Welcome to CLPHA's Press Room
CLPHA experts welcome interview requests from print, radio, television, and online reporters and are happy to provide their insights on issues of public housing and related legislation and policy.
For media inquiries, please contact:
David Greer
Director of Communications
(202) 550-1381 or dgreer@clpha.org.
*Please let us know if you are working on deadline.
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Congratulations to Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman on New Role as Acting Secretary
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(Washington, D.C.) March 12, 2024 — “On behalf of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, we congratulate HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge on a dedicated career in public service from serving as Mayor of Warrensville Heights, Ohio, to U.S. Congresswoman from Ohio’s 11th district, and culminating as the 18th Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development,” said Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. “When Secretary Fudge took the reins of HUD in the middle of a global COVID-19 pandemic, she provided steadfast leadership that expanded rental assistance and served more than 1.2 people experiencing homelessness. She has been an ardent housing champion giving voice to millions of people in need. “Secretary Fudge worked with CLPHA throughout her tenure to provide greater flexibility to address housing needs and redress systemic racism that has been embedded in housing policy for decades. “We commend her on an exemplary career in public service and wish her well in the next chapter of her life. We look forward to working with Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman, former CLPHA Vice President, in her new role as Acting Secretary.” |
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### Media Contact: David Greer, CLPHA
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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Policies Would Bring Housing Stability to Nearly 1 Million Low-Income Americans |
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(Washington, D.C.) March 7, 2024 — The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) applauds President Joe Biden for his call to expand the Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) and Low-income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) programs. As part of the proposed HCV program expansion, the President is calling for a voucher guarantee for low-income veterans and youth aging out of foster care. Notably, President Biden is the first U.S. President to call for a portion of federally assisted housing to be classified as a guarantee. “President Biden’s call for voucher and LIHTC expansion would immediately bring housing stability to nearly one million low-income Americans who are one lost paycheck or unforeseen health event away from homelessness,” said Sunia Zaterman, CLPHA executive director. “Moreover, the President’s extraordinary call to guarantee vouchers for low-income veterans and youth aging out of foster care is a transformative measure that would bring much-needed certainty to a portion of federal housing funding. This demonstrates a commitment to safeguarding housing stability for our nation's most vulnerable populations.” This year’s State of the Union address is considered by many to be the kickoff of President Biden’s 2024 election campaign. “It is clear after tonight that President Biden intends to make housing a top election priority,” said Zaterman. “We encourage President Biden to become the housing president by creating a comprehensive long-term plan for a sustainable future for public housing that would include the recapitalization of the public housing portfolio, permanent expansion of the Housing Choice Voucher program, and a cross-sector approach that includes housing, health, and education. We look forward to working with the President on such a plan.” |
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### Media Contact: David Greer, CLPHA
About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
 (Washington, D.C.) January 11, 2022 – The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities (CLPHA) is pleased to announce that Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA) CEO Jeffery K. Patterson has been named president of CLPHA’s board of directors.
Mr. Patterson was elected at CLPHA’s December 2021 board meeting, and previously served as the board’s vice president. He follows CLPHA’s previous board president, King County Housing Authority (KCHA) Executive Director Stephen Norman, who retired on December 31, 2021. CLPHA is also pleased to announce that La Shelle Dozier, executive director of the Sacramento Housing & Redevelopment Agency, was elected CLPHA vice president and Maria Razo, executive director of the Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino, was elected CLPHA secretary at the board’s December 2021 meeting. Ed Lowndes, executive director of the Housing Authority of Kansas City, MO, was re-elected board treasurer.
"I am honored to be elected president of CLPHA’s board and would like to thank Stephen Norman for his service and leadership upon his well-deserved retirement,” said Patterson. “Decades of chronic disinvestment, an aging housing portfolio and racial inequities have long predated the pandemic. Entering the third year of pandemic, these issues have only been magnified.
“We are at a critical juncture,” Patterson added. “Historic housing investments proposed by the White House and passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in the Build Back Better Act have stalled in the Senate. CLPHA will continue robust advocacy to ensure these significant housing investments are available to housing authorities across the country who are serving low-income families every day in their local communities.”
