LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools (Partnership) today announced it has received a $100K contribution from the Banc of California to support a multi-tiered financial literacy program that will impact Partnership families in South L.A., Boyle Heights, and Watts.
Antonio Villaraigosa, 41st Mayor of Los Angeles, and Steve Sugarman, Banc of California CEO and President, helped launch the program at the Partnership’s “Parent College” at Santee Education Complex in South L.A. “Parent College” is a seven-month parent empowerment workshop series held in the three communities that the Partnership serves.
“I applaud Steve and the Banc of California for stepping up for families in the city’s highest-need communities,” said Villaraigosa. “By providing parents with the financial tools they need to make college a reality for their children, the Banc of California is investing in the leaders of tomorrow.”
“Banc of California is pleased to partner with the Partnership in continuing our commitment to provide financial literacy training to communities throughout California.” said Sugarman. “The Partnership’s record of success in improving Los Angeles’ academic achievement is to be applauded.”
“The Partnership’s network of schools has made tremendous gains since launching almost eight years ago. Our progress is in large part due to incredible corporate partners like the Banc of California who have invested countless hours and resources in our students and their families,” said Joan Sullivan, Partnership CEO. “We are grateful to the Banc of California for supporting the financial growth of our families.”
This $100K investment will support programs that empower parents and students in some of the city’s most underserved communities by providing valuable economic workshops for parents and college-bound students at “Parent College.” Banc of California also supplied 300 families at all three hubs with school supplies and a $25 credit to be used toward opening a savings or checking account.
Since 2009, “Parent College” has served more than 5,000 parents by offering free monthly workshops to improve parents’ understanding of the school system so they can become informed advocates and prepare their children academically for college. Through financial literacy workshops provided by the Banc of California, families will now have the financial know-how to also plan for college financially.
About the Banc of California:
Banc of California, Inc. (BANC) provides comprehensive banking services to California’s diverse private businesses, entrepreneurs and homeowners. Banc of California operates over 100 offices in California and the West. For more information on the Banc of California’s community development, visit https://www.bancofcal.com/community-development/.
About the Partnership:
The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is a non-profit organization that manages a portfolio of some of LA’s historically most underserved public schools and focuses on piloting innovations that can be scaled across the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Launched in 2008, the Partnership is a collaboration of LAUSD, the City of Los Angeles and the philanthropic sector, and today it serves more than 14,000 students across 17 campuses in Watts, Boyle Heights and South Los Angeles. The Partnership is one of the largest public school turnaround initiatives in the nation. Over their first six years, Partnership schools have nearly doubled their four-year graduation rate from 36% to 70%. Furthermore, in the first year of the new Common-Core aligned Smarter Balanced exams, the Partnership closed the proficiency gap to LAUSD by 4% points in English and 9% points in math; at this rate, Partnership schools will surpass LAUSD in math in two years and in English in four years. To learn more about the Partnership, please visit our website at www.PartnershipLA.org.
