read because his mother, his teacher, my fellow AmeriCorps members and I have all been open about his challenges, strengths, progress, and goals. My work with Project Access embodies the African proverb, “It takes a village to raise a child”, and has taught me that many people in the community have a role in the lives of our children. David ’s life has changed because we all want to help him grow and succeed.

Perspective on Project Access from Someone Who Knows and Cares
By Juan Carlos Araque, Ph.D., Board of Directors, Project Access
Youth Development/Capacity-Building Coordinator, Instructional Services Division, Orange County Department of Education

It is hard to believe that it was 15 years ago today that I arrived in the United States with just a couple of suit cases and very little money. Since then, this country has offered me opportunities that I had only dreamed of when I was growing up – a wonderful family, the highest possible education, a great job, and a safe and caring community. Because of the resources available in this country, I am an example that all of these accomplishments are possible to achieve.

The availability of these resources is one of the main reasons I joined the Project Access Board of Directors. I would like to continue supporting new immigrants in their pursuit of self-sufficiency by providing them with opportunities and services that are essential to their livelihood. Project Access offers not only a bridge to improve the lives of children, adults, and seniors, but a distinct sense of community. Onsite resource centers for low income families operate as a safety net for parents, and their efforts to bring up children in positive ways and live in safe and caring communities. I would like to thank all of you who provide any kind of support – time and/or financial – to make these programs available to families, and an essential venue to share successful human stories. We need your continuous support. Please, keep giving!

¡Siempre adelante!
(Always looking forward!)

St. George’s Academy students deserve a rest after running for a great cause!

On April 26th, the philanthropic students at St. George’s Academy in Laguna Niguel jogged in support of the low-income residents Project Access supports in the southland. After raising sponsorship dollars from their family, friends and local businesses, kindergarten through 8th grade students and teachers alike took to the pavement and ran a course set up on the school campus. Project Access sends a special thank you to the students and teachers, as well as to the Booster Club leaders, Jana Blair and Marilyn Sorenson, who made it all happen.

PATRONS “Mixer for a Mission” at Taleo is a Tremendous Success!

PATRONS (L-R) Loretta Duberow , Linda Wirta and Janina Pietsch enjoy festivities at Taleo

Exec. Director Lane Macy accepts check from Wells Fargo’s Armando de la Libertad

PATRONS (L-R) Kellie Newcombe, Michael Ortwein and Adam Cleary proudly display their giving tree apples – thank you!

In partnership with Irvine’s Taléo Mexican Grill, PATRONS for Project Access hosted its inaugural fundraiser on April 26, welcoming friends and supporters to a lively evening of socializing and networking for its worthy cause. The evening’s festivities included creative and delicious south of the border appetizers, a Pinot Noir wine tasting, and cigars custom rolled by La Habana Cigar Company, all generously hosted by Taléo. A small silent auction and a “giving tree” provide opportunities to make direct contributions to the organization, and in the end more than $10,500 was netted in support of Project Access’ programs across the southland. Highlights of the evening included a presentation by Wells Fargo Vice President Armando de la Libertad, who presented a $7,500 grant check to Project Access (over and above what was raised as the event) in support of the Project Access after-school and enrichment program for youth. THANK YOU to all who came out to attend this event to show your support! We hope to see you this Fall at Viva Las Vegas!

Summer Camp is Around the Corner!

A generous grant from Foundation for Social Resources, matched three-for-one by the YMCA of Orange County, will give 31 children from five Project Access sites the opportunity to attend summer camp in July. The one-week camp, which is located in Angelus Oaks, features swimming, mountain biking, and a variety of other outdoor activities. Board Member Juan Carlos Araque has arranged for bus transportation for the children from two sites to be donated through the Orange County Department of Education. Thank you all for making this once in a lifetime opportunity availability to these kids!

First Book Partnership Takes Off

Project Access has inaugurated a new partnership with First Book Orange County – a program that distributes books to low-income children with the goal of encouraging reading and giving each child a start on building a personal library. Not only has an initial donation to Project Access of 380 books in three reading levels already been received, a recent request was just granted for an additional $3,600 worth of book credits for the youth of the Project Access Family Resource Centers, to be distributed over the course of a year to 150 children who are in the 2nd and 3rd grades. THANK YOU First Book!

Project Access greatly values all of our donors and supporters each and every day – many thanks to you all for your belief in our mission and your investment in our cause! We take this opportunity to highlight a few recent gifts:

The Project Access After-School Tutoring and Enrichment Program has been significantly expanded through a generous $18,000 grant from the Draper Family Foundation through the Orange County Community Foundation. Specialized enrichment curricula developed by the Service Coordinators in areas such as marine science and history will be followed by field trips to relevant destinations. A section designed to make college a realistic goal, including information about financial aid and scholarships, will include a visit to a local campus.

The Project Access partnership with the local AmeriCorps Alliance has been further strengthened by a $10,000 grant from the Staples Foundation. The AmeriCorps Alliance, which is based out of Cal State Fullerton, has begun recruiting for the 2005-2006 placement year, and Project Access has requested twenty-one of the highly-leveraged specialists - who provide invaluable one-on-one assistance in academic tutoring, as well as group instruction in character education and physical education.

Research is underway into the costs and other challenges involved in owning and operating a Mobile Resource Center, which would allow Project Access to reach low-income families living at housing developments with no space for an onsite resource center. The success enjoyed by the outreach educational programs of the Anaheim City School District and the Orange County Rescue Mission have encouraged further investigation into potential sources of financial and in-kind support for this ambitious initiative. If you can help make this dream a reality, please call (949 )253-6200 x302.