“Congratulations to CMHA CEO Jeffery Patterson on being named president of the Board of Directors of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities. I was pleased to join him, residents, and city leaders at the recent groundbreaking of the Buckeye-Woodhill Choice Neighborhoods transformation plan, which will provide high quality affordable housing that is connected to economic, educational, and health opportunities in a vibrant neighborhood. I look forward to continuing to work with CEO Patterson in his new role to bring greater affordable housing opportunities to more people and communities in Ohio and across the country,” said Senator Sherrod Brown, Chair of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
“Jeffery has been an invaluable asset to CLPHA in his seven years on the board,” said CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman. “He leads in many ways -- as board vice president and chair of the Racial Equity and Inclusion Committee and Communications Committee, but also more locally through the many boards he serves on in the greater Cleveland area. Jeffery has a deep understanding of national housing issues as well as local challenges and solutions, and his commitment to CLPHA will ensure continuity through this leadership transition. I look forward to working with CLPHA’s new board leadership to advance our goals and policy priorities in these unprecedented times.”
Mr. Patterson has served as CMHA’s CEO for ten years and has over thirty years of dedicated service to the residents of Cuyahoga County. As CEO of one of the largest housing authorities in the country, he is responsible for a $230 million dollar budget, approximately 750 employees, 10,500 units of housing, 15,000 Housing Choice Vouchers, and nearly 55,000 residents and participants of CMHA's low-income Public Housing and Housing Choice Voucher Programs. He also serves on the board of directors for the Housing Authority Insurance Group, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress (Chairman), Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (Vice-Chairman), St. Luke’s Foundation, United Way of Greater Cleveland, Greater Cleveland Foodbank, Unify Labs Inc., University Circle Inc., the Cleveland Public Library Foundation, and the National Kidney Foundation.
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
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(Washington, D.C.) August 19, 2024 – Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon the release of Vice President Kamala Harris' and Governor Tim Walz's housing plan at a rallty in North Carolina on Friday: "The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the Harris-Walz campaign for its historic call for more affordable housing measures in its economic plan released on Friday in North Carolina. By every measure, low-income Americans are experiencing crisis levels of housing instability and homelessness. CLPHA strongly supports the Harris Walz campaign’s call for an expansion of tax incentives for affordable rental housing, an innovation fund for low-income housing, and expansion of the child tax credit, which would contribute to decreasing housing instability and homelessness among American’s most vulnerable families. 'We are hopeful that the tax incentives for affordable rental housing are at a scale that would generate as much affordable housing production or more as the low-income housing tax credit provisions in the bipartisan tax bill. The child tax credit improves a low-income parent’s ability to afford housing, which increases housing stability and improves children’s health outcomes. 'CLPHA will continue to advocate for policies that prioritize the affordability and sustainability of public and affordable housing throughout this campaign which includes fully funding the public housing capital and operating funds, expanding the Housing Choice Voucher program, and prioritizing cross-sector approaches for housing, health and education." |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities |
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(Washington, D.C.) November 17, 2023 — Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, released the following statement upon the Biden-Harris administration’s announcement yesterday of the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health and the CHIP Health-Related Social Needs Framework:: “The Council of Large Public Housing Authorities applauds the Biden-Harris administration’s publication of the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health and the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Health-Related Social Needs Framework. President Biden and HUD Secretary Marcia L. Fudge have led the nation in raising awareness of the foundational role that housing plays in improving life outcomes for low-income Americans throughout the President’s term. “CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative has driven the conversation for a decade on how best to bridge the housing and health sectors to improve the life outcomes of residents living in federally assisted housing. CLPHA has long supported public policies cited in the Framework such as evidence-based interventions to support housing and nutrition needs for certain Medicaid enrollees. CLPHA has also advocated for innovative solutions like waivers for Medicaid through its 1115 demonstration that allow for housing-related assistance. “With current programs proving beneficial and innovative programs being developed we know we have the answers. Yet, for these programs to be successful they must be funded at a level that meets the need. Unfortunately, they are not funded at those levels currently. While announcements like these are important in raising the awareness of the foundational role of housing in improving health outcomes, we must continue to advocate for increased resources, including incentivizing PHA/Medicaid partnerships, so they can deliver the benefits they are designed to achieve.” |
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
(Washington, DC) November 30, 2022 -- Statement from Sunia Zaterman, executive director of the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities, on the importance of finalizing the FY23 appropriations legislation:
“For the millions of families served by public housing authorities, it is critical for Congress to complete the FY23 appropriations legislation before the start of the 118th Congress in January. The leading public housing advocacy organizations, in one voice, call on Congress to get this legislation passed so that our most vulnerable families are not put at risk.
