Care for the Canyon Project

Care for the Canyon Project Back In Action:

BAG BIN #2 Clean-up

GROWTH Foundation launched the Care for the Canyon Project in 2006 to clean up litter in Runyon Canyon dog park. The project was ongoing until mid-2008.

We partnered with Recreation & Parks and Council District 4 to hold our kick-off "Litter Scavenger Hunt." The GROWTH girls came out in full force and bagged up hundreds of pounds of trash and debris. CD 4 provided cash prizes to reward the kids for their efforts. Our friend Park Ranger Joyce was on hand to talk with the kids about the importance of park maintenance.

The Care for the Canyon Project held a clean up activity on February 19 to get things going again. Located throughout the park are three Bag Bins. Park users donate their unused plastic bags for poop cleanup. Bag Bin #2 has been overstuffed for days with garbage, used bags, starbucks cups and fliers.

GROWTH was on the job! We bagged up this mess in no time and enjoyed our hike.

GROWTH Foundation will join the Recreation & Parks Department at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 26, 2011 for a clean-up. Join us!

GROWTH Foundation Update

Whew! We made it!

The past couple years have been a real doozy! GROWTH Foundation's after school program was under siege and we had to vacate our lovely home at the Woman's Club of Hollywood.

As Secretary of the Board of Directors for the Woman's Club, I exercised my fiduciary responsibility and reported financial discrepancies and rampant mismanagement. Several investigations ensued since 2008. The Club continues to undergo restructuring.

As a result of "blowing the whistle," GROWTH lost its meeting space for our award winning after school program for at risk youth.

Like many 501 (c) (3) organizations, GROWTH Foundation suffered service cuts and we downsized. I like to think of it as time well spent in a cocoon. After several months of reenergizing and rebuilding, GROWTH reemerges as a vibrant butterfly, actually more like a fairy.

Corporate headquarters is bustling with fundraising activities so the Foundation can continue helping youth. We established the Mike Rodriguez Scholarship Fund to kick off the new year! The sale of Mike's book Children of War will provide funding to help GROWTH Foundation continue fulfilling its charitable mission.

Thank you GROWTH Board of Directors - Mr. Tom Nelson, Mr. Sam Ruggieri, Mr. Dean Pleasants and Mrs. Linda Levine, GROWTH
Accountant - Ms. Vivienne Ruggieri, The Leo Buscaglia Foundation,
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation, and Gold Star Donors Mr. Donald Smith & Ms. Natalyia Shur, and Miss Angela O'Valle, for keeping GROWTH afloat during a challenging time. Thanks for being GROWTH superstars!

Stay tuned for more on GROWTH Foundation activities.

With Love & Gratitude,

Deana Ruggieri, Founder and Executive Director
GROWTH Foundation