As a faith-based non-profit organization, Lake Avenue Community Foundation is unleashing the God-given potential of at-risk youth, providing the tools necessary to thrive academically, emotionally, economically, and spiritually.

Our four key goals with neighborhood youth are: academic success - to help students excel academically and attend college; emotional health - to help students exhibit sound judgment, good problem-solving skills and meet daily challenges that aid in their success and emotional well being; economic stability - to help students become economically responsible and stable adults; and spiritual growth - to help students develop a thriving relationship with God.

STARS is an after-school program providing academic support through homework-based tutoring, literacy, technology training, and enrichment activities. STARS currently serves approximately 90 students and utilizes approximately 80 volunteers. STARS also works with families by empowering parents to discover best practices for supporting their children. This includes parenting class, counseling, support groups, nutrition education and other learning opportunities like ESL and technology classes.

The Mentoring Program provides neighborhood students in Pasadena an opportunity to rise above the challenges of their environment to become college-educated community leaders. The Mentoring Program currently mentors 60 at-risk youth and utilizes more than 50 volunteer mentors. LACF uses mentoring relationships with positive Christian role models to focus on students at a convictional level. This produces marked changes in a student's identity, affects their value system and results in positive changes in their behavior and lifestyle.

Together, the STARS and Mentoring Programs are in relationships with approximately 150 low-income students in Pasadena, cultivating greater community and hope in the lives of these students and their families.

http://www.lakeavefoundation.org/