IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Opus Bank (the “Bank”) and Opus Community Foundation (the “Foundation”) announced today the Foundation’s approval of 12 grant awards to charitable organizations that the Bank and Foundation believe will have an immediate and long lasting impact on efforts to rebuild our communities. The initiatives receiving the Foundation’s financial support create enrichment and advancement opportunities that directly improve the lives of individuals and families in the communities Opus Bank serves.
Stephen H. Gordon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Opus Bank and Chairman of Opus Community Foundation, stated, “While Opus Bank remains focused on providing capital funding to business owners, real estate investors, and entrepreneurs who share our vision to expand and grow, our vision doesn’t stop there. The organizations with whom we have chosen to partner have programs targeting specific areas of need in our California and Washington communities. These programs have consistently proven to be very successful and have shown great results.”
California Grant Awards
AbilityFirst received a grant to support its after-school program, which provides a creative and nurturing environment for children and adults with special needs that encourages personal development and healthy lifestyles, improves communications skills, promotes appropriate social behaviors and teaches independent living skills.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Laguna Beach received a grant to support their Club Preschool early education readiness program, which prepares children from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances to enter kindergarten at the same educational level as other children in the community.
Hathaway-Sycamores received a grant to support its Learning Lab, which provides students in grades 3-12 intensive, no-cost group and individual tutoring, and assistance with class projects, homework assignments and preparing for standardized tests such as the SAT and California High School Exit Exam.
Junior Achievement of Orange County and Junior Achievement of San Diego received grants to support their programs, which teach K-12 students competency in completing financial tasks, empowering them to manage their finances, improve their circumstances, and thrive in the real world by teaching fundamental financial responsibilities, instilling accountability for one’s finances, and raising awareness to the differences between needs, wants, and wishes.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County received a grant to support its Grocery Rescue program, which collects donated food from grocery stores throughout Orange County and distributes the rescued food to member agencies quickly and efficiently.
Washington Grant Awards
Arlington Kids Kloset received a grant to support its free clothing program, which provides new and quality used clothing, shoes, and hygiene products, free of charge, twice yearly to children from low-income families in the Arlington, Darrington, and Lakewood school districts.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County received a grant to support their Power Hour after-school program, which targets children, aged 6 to 18 attending schools in underserved, low-income communities. The Power Hour program is a comprehensive, after-school, educational enhancement program that implements a variety of fun activities in a structured and incentives-based program model. The Boys and Girls Clubs provide members with the support, resources, and guidance necessary to complete their homework, and develop a sense of confidence and ability.
Bridgeways received a grant to support its Supported Employment Program, which provides mental health services and programs in Snohomish County that help facilitate employment, growth, independence, and a sense of community, all of which improve the quality-of-life for individuals with mental illnesses.
Clothes for Kids received a grant to support its Greatest Needs program, which provides essential clothing items such as shoes, jeans, and coats to children from low-income families, at no cost. By providing a quality wardrobe, the Greatest Needs program increases the youth’s self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-sufficiency; and enhances the learning and social experience of both parent and child.
Junior Achievement of Washington received a grant to support its programs, which teach K-12 students about financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work readiness through a series of business, economics, and life-skills classes that enhance their traditional curriculum.
Kirkland Performance Center received a grant to support its Spotlight Education and Outreach program, which enriches, inspires, educates, and entertains K-12 students from low-income and diverse backgrounds, stimulating their imagination and connection with the arts.
About Opus Community Foundation
The Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization established by Opus Bank on September 30, 2010. The Foundation targets its philanthropic efforts in the areas of affordable housing, community development, education, financial literacy, health and human services, and the arts. The Foundation’s goal is to stimulate economic change, promote reinvestment, inspire philanthropy, and strengthen our communities. For additional information about the Opus Community Foundation, please visit www.opuscf.org.
About Opus Bank
Opus Bank, headquartered in Irvine, CA, is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with $2.4 billion of total assets, $1.6 billion of total loans, and $1.9 billion in total deposits, as of March 31, 2012. Opus Bank provides high value, relationship-based banking products and exceptional service to its clients comprised of small and mid-sized commercial businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate investors, professionals, and consumers. Opus Bank offers a wide range of loan products, including commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, multifamily residential, conforming and jumbo single-family residential, and consumer loans; and is a Small Business Administration (“SBA”) Preferred Lender. Opus Bank currently operates 45 banking offices, including 23 in the Seattle/Puget Sound region in Washington and 22 banking offices in Southern California. Opus Bank has announced plans to open new banking offices in Danville, located in Contra Costa County; Del Mar, located in San Diego County, California; Gig Harbor, located in Pierce County; and Mount Vernon, located in Skagit County, Washington. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit our website: http://www.opusbank.com/home.html.