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January 19, 2023

Congressman Schiff Secures $500,000 for Los Angeles Mentoring Program

Today, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) announced he secured half a million dollars in federal funds for Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters’ BIG Futures program, which connects young people from underrepresented communities with free education and mentoring services as they pursue higher education.

Overall, Schiff secured more than $13.6 million for critical housing, homelessness support, employment, public safety, public health, and education projects throughout Burbank, Glendale, and Los Angeles.

“In a society and workforce that prizes higher education, we should be doing everything we can to make these pursuits more accessible, especially for young people from communities that are far too underrepresented on our college campuses,” said Schiff. “By doing so through the phenomenal Big Brothers Big Sisters program, this funding will not only help us open the doors of higher education to all, but create even more mentoring networks that provide invaluable support to students and even smoother paths to lasting, successful careers.”

The funding will go towards providing free mentoring, workshops, and other navigation and aid services to students from underrepresented communities pursuing a postsecondary credential or degree.

“After 2 years of isolation and social inequities, youth have suffered immeasurably. Former Big Brother, Congressman Adam Schiff, knows the cost/benefit of mentoring as a solution to closing the educational achievement gap and supporting transitional youth. The three local Big Brothers Big Sisters agencies will be funded to provide mentoring, workshops, and student aid service referrals to youth helping them to navigate the trials and tribulations of college or career training life," said Ken Martinet, President/CEO of Catholic Big Brothers Big Sisters.

The funds were included in the fiscal year 2023 federal government funding legislation, which President Biden signed into law on December 29, 2022.

Full descriptions for all of Schiff’s FY23 community projects can be found here.

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