“The consequences of a government shutdown or a series of continuing resolutions, which lock the previous year’s funding levels in place, create uncertainty for PHAs by not accounting for inflation or current shortfalls that could be severe and would amount to a budget cut. It will tie the hands of housing authorities and impact their abilities to provide their residents with safe, secure, and affordable housing.
“These consequences are preventable if Congress passes the FY23 appropriations legislation at the funding levels requested by the public housing organizations in the letter sent to Congress. We look forward to working with Congress as they finalize the legislation.”
Media Contact:
David Greer, CLPHA
(202) 550-1381
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About the Council of Large Public Housing Authorities
About CLPHA’s Housing Is Initiative |
CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman was quoted in BisNow’s recent article “Biden's Budget Includes 'Once in a Generation' Investment in Vouchers, Public Housing. Now Landlords Need to Get on Board,” offering CLPHA’s perspective on the Biden administration’s American Jobs Plan that would allocate $30 billion the Housing Choice Voucher program and $40 billion to public housing.
“To propose this level of investment in one fell swoop, it’s extraordinary,” Zaterman told BisNow. “There’s now a strong consensus that more could have and should have been done in 2008 and 2009 for reinvestment,” she added. “This $40B [proposal] does not meet the overall need, but it is extraordinary in the level that it raises the funding from our current baseline.”
Read BisNow’s article. (requires free registration for access to the article)
NPR’s Pam Fessler quoted CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman in a story about the challenges of utilizing the $5 billion in emergency housing vouchers included in the American Rescue Plan. Zaterman told Fessler that while balancing landlord, tenant and taxpayer interests has always been hard, the situation is more dire than ever in the pandemic with millions of Americans struggling with rent. “There is a need for all of our members, a crying need, for additional vouchers that are serving a wide range of populations,” Zaterman said.
Sunia Zaterman participated in a recent story on the unique opportunities presented by the new administration to address the nation’s dire affordable housing shortage as part of Fast Company’s Home Bound, a series that examines Americans’ fraught relationship with their homes.
“Our focus now is assembling the tools to give housing authorities more ability to acquire properties and to bring to neighborhoods other types of affordable housing,” Zaterman told Fast Company of CLPHA’s goals to capitalize on this inflection point in the public and affordable housing industry. She added that while the new HUD administration’s more flexible rules help housing authorities create more affordable housing in their communities, the main need facing PHAs and affordable housing providers is more money: “You may have heard this before—money is the key obstacle.”
This week, CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman was quoted in The Washington Post's article "In George Floyd’s old neighborhood, Biden’s war on poverty faces a crucial test." The article examines the potential impacts of President Biden's American Rescue Plan on families in poverty through a focus on Houston's Cuney Homes public housing community, where George Floyd lived much of his life before his killing in police custody.
“If we don’t make a difference in individual lives, then we really haven’t done the job yet,” Zaterman said of the Biden plan's antipoverty efforts. “The folks in the community that George Floyd grew up in — that is our test of whether our models, our resources, our impact has hit our target.”
This morning, CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman appeared on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss public and affordable housing issues and President Biden's proposed American Jobs Plan.
Ms. Zaterman answered questions from host Pedro Echevarria and members of the public from around the country, explaining what public housing authorities do, who they serve, and why increasing funding for public housing, vouchers, and other HUD programs is crucial to preserving affordable housing opportunities, strengthening the social safety net, and improving the life outcomes of low income Americans. She also discussed the positive impacts of the American Jobs Plan -- CLPHA estimates that 440,000 jobs will be created and $76 billion in economic impact generated during the time when the $40 billion in funds from the Plan are spent.
