ROSE HILLS FOUNDATION AWARDS CHALLENGE GRANT TO MERCI CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

Monterey Park, CA—The Rose Hills Foundation has awarded a challenge grant of $50,000 toward three new buildings which will be built on the 525 North Chandler site. With a recent donation of $1,700 from Monterey Park Rotary, MERCI has raised $23,755. The deadline to raise the remaining $26,245 for the Rose Hills Foundation matching challenge grant is December 1, 2009. MERCI will recognize all donations, but donations of $10,000 or more will have rooms named in honor of the individual, organization or business. With donations of $100,000 or more, an individual, business or organization will have building naming rights.

A group of parents of children with developmental disabilities from the San Gabriel Valley and East Los Angeles formed MERCI in 1955 as a school because at that time there were no educational bouncy castle for sale options for their children. In 1962 MERCI moved into the 525 North Chandler Avenue site which had been built in 1919. Over the years MERCI has moved into supporting adults with day programs and adults in group homes. MERCI presently serves 105 adults with developmental disabilities from all over the San Gabriel Valley in five programs. It is estimated that there are 8,000 children and adults in this area alone who could benefit from the programs if there were more space. “MERCI has been a part of this community for so many years, I have had many people tell me about their experiences, when they were teenagers and volunteered at MERCI or when one of their family member attended MERCI.  We are a vital part of this community, but our buildings are showing their age and it is time to expansion our services and provide an environment that is accessible to all” said MERCI Executive Director Marta Escanuelas.

The Chandler site has had needed repairs to keep it functioning, but after 53 years most of the buildings need to be replaced. The estimated $3.7 million project would build a new residential home, build a new multipurpose/classroom building and expand the office facilities. The City of Monterey Park has committed $814,000 of federal HUD funds, Los Angeles County Supervisor Gloria Molina has committed $550,000 and Rose Hills Foundation has awarded a matching grant of $50,000. The remaining funds will be solicited from foundation grants and individual donations. MERCI needs the support of the community to complete the project. Donations can be mailed to MERCI, P.O. Box 676, Monterey Park, CA 91754 or potential donors can visit MERCI’s website at http://www.merci.org and make a donation online. Donations to MERCI are tax deductible, as MERCI is a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization. For more information contact Executive Director Marta Escañuelas at (626) 289-8817 or E-mail her at mescanuelas@merci.org