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On this page, you will find:
Other PIA Cares Projects:
Ava Steaffens
Executive Director
While
serving as an associate pastor at a suburban church in Southern California,
Larry Acosta encountered a reality that changed his work forever.
He witnessed the Latino community losing thousands of inner city Hispanic
youth to the streets every year because of a void in the quality and quantity
of Hispanic youth leaders. In 1993, he launched the Hispanic Ministry
Center (HMC) and KidWorks in response to the critical needs facing young
people and their families in the urban Hispanic neighborhoods of Santa
Ana, California … and beyond.
Initially targeting three specific
areas in Orange County, KidWorks operates summer programs in neighborhoods
characterized by neglect, abuse, drugs, violence, gangs, and a lack of
positive models. By creating Learning Centers in small apartments,
the staff is able to provide a safe place within the community for children
and youth to learn, be affirmed, and encouraged.
In 2004, KidWorks moved into a new facility, the Donahue Center. Located in the midst of the Central Santa Ana Community, it houses a licensed preschool, an expanded tutoring center, a library and resource center, two computer labs, a recreation room, a snack bar area, health care rooms, and the KidWorks administrative offices. KidWorks is now able to serve over 200 children per day, restoring at-risk neighborhoods one life at a time.
PIA Cares stepped up to the plate and provided the Donahue Center with a plant installation that enhanced the new facility.
"I was introduced to KidWorks by a commercial client whose facilities I have been servicing for over 15 years. When this client suffered the tragic loss of their president, Dan Donahue, a new facility for KidWorks was named the Donahue Center in honor of his involvement. After returning home from CalScape 2005, I was inspired once again to call upon my fellow PIA members to donate their time and products to perform a PIA Cares installation prior to the Donahue Center’s grand opening. The plants were so appreciated. I have continued to maintain the project since that time and it has opened up the door for me to teach the students about plants." Debra Ringler
PIA ~ 493 S. Highland
Ave., Ukiah, CA 95482-4633 ~ Ph: 707/462-2276 ~ Fax 707/463-6699 ~ pia@piagrows.org