On Friday, April 9 from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. ET, CLPHA Executive Director Sunia Zaterman will appear on C-SPAN's Washington Journal to discuss President Biden's proposed American Jobs Plan, public and affordable housing, and related issues. Read Ms. Zaterman’s statement applauding President Biden’s announcement of the American Jobs Plan here.
You can watch Ms. Zaterman’s interview on the C-SPAN channel or live on C-SPAN's website and ask questions of Ms. Zaterman during the program via phone:
Outside U.S. and Text: (202) 748-8003
Republicans: (202) 748-8001
Democrats: (202) 748-8000
Independents: (202) 748-8002
Viewers can also share their thoughts and questions via email (journal@c-span.org), Twitter, Facebook and text messages (202-748-8003).
From the New York City Housing Authority's press release:
The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) and partner team, RDC Development, a joint venture between Wavecrest Management and MDG Design & Construction, today announced the completion of the $492 million comprehensive renovation of Williamsburg Houses as part of the Permanent Affordability Commitment Together (PACT) program. This project renovated over 1,600 apartments across 20 buildings (home to more than 3,000 residents), as well as building infrastructure, development grounds, shared spaces, a community center, two childcare facilities, and 19 commercial storefronts. Completed in 1938, Williamsburg Houses is one of the oldest NYCHA properties and was designated as a New York City Landmark in 2003 and listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2021. Because of the historic status of the buildings, NYCHA was able to leverage $142 million in State and federal historic tax credits.
"This RAD/PACT redevelopment has provided thousands of Williamsburg Houses residents with modern, lead-free homes, ensuring these apartments stay affordable for future generations,” said HUD Regional Administrator for New York and New Jersey Alicka Ampry-Samuel. “Over 23,000 NYCHA apartments have been renovated and preserved through RAD/PACT. Our partners also hired NYCHA residents through HUD’s Section 3 program, creating job opportunities and uniting contractors with HUD-subsidized workers. These extensive renovations not only preserved affordable housing but also safeguarded the historical significance of this landmark."
"Today, we celebrate the delivery of safe and healthy homes for over 3,000 residents of Williamsburg Houses,” said U.S. Representative Nydia M. Velázquez. “These renovations will help ensure apartments are lead-free and that the families in this historic development are protected for years to come. Utilization of federally-funded Project Based Section 8 vouchers were instrumental in the facilitation of these upgrades. As the highest ranking New Yorker on the Housing and Insurance subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives, I look forward to continuing to collaborate with NYCHA leadership and all who are committed to providing public housing residents in New York with the quality of life they deserve."
“The $492 million of comprehensive renovations and repairs at Williamsburg Houses represent years of hard work and collaboration between residents and the RDC Development team,” said First Deputy Mayor Maria Torres-Springer. “Williamsburg Houses is a shining example of this administration’s commitment to ensuring NYCHA residents are able to shape and plan their Williamsburg community.”
“I’m grateful to join Williamsburg Houses today in celebrating the renovation of over 1,600 apartments as well as the improvement of building infrastructure, shared spaces, development grounds, and commercial spaces,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Congratulations to NYCHA and RDC Development on this extensive project. I look forward to seeing more work like this to ensure Brooklynites have access to safe, dignified, and enjoyable spaces to call home.”
"We are thrilled to celebrate the completion of this $492 million renovation at Williamsburg Houses, a historic landmark that has now been revitalized for over 3,000 residents," said NYCHA Chief Executive Officer Lisa Bova-Hiatt. "NYCHA extends its deepest appreciation to Williamsburg residents for their partnership throughout the process, and to the PACT partner team who shared in our vision of preserving the development's historic significance while providing much-needed renovations to one of NYCHA's first developments that will improve residents' quality of life for generations to come."
From the Chicago Housing Authority's website:
CHA and the Michael’s Organization celebrated the grand opening of the $45 million rehab of Irene McCoy Gaines Apartments, a 150-unit CHA senior property in East Garfield Park. The 17-story building, more than five decades old, will remain affordable for years to come after work financed through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD’s) RAD program and support from the City of Chicago.
