IRVINE, Calif. – March 16, 2011 – Opus Bank and the Opus Community Foundation
announced today the foundation’s first 15 grant awards approved by the Opus
Community Foundation’s Board of Directors. The Opus Community Foundation was
established on September 30, 2010 with a mission to improve the quality of life of
individuals and families living in or around Opus Bank's communities, particularly
for the least advantaged, by providing financial support to nonprofit organizations
that make a positive and meaningful impact in the community.
Stephen H. Gordon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Opus Bank and
Chairman of the Opus Community Foundation, stated, “While Opus Bank is focused
on supporting and rebuilding our communities by providing much needed capital
funding to small and mid-sized commercial businesses, entrepreneurs, real estate
investors, high-net-worth individuals, professionals, and consumers, there are other
vital needs in our communities that we can and will try to meet
through the Opus Community Foundation and partnerships with established and
successful nonprofit organizations, such as those we’ve just announced today. The
Opus Community Foundation is pleased to partner with those organizations that
reach deep into our communities and offer a wide range of programs that develop
and inspire our youth, or train and encourage those searching for jobs and housing.”
Gordon concluded, “Through Opus Bank and the Opus Community Foundation, we
are committed to making a difference, leading by example, having an impact, and
doing our part to lead the economic turnaround.”
Katie Steele, Executive Director of the Opus Community Foundation,
commented, “Opus Bank and the Opus Community Foundation are aligned and
well-positioned to achieve a rare degree of social impact through a sincere and
remarkable focus on rebuilding our community. Through
this collaborative effort, the Opus Community Foundation will focus on supporting
charitable organizations that are addressing the most pressing needs in our
communities and are developing long-term, self-sustaining solutions.”
The foundation’s grants were awarded to Los Angeles and Orange County-
based nonprofit organizations with a focus on affordable housing, community
development, education, financial literacy, or the arts. These groups include:
Affordable Housing Clearinghouse received a grant to support their programs
focused on the creation of affordable housing throughout Southern California.
Boys and Girls Club of Los Angeles Harbor received a grant to support their facilities
and programs, which provide at-risk kids a safe environment where they can
develop their full potential in academics, the arts, and athletics.
Clothes the Deal received a grant to support their programs that provide business
clothing and job preparedness workshops to low income individuals re-entering the
workforce throughout Los Angeles County and surrounding areas.
Freedom 4 U received a grant to support their creative arts, life skills, music, and
leadership and service programs for the youth in the Palos Verdes Peninsula
community.
Habitat for Humanity of Orange County received a grant to support their Family
Services and Volunteer Services programs.
Irvine Public Schools Foundation received a grant to support their Innovative
Teaching Award Program that promotes and sponsors classroom programs
designed by individual teachers in the Irvine School District.
Junior Achievement of Orange County received a grant to support their programs
for low-to-moderate income students in North Orange County.
Manhattan Beach Education Foundation received a grant to support their programs,
which provide resources for a broad, engaging curriculum beyond what can be
offered through public funding.
Mind Research Institute received a grant to sponsor their math instructional
software and systems in schools located in low-to-moderate income neighborhoods.
MIND Research Institute’s innovative visual approach teaches math concepts
using language-independent software lessons that reduce the language barrier for
students learning math.
Orange County Performing Arts Center received a grant to provide access to the
Center’s
“On Stage at the Center” to students from schools in low income areas in Orange
County.
Orangewood Children’s Foundation received a grant to support their programs
focused on strengthening at-risk families to prevent abuse before it starts,
supporting children in foster care and at the Orangewood Children’s Home,
successfully transitioning foster teens into independent adulthood, and inspiring
involvement from the community.
Palos Verdes Art Center received a grant to support their Art at Your Fingertips
program, which brings affordable visual arts education to elementary school
classrooms from developmental kindergarten through sixth grade.
Richstone Family Center received a grant to support their programs that are
designed to prevent and treat child abuse, strengthen families, and prevent violence
in families, schools and communities.
Taller San Jose received a grant to support their programs that provide workforce
training skills, which are reinforced with life skills instruction in financial literacy,
healthy relationships, and other personal development topics.
YMCA of Orange County received a grant to support before and after school child
care programs for low income and at-risk school aged kids in Title 1 schools in
Tustin and Santa Ana.
About Opus Community Foundation
The Opus Community Foundation is a private 501(c) (3) organization established
by Opus Bank on September 30, 2010. The Opus Community Foundation targets its
philanthropic efforts in the areas of affordable housing, community development,
education, financial literacy, critical health issues, and the arts. The foundation’s
goal is to stimulate economic change, promote
reinvestment, inspire philanthropy, and strengthen the communities around us.
About Opus Bank
Opus Bank is an FDIC insured California-chartered commercial bank with $693.5 million of
total assets, $104 million of total loans, $275.3 million in total deposits, and $414.2 million of
total equity, as of December 31, 2010. 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, high-net-worth individuals,
professionals, and consumers. Opus Bank offers a wide range of loan products, including
commercial and industrial, commercial real estate, multifamily residential, jumbo single-family
residential, construction, consumer loans, and is a Small Business Administration (“SBA”)
Preferred Lender. Opus Bank operates banking offices in Los Angeles County, located in the
communities of Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, Rancho Palos Verdes/San Pedro, Rolling
Hills Estates, and Torrance, and maintains an executive and administrative office in Irvine,
located in Orange County, California. For additional information about Opus Bank, please visit
our website:
www.opusbank.com.