NBC 7 SAN DIEGO PARTNERS WITH THE NBCUNIVERSAL FOUNDATION TO AWARD $100,000 TO THREE LOCAL NON-PROFITS

SAN DIEGO – November 27, 2012 – NBC 7 San Diego today announced it is awarding $100,000 to three non-profit organizations in San Diego County, helping them implement innovative community programs as part of a newly launched initiative called 21st Century Solutions.  In partnership with the NBCUniversal Foundation, this new grant program was designed to support high-impact, progressive programs in the categories of Arts and Media; Civic Engagement; Community Development; Education; Environment; Jobs and Economic Empowerment; and Technology.

β€œThis partnership with NBCUniversal Foundation has been an exciting and unprecedented opportunity for our station to support organizations doing innovative work in San Diego,” said Richard Kelley, NBC 7 San Diego President and General Manager.  β€œWe are most excited to see how the programs grow and produce results over the next year and follow their stories and share them with the community.”

Launched in June, the 21st Century Solutions program aims to help communities in San Diego and in the nine other markets where NBCUniversal owns television stations identify opportunities for positive change and support nonprofits that are putting new ideas into action.  In total, the program awarded 30 non-profit organizations $1.2 million this year alone.

Locally, the competitive grant program accepted applications throughout the summer from the areas served by NBC 7 San Diego.  The grant program was promoted locally on NBC 7 and the station created two review panels, an internal and external committee to review and select the final grant recipients. One winning organization and two runners-up were awarded grants.

San Diego recipients include:

Wildcoast: Tijuana River Youth Project                                       $50,000
The project focuses on engaging high school students from underserved areas in San Diego in a technology driven conservation and stewardship program for the Tijuana River Valley.  The Tijuana River Valley (TRV) is one of the largest open space areas in San Diego County, where uncollected trash and waste pose a huge threat to this new marine sanctuary and coastal ecosystems. Through this program San Diego high school students will have educational opportunities that enhance environmental literacy, and media-technology education with use of the environment as a context for learning. Students will produce a short video documentary, serving as a public service announcement for the general San Diego population.

Chicano Federation: Family Child Care Training Program      $25,000

The FCCT program works to reduce unemployment among low-income women, by offering an eight week course that teaches participants a wide range of skills to enter the childcare field, operate a small business, manage a budget, and hire staff.   The program focuses on building the knowledge, skills, and competencies of participants and helps them prepare for the state licensure exam so that they can operate a fully-compliant, high-quality in-home childcare program. At the community level, these new childcare businesses provide much-needed childcare options in low-income communities.

Vista Community Clinic: Step-Up Gang Mentoring Program   $25,000

The STEP UP Mentoring Program is using an innovative three-tiered mentoring approach to prevent youth from dropping out of high school and/or becoming involved with gangs in the gang-impacted cities of Vista and Oceanside. Collaborating with local school districts to identify and enroll middle and high school students with poor grades, who live in the local gang injunction areas, and who lack positive role models.  STEP UP's unique three-tiered approach: adults mentor high school students who in turn each mentor a middle school student. 

About NBC Owned Television Stations:
NBC Owned Television Stations is the division of NBCUniversal that includes 10 local television stations and their digital channels and websites, as well as a group of out-of-home properties and a production company. The 10 stations produce and deliver compelling and unique local news, information and entertainment programming to viewers in the communities they serve, which include New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay Area, Dallas-Fort Worth, Washington, D.C., Miami, San Diego and Connecticut, with a goal of connecting to their audiences anytime and anywhere.

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CONTACT:
Samantha Dorman
NBC 7 San Diego
619-578-0412
samantha.dorman@nbcuni.com
 

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