Palisades Will Rogers 5 & 10 K Run Foundation Awards Grants to Area Entities

By LILY TINOCO and SARAH SHMERLING

The Palisades-Will Rogers 5 and 10K Run Foundation awarded $40,000 in grants, generated by the 2023 July 4th Race, to local charitable, educational and community programs.

This year, awardees included Foster Warriors, Friends of Marquez, Pacific Palisades Art Association, Palisades Charter High School Band, Pali High Booster Club, Palisades Presbyterian Preschool, Palisades Village Green, Palisades-Malibu YMCA, Palisades Americanism Parade Association, Resilient Palisades, Theatre Palisades Youth, and more.

Interested organizations were invited to fill out a Grant Request Application earlier this year, which requested details about the applicant, funds needed and when, the program, how the funds would be spent, and any other additional information “that may be helpful in the consideration of applications.”

The run foundation partnered with Palisades Optimist Foundation and the Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades to identify “qualified organizations” to receive grants from the run’s net proceeds.

Grants are awarded each year based on various criteria, including: “the impact on youth in Pacific Palisades, the number of youths impacted by the program, the effectiveness of the program and the likely longevity of the program.”

Preference—although not required—was given to applicants that are based in the Palisades and/or provide services that benefit the youth in the Palisades community; request funds for a specific event, equipment, facility or service; request funds to be spent within a year; and cosponsor or assist Palisades Optimists “in their programs and services for Palisades youth and the community.”

Additional grant recipients this year included Brentwood Art Center, Optimist Youth Home and Pali High Quarterback Club. Funds raised will also support the Optimist Foundation’s youth scholarships and Optimist International oratorical contest.

The Optimist Club of Pacific Palisades’ motto is “friend of youth,” with a goal to “bring out the best in youth,” according to a press release.

“For over 70 years, the Palisades Optimists have provided funding and volunteers to help accomplish this goal,” the press release read. “The Palisades Optimists have established a process to award grants annually to assist community organizations, schools and groups serving youth and promoting worthwhile youth activities.”

The Optimist Club invited interested individuals to one of the organization’s meetings, held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 9:45 a.m. at Palisades Presbyterian Church.