February 1, 2017

Diana Pinto, Executive Director of South Central Los Angeles Ministry Project (SC LAMP)

SC LAMP in Los Angeles is a co-sponsored ministry of the Society of Holy Child Jesus.

Happy New Year to everyone!

As the Executive Director of SC LAMP, I am beaming with so much pride, but as the young girl who grew up close to this organization, I am full of awe.

I am delighted to report on our funding successes that enable us to continue our program. At the beginning of the year, we knew that we would be losing major funding for our Early Childhood Education program. The agency we partnered with for over five years would no longer be providing funds for direct services. Thus, LAMP would need to find a new source of funding.

We applied and were awarded a state preschool contract enabling us to continue offering our prized and great Early Childhood Education program. We also applied to a food program that gives warm meals to children in need. I am proud to say that we were awarded that grant as well. Our partnership with the St. Francis Center enables us to offer weekly food distributions to our families. In November, we were awarded the Father George Mader Award by the Catholic Volunteer Network, and last but not least, in December, we received a grant to build a beautiful play structure for our kids!

As a child coming from a family similar to the ones we serve, it gives me great joy to know that with the right encouragement and love, the children of our community can be the next champions for change. The support of the Holy Child Sisters, in all ways, continues to make a huge difference and a strong and long-standing funding source for LAMP. Your fidelity surely encourages other funders to do the same!