Built in 1964, Irene McCoy Gaines has undergone extensive rehab of all units, including new HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems and new amenity spaces that include a redesigned dining/community room, exterior courtyard, reception areas, meeting, game, exercise and computer rooms and updated laundry spaces.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles' press release:
On Friday, November 15, 2024, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) joined community leaders and elected officials to celebrate the grand opening of the new Watts Los Angeles Worksource Center location, located at 2212 E. Imperial Highway. This enhanced center will serve as a vital resource for career development, providing a range of employment and training opportunities for residents of Los Angeles.
The ceremony was facilitated by Britney Chine, HACLA’s Workforce Development Manager, with opening remarks by HACLA’s Board of Commissioner and Business Agent for Laborers' International Union of North America Local 300, Delfino De La Cruz Jr. followed by inspiring words from Deputy Mayor of Economic Opportunity, Brenda Shockley; the City’s General Manager of Economic & Workforce Development Department (EWDD), Carolyn Hull; State Representative for Watts and parts of South Los Angeles, Assemblymember Mike Gipson represented by Deon Arnold and key State partner the Employment Development Department represented by Ken Gomez; as well as Aysa Evelyn, CaseWork Manager for Representative Maxine Waters.
Attendees were moved by testimonials from David Wyatt and Grandelia Pasillas, who shared how programs like Prison to Employment (P2E) and the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) opened new career paths for them. Their stories highlighted the center's role in transforming lives through education, training, services and job support. The ceremony was concluded by Jenny Scanlin, HACLA’s Chief Development Officer who invited the dignitaries to join her in cutting the ribbon to open the new Center.
“HACLA is proud of the thirty-two year history of its Watts/LA WorkSource Center which was started intentionally by the great Mayor Tom Bradley after the 1992 Los Angeles Uprising to address the grave inequities in economic opportunity for residents living in underserved communities like Watts and South Los Angeles,” said Chief Development Officer Jenny Scanlin.
“Thank you to HACLA for their continued commitment to uplifting South LA’s workforce. This WorkSource Center will assist local Angelenos impacted by job insecurity get enrolled into training and support services so they can get on a path to gaining access to employment in industries that will offer financial security and career advancement,” said EWDD General Manager Carolyn Hull.
“We are committed to helping Angelenos connect to new career pathways and access life-changing opportunities,” said Mayor Karen Bass. “The expanded Watts Los Angeles WorkSource Center is not just a resource for the present; it is an investment in the economic future of L.A.”
“The new Watts/LA WorkSource Center will be a crucial investment in our community, providing One-Five and South LA residents with access to essential training and career pathways. This center will open doors for individuals who deserve the opportunity to thrive in careers, strengthening both our local workforce and the families that make this community resilient,” stated the Office of Councilmember Tim McOsker.
“Serving thousands of adults and youth in and outside of HACLA’s public housing and Section 8 programs to successfully upskill, cross-skill and re-skill to enter the workforce, start a business and/or climb career ladders is what the Watts/LA WorkSource Center does best and this new facility will allow us to expand the array of services and offerings our clients deserve,” said HACLA Commissioner De La Cruz.
The event concluded with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, after which guests were invited for a tour of the almost 9,000 square foot center built out with an active computer lab, business center, private counseling space and large training rooms. The center is located on HACLA-owned property shared with a 100-bed Bridge Housing site run by Salvation Army and will be partnering with this shelter as well as other shelter and transitional housing sites to offer easy access to training and job resources for Angelenos coming out of homelessness. Light refreshments and networking continued as guests enjoyed the new indoor and outdoor space.
From the Housing Authority of the City of Austin's press release:
Two significant grants totaling more than three-quarters of a million dollars will help provide transformational services for people assisted by the Housing Authority of the City of Austin.
Through its Austin Pathways subsidiary, HACA plans to increase its efforts focused on providing healthcare, as well as self-sufficiency education. Austin Pathways is a 501(c)(3) organization.
“HACA is always looking to expand the transformative programs that improve health and self-sufficiency outcomes for our families,” HACA President and CEO Michael Gerber said. “We are grateful to our funding partners for supporting our critical wrap-around services that truly improve resident quality of life.
A $500,000 Community Driven Change grant from the St. David’s Foundation will allow for the continuation of the Bringing Health Home (BHH) program. The funding sustains five Community Health Worker positions for two additional years, enabling them to help HACA residents make informed health decisions, creating long-term positive outcomes for historically marginalized communities.