The Project Access Adult Capacity-Building initiative has received support through a $2,500 grant from Commercial Capital Bank Community Foundation. This partnership, which will also provide materials and volunteer teachers, covers two areas of the initiative – basic financial literacy and achieving financial goals – and will provide education to residents at many sites in credit counseling, the prevention of financial abuse, and adult financial education.

Pepsi Bottling Group has generously donated $2,500 to Project Access in support of our annual health fairs, held at each Project Access Resource Center. Not only have they provided the financial help, but Pepsi will also participate in each fair by bringing a bouncy house and games for the kids, and by passing out healthy snacks and drinks for the residents. THANK YOU, Marisa Perez and PEPSI!

Special appreciation is also extended to a new Project Access partner, Cox, Castle Nicholson Ltd., one of the largest real estate law firms in the United States, who recently donated $2,500 in support of the charity’s general operations. THANK YOU, to our friends at Cox, Castle, Nicholson.

Service Coordinator Rocio Flores and Project Assistant Eric Lam have designed and started a new program for just for teens at the Project Access Family Resource Center at the Park Vista Apartments in Anaheim. The pilot program includes activities and discussions that will engage adolescents in confronting issues such as peer pressure, music and drugs, violence and the media, and other challenging topics.

Eric Lam – who has been serving as the Project Assistant in the Main Office – has been promoted to Service Coordinator to manage our new centers in Westminster – the Stratford Place Family Resource Center and the Windsor Court Senior Resource Center, both of which open mid-July. Eric graduated from University of California at San Diego this month, and has just begun his full-time employment with Project Access. Welcome aboard, Eric!

Special Recognition for One Exceptional AmeriCorps Volunteer Who has Impacted More than 100 Lives!

AmeriCorps Academic Tutoring Specialist, Elizabeth Forsman, was honored by the Orange County Volunteer Center at the 29th Annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards Luncheon on April 14th. Elizabeth was nominated for her inspiring commitment to Project Access at theNorth Hills Family Resource Center in Fullerton where she brings exceptional talent, energy and creativity to her work as an AmeriCorps tutor. She is deeply invested in the lives of the low-income children she serves, and her vision and enthusiasm are an inspiration to everyone who works with her. During the more than 900 hours she has served at Project Access since February 2004, Elizabeth has worked with more than 100 children. THANK YOU, ELIZABETH! WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL YOU DO FOR US AND FOR THE CHILDREN!

Elizabeth Forsman, AmeriCorps Volunteer at the Project Access Family Resource Center at North Hills Apartments, Fullerton

We could use your help in filling the following key positions currently open. If you know of anyone qualified, please feel free to forward these descriptions on:

F/T Senior Service Coordinator for the Golden West Tower (Senior) Apartments, which are located in the city of Torrance . Responsibilities include: overseeing the overall development and coordination of programs and services offered to residents; assisting the resident seniors in maintaining independence and the highest possible quality of life; networking with local service providers to present services onsite for residents, working with property management staff, and managing the resource center staff and volunteers. The position requires a bilingual speaker fluent in the Korean and/or Japanese language. The annual compensation is $30,000-$35,000 (commensurate with experience) and includes benefits.

F/T Service Coordinator for the Project Access Family Resource Center at Malabar Apartments in Garden Grove , and for the Sea Wind Apartments in Anaheim . The Service Coordinator is responsible for the overall development and coordination of programs and services located at the two sites. Services are offered daily for the benefit of residents, which include youth, adults and the elderly who live in the community. The Service Coordinator will connect with the local service providers to present services onsite for residents, work with property management, and manage staff and volunteers to deliver services. The position requires a bilingual speaker fluent in Spanish. The annual compensation is $30,000- $33,000 (commensurate with experience) and includes benefits.

P/T Senior Service Coordinator for our Project Access Senior Resource Center at Camino del sol in Oxnard . The Senior Service Coordinator is responsible for the overall development and coordination of programs and services offered to seniors living independently at Camino del sol so that they are assisted in obtaining the services they need to maintain independence and the highest possible quality of life. The Coordinator will connect with local service providers to present services onsite for residents, work with property management, and manage staff and volunteers to deliver services. The position requires a bilingual speaker fluent in Spanish. The position is eight hours a week, at $11.00 an hour, and includes limited benefits.

Project Access raises funds to bring vital education, health and social services to low-income families and seniors in Southern California .

A gift to Project Access helps break the cycle of poverty through education and empowerment. If you believe in the goals of Project Access and would like to help by making a donation or volunteering, please contact Hillary Niblo, Development Director, at (949) 253-6200 x305 to discuss the current needs of the organization.

Tax deductible financial and in-kind donations are gratefully appreciated throughout the year. Please, Make checks payable to: Project Access, Inc.
Mail to: to 4029 Westerly Place, Suite 113 , Newport Beach , CA 92660

Visa, MasterCard, American Express and stock transfers are also gladly accepted.

*Notify us if your company has a matching gift program, and we will be glad to provide the necessary documentation.

Thank you for your generous support.

The Project Access E-Newsletter is an online publication of Project Access, a nonprofit organization that brings together affordable housing providers and community service agencies to offer residents the resources needed to enhance the quality of their lives.

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Copyright © 2004 by Project Access, Inc. The text and images of this newsletter may not be reproduced without the written consent of Project Access. All rights reserved.