LOS ANGELES, Aug. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In partnership with leading philanthropic organizations in the region, the California Community Foundation has created a relief fund to assist nonprofits that are impacted by the refugee youth humanitarian crisis. The Our Children Relief Fund is dedicated to helping these organizations in the areas of shelter, health services, social services and legal representation.

Fleeing a life of violence, thousands of children from Central America are seeking refuge in the United States. Home to the largest concentration of Hondurans, Salvadorans and Guatemalans in the U.S., Los Angeles County is the primary region receiving refugee youth in California. All children deserve to be protected from violence, illness and injury.  Emergency relief is needed.  The following foundations have contributed to creating the Our Children Relief Fund:

• Weingart Foundation
• The California Wellness Foundation
• The California Endowment
• California Healthcare Foundation

"This is a humanitarian issue, and the health and safety of these children is of utmost importance," said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti.  "I'm happy to partner with the philanthropic community to establish this fund that will help serve these children, and I encourage all Angelenos to contribute if they can."

"This is about humanity, not politics," said Antonia Hernandez, president and CEO for the California Community Foundation. "As Angelenos – as humanitarians – we should ensure that all vulnerable children can access safe and humane shelter, food, health care and legal counsel.  They are our children."

The California Community Foundation is able to receive and re-grant both individual donations and foundation grants to nonprofit organizations that are currently the lifeline for many of the refugee children in Los Angeles County. Please visit https://www.calfund.org/OurChildren to make a contribution to the fund.

"Local foundations have come together in a coordinated effort to provide these children with critical support after they are released from federal shelters," said Fred Ali, President and CEO of Weingart Foundation. "Working together, we will also be supporting nonprofit community organizations that are on the frontlines of this significant humanitarian crisis. We need to put politics aside and recognize that the children are refugees who need help."

California Community Foundation (CCF) unites the power of philanthropy with innovative strategies to create greater equity, opportunity and prosperity in Los Angeles County. We have served as a public, charitable organization since 1915, empowering donors to pursue their own personal passions and to collaborate with us in transforming Los Angeles.  CCF stewards nearly $1.4 billion in total assets and manages more than 1,700 charitable foundations, funds and legacies. For more information, visit www.calfund.org or follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/calfund.

Weingart Foundation is a private, nonprofit foundation that provides grants and other program support designed to improve the capacity and sustainability of organizations to achieve their missions in the areas of health, human services, and education. The Foundation supports nonprofits across six Southern California counties including Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, and Ventura giving highest priority to activities that provide greater access to people who are economically disadvantaged and underserved. Since 1972, the Foundation has awarded over $900 million to support organizations working in these fields throughout Southern California. With assets of approximately $700 million, the Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic institutions in the region. For more information, please see http://www.weingartfnd.org/.

Contact:
Valarie De La Garza
vdelagarza@calfund.org
(213) 413-4130, ext. 229

SOURCE California Community Foundation