Chronic diseases disproportionately affect low-income communities. In a recent HACA Community Health Needs Assessment, 76% of respondents reported having at least one chronic disease. The nationwide prevalence of diabetes, for example, is around 10.5%, while data from HACA’s assessment reflected rates as high as 36%. The causal relationship between poverty and chronic disease is exacerbated by the fact that, for those in treatment, direct health care costs for a chronic disease average more than $6,000 annually.
Maritza Echavarria is one of many HACA residents who rely on the BHH program.
“It means a lot to me. It helps take care of my disabled son’s needs. Without it, the issues he faces would be a lot more severe,” she said.
“BHH is very good for the community. It helps people feel better for themselves because they know they have someone there who helps take care of them.”
The St. David’s Foundation debuted its Community Driven Change grants in May of this year, focusing on organizations fostering healthier communities and improving access to healthcare. A total of 23 groups received a combined $9.1 million in funding. The grant term begins this month.
Previous funding sources for HACA’s Community Health Workers have included Austin Public Health and United HealthCare.
The second grant, which totals $265,540, comes from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation.** First-year funding totals $129,381; second-year funding comes out to $136,159.
This grant will jumpstart the second phase of HACA’s evaluation of its self-sufficiency programs, aiming to better understand residents’ needs with an eye towards improving services offered. Self-sufficiency programs focus on job training, childcare assistance, financial literacy and health services.
The funding will also enable HACA to expand its new case management system to more effectively monitor residents’ progress as they utilize the various services that are available to them.
From Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Panda Cares' press release:
Since 2020, Panda Cares Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Panda Express, has committed more than $51 million to Boys & Girls Clubs of America to support academic success for young people in Clubs nationwide. Now, the partnership has reached a new milestone with the opening of its 100th Panda Cares Center of Hope at Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside’s historic Estrada Courts Club and public housing project. The newly renovated Center will serve some 150 local youth of all ages, providing them with academic support and programming that sparks joy and fun in a safe and supportive environment.
Intentionally designed to give young people the resources and support they need to develop and improve their academic skills while out of school, Panda Cares Centers of Hope are established within Boys & Girls Clubs across the nation to foster learning and enrichment. This encourages character building, makes academics more engaging, fosters positive relationships, and increases access to opportunities beyond what’s available in school. Utilizing relationship-centered practices that support youth’s individual needs and creates a sense of belonging allows Club members to dream big.
“Boys & Girls Clubs are dedicated to empowering young people to achieve academic success and reach their full potential. These Centers of Hope are already serving over 50,000 youth in hundreds of communities. We are grateful and proud to partner with Panda Cares for the opening of this 100th Center of Hope and the many more still to come,” said Jim Clark, president & CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of America.
To support youth on their path to great futures, each Center of Hope, located inside of a Boys & Girls Club, implements Project Learn -- an evidence-informed academic strategy that fosters learning, character development, and, ultimately, career access. This strategy reinforces and enhances what young people learn during the school day through activities such as homework help and tutoring, intentional high yield learning activities and technology access while creating experiences that invite them to fall in love with learning.
“Giving is one of Panda Restaurant Group's core values and we are proud to support Boys & Girls Clubs of America through the Panda Cares Foundation. Our vision for the Panda Cares Centers of Hope is to empower the next generation to reach their full potential. The opening of the 100th Center of Hope at a Boys & Girls Club marks a significant milestone in our shared commitment to investing in America's youth, providing hope and opportunities for communities nationwide,” said Panda Express cofounder and co-CEO Peggy Cherng.
Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside has been a cornerstone of the community since first opening its doors in 1972 and now serves over 11,000 youth annually across its five Club locations. The Estrada Courts Boys & Girls Club location proudly sits in the center of the Estrada Courts public housing project and will utilize its Panda Cares Center of Hope to enhance the academic outcomes of neighborhood youth.
“There’s no better place for the centennial opening than at our Estrada Courts Club, the first Center of Hope located in a public housing site,” said JR Dzubak, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of West San Gabriel Valley & Eastside. “We are excited to witness the positive effects of this incredible resource on our children, who are eager to learn and develop. Together, we will celebrate their achievements and provide support throughout their journey.”