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FEATURE STORY: INDIA WEST10/24/2021 Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation Donates $5 M to Friendship Foundation for Innovative CampusREDONDO BEACH, Calif. – The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation Oct. 13 announced a $5 million donation to the Friendship Foundation, dedicated to elevating the lives of those with varying abilities for the past 15 years, for its innovative Friendship Campus. The $5 million grant from the Indian American Foundation will be used to create an innovative program for postsecondary students who are intellectually and physically diverse, which will be the cornerstone of a new 3.25-acre state-of-the-art education campus expected to be completed in early 2024 in Redondo Beach, stated a press release to India-West.
An organization dedicated to making impactful change by funding innovative solutions and programs that serve the common good, this partnership marks The Bhatia Family Foundation’s first major grant in the Los Angeles area. Almost 200,000 students are enrolled in special education in Los Angeles County alone and 8 in 10 Americans with disabilities are unemployed. The Friendship Foundation’s new community-integrated, inclusive campus will give individuals with physical and intellectual diversities the tools to transform the workforce and find a lifelong passion and purpose. The Bhatia College for Professional Development will collaborate with Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, local and national universities, and major corporations to help build a bridge for college-bound students and guide a path to successful employment and careers. "We are honored to work with The Bhatia Family Foundation knowing they’re as passionate as we are about helping every student contribute to the workforce in a meaningful way,” said Yossi Mintz, founder of the Friendship Foundation. “There is a crucial need for career development beyond high school and this incredibly generous commitment from the Bhatia Family will help develop the most impactful curriculum at our Campus. We’re immensely grateful and thrilled to welcome them to the Friendship Foundation family.” The innovative campus will include a 64,000 square foot facility to develop an engaging and inviting environment for the entire community, noted the release. The Friendship Foundation will focus on serving the whole individual with talent and skill building; personal growth and development programs; social and emotional wellness; healthy lifestyle habits and physical fitness; job training and exploration programs. Technology, media, hospitality, retail, culinary, office, education, trades, and landscaping are some of the initial vocational programs planned. A state-of-the-art studio will include training on digital media such as graphic design, coding, game design; visual arts such as painting, photography, filmmaking; craftwork such as woodwork and jewelry making; and music such as songwriting, audio production and music mixing. Culinary arts will feature a Friendship Café and Teaching Kitchen to give students hands-on learning experience for training in hospitality and culinary industry careers. “When we learned about the Friendship Foundation and their vision for a unified campus, we knew that we wanted to be involved,” said Anita Bhatia, