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E whittierdailynews.comLGroup raises money for schools

WHITlIER - When he began serving on the board of theLos Nietos School District, Nicholas Aquino quickly came to therealization that money and schools didn't necessarily gohand-in-hand.

As a matter of fact, Aquino, 52, noticed there was "never

enough money to do special projects, whcther it was classroomor school or district projects.

"There was just not enough money."So, like board members at many local school districts, Aquino

started researching educational foundations and discovered amuch better way to help raise money for all local students.

He established the SELAC Foundation, a nonprofit group thataims to funnel extra money to all schools in Southeast LosAngeles County for special programs, projects and college schol-arships.

And although it's just getting off the ground, Aquino has high'hopes for the organization' - as do thc ninc SETAC boardmembers who have been recruited to help in the task.

They include board President and fellow Los Nietos trustee ArtEscobedo, former Los Nietos trustee Cathy Martincz and SantaFe Springs City Councilman Gus Velasco.

Also serving are Alicia Contreras, Wendy Vila, Terry Porter,Ricky Espinoza, Anthony Colon and Brenda MarshalL.

"llour letters," Escobedo said. "Four letters cxplain why Idecided to do this: need.

"The U.S. Constitution says every child should have an equalopportunity for education - and that's just not so," Escobedosaid. "People all up and do\"l the state, and the eountry for thatmatter, wil straight out tell you that funding is not cqual.

"Some schools get more money spent on them depending ontheir district, location and tax base," he added.

"For SELAC, our maiii focus is to bridge corporate Americawith ediieation, creating a vehicle that makcs it possible tofunnel funds into the educational system." .

Velasco, (ì7, a six-year Santa Fe Springs city eouncilman, saidhe only l'ceeiitly joined the SELAc board -- and did so because heliked the idea behind its mission.

"I was an alUlll1l1S of Los Nietos Middle School and i taughtthere for four ycars and r have close ties to thc cOllmunity,"Velasco said.

"But on the couiicil, we've always worked with the county toprovide services even oui"ide our area, and I think that's reallyimpOltant," he added.

"As a city councilman, I have an obligation to see what we canalso do regionally, not just for the city."

SELAC earned its nonprofit status in March, and it hasconducted only one small fundraiser at Shakey's Restaurant inWest Whittier.

Coupled with a $2,000 donation from one of its board mem-bers, Aquino said he was able to pay the $750 fee to apply for thenonprofit status,'-and purchase a laptop computer and account-ing software.

Now, he and his board members have begun notifyng otherschool districts about their group, and are looking to appoint atleast another two people to its governing paneL.

Aquino said money would be doled out in three ways:mini-grants for classrooms, maxi-grants for schools or districts,and college scholarships for high school juniors and seniors.

"I've got districts that are just waiting on us to collect moneyso they can get the maxi-grants," Escobedo said. "They've allexpressed an interest in being involved in this entire process."

The fundraising wil begin on a grass-roots level at first,with donations from local businesses and other groups,

~sBY TRACY GARCIA

STAF WRITER

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ERIC TOM ICORIU:SI'ONIl~:NTFUND FINDER: Nicholas Aquino, chairman of the South East LosAngeles County Educational Foundation, finished the foundation'sfirst year in June. The foundation works to help schools findfunding for a wide range of programs.

Escobedo said.Then mid-range fundraising wil involve events like golf tour-

naments, which take at least six months to a year to plan."The long-term stuff is an endowment program, and we

haven't gotten that far," Escobedo said.

"But since I've been elected (to the Los Nietos board), and nowthat I've been serving on it with Nick for two years, we've beenable to carr out a lot of ideas - and the foundation was one ofthem."

And ultimately, Escobedo said, the foundation is all abouthelping students.

"Our country's most valuable resource is our children," he said."And we want to recognize that."

To donate to SELAC or become a board member, call Aquinoat (562) 699-4608. -tracy.garcialêsgvn.com(562) 698-0955, Ext. 3051