California Education Funders Forum Scheduled

(CEFF) — The next California Education Funders Forum will take place Aug. 11, with a forum from 9 a.m. to noon, and lunch from 12:30 to 2 p.m., at the California African American Museum, 600 State Drive, Los Angeles.

The mission of the forums is to provide nonprofit directors, school administrators, grant writers and others with detailed information on the grant application process — directly from the corporations and foundations that fund education-related proposals and programs.

Since 2003, these forums have introduced more than 50 corporations and foundations to more than 3,000 nonprofit directors, grant writers and educators that have attended nearly 30 forum workshops and luncheons.

This forum’s invited guest panelists include people from UPS, Best Buy, Chevron and the James Irvine Foundation.

Admission is $50, and $70 for lunch and admission to the forum. Parking is $8. Those planning to attend lunch must pay before the event. Forum-only guests may register at the door.

Information: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Association to Host Scholarship Fundraising Dinner

(LACAAEA) – The LA County African American Employees’ Executive Committee will host its annual scholarship and fundraising dinner Aug. 12, 6 to 10 p.m., at the Radisson Hotel – Westside, 6161 W. Centinela Ave., Culver City.

This annual event awards scholarships to emancipated African American youths from the L.A. County Department of Children and Family Services.

The LA County African-American Employees Association is accepting tax deductible contributions and donations toward the annual scholarship fund.

Mail tax deductible contributions/donations to: LACAAEA, P.O. Box 91851, Los Angeles, CA 90009.

Reserved tickets are $37 or $370 for tables of 10.

More information: Lorraine Hadden, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , (213) 974-8322.

Operation Homefront Kicks Off the

School Year for 2,000 Military Kids

(Operation Homefront) — Every year, Operation Homefront Southern California partners with people who want to show their support of America’s wounded warriors, military service members and their families. Before the start of the school year, Operation Homefront works with military communities to bring its Back to School Program to military kids.

The program is a family event where children get to choose new backpacks and school supplies to help them get a strong start on the new school year. 

In August 2010, Operation Homefront expects to distribute more than 2,000 backpacks and school supplies to military families from San Diego to Fresno. The majority of families served tend to be low-income, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Operation Homefront offsets their emergency financial needs, as well as provides programs to lift spirits and reduce the stresses associated with deployments. 

More information: www.operationhomefront.net/socal, (866) 424-5210.

Geek Squad Summer Academy to Educate Students

 (The Geek Squad) — The Geek Squad Summer Academy, in conjunction with Best Buy, is conducting an educational and interactive three-day workshop beginning July 22 at Esperanza Elementary School in Los Angeles, to teach LA’s BEST After School Enrichment Program students at Esperanza Elementary technology skills.

As the world and jobs become more computer-oriented, Geek Squad agents and Best Buy employee volunteers find it imperative to demystify technology for students from underprivileged communities so that they are able to be competitive citizens in the growing global economy.

Students from Esperanza Elementary will learn how to build computers, hardware and software troubleshooting techniques, how to communicate using the Internet and how to capture and edit their own video footage to produce their own short movies.

LA’s BEST, which stands for Better Educated Students for Tomorrow, is an after-school education, enrichment and recreation program serving 28,000 children ages 5 to 12 with the greatest needs and fewest resources at 180 elementary school sites throughout Los Angeles at no cost to parents.

Information: www.lasbest.org.