THE PORT OF LOS ANGELES ANNOUNCES THIS YEAR’S COMMUNITY AWARD GRANT RECIPIENTS

LOS ANGELES - Oct. 3, 2024 - The Port of Los Angeles has awarded $1.23 million in grants to 40 local organizations to support programs, projects and events benefiting the Los Angeles Harbor area communities of Wilmington and San Pedro. A total of 65 organizations applied for Fiscal Year 2024/25 funding from the Port's Community Investment Grant Program, which has supported a total of 374 community grants totaling more than $12 million since the program began in 2014.

"These grants represent an important investment in organizations playing an important role in delivering services and programs benefiting our surrounding communities," said Los Angeles Harbor Commission President Lucille Roybal-Allard. "The Port is proud to support these local efforts that do so much to improve the well-being and quality of life in the harbor area."

"The Port's success over the last decade has resulted in millions of dollars to local organizations, providing a consistent and dependable stream of funding for those doing great work in our communities," said Port Executive Director Gene Seroka. "It's the Port's privilege to assist this year's diverse group of local organizations."

Grants were awarded in two categories: large (over $100,000) and general (under $100,000). Grants are funded through Port shipping fees and leasing revenues--not taxpayer funded.

This year, the two organizations receiving first-year large grants were the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor, which serve 2,600 local youths annually at 20 different area sites, and the International Seafarers Center, a non-profit organization providing and maintaining facilities and services for merchant seamen calling at the San Pedro Bay Port Complex.

Renewable second-year large grants were also made to EXP, an organization focused on next-generation maritime workforce development, and the Los Angeles Maritime Institute, supporting its TopSail experiential education sailing program for at-risk youth.

Also recognized at today's Los Angeles Board of Harbor Commission meeting were the following Fiscal Year 2024/25 grant awardees:

• Avalon Arts & Cultural Alliance

• Cabrillo Beach Youth Sailing

• Cabrillo Beach Boosters

• CicLAvia

• Friends of Banning Museum

• Friends of the Cabrillo Aquarium

• Friends of the Los Angeles Maritime Museum

• Friends of the Rotary Club of Wilmington

• Gang Alternative Program

• Grand Vision Foundation

• Greater LA Boy Scouts of America

• Harbor Community Development Corporation

• International Bird Rescue

• LA Choreographers & Dancers

• LA Conservation Corps

• LAFD Historical Society

• Los Angeles Sailing Foundation

• Latino Student Business Association

• Little Italy of Los Angeles Association

• Marine Mammal Care Center

• NAMEPA

• Pacific Battleship Center

• Pacific Unicomm Corporation

• Sail LA/Wilmington Youth Sailing

• San Pedro Art Association

• San Pedro City Ballet

• San Pedro Nonprofit Association (2)

• San Pedro Waterfront Arts District

• Shakespeare by the Sea

• Sharefest Community Development Inc.

• South Bay Center for Counseling

• Think Earth Environmental Foundation

• Tianguiz Cultural

• US Merchant Marine/Lane Victory Maritime Center

• Wilmington Historical Society

• Wilmington YMCA

Final grant awards were reviewed and made by a committee of six individuals: three from the Port's Community Relations Division, one from Wilmington Chamber of Commerce, one from San Pedro Chamber of Commerce and one from Los Angeles Council District 15. Each year's grant submissions are reviewed and scored on their own merits without regard to prior year awards.

A full list of grantees, programs supported and funding can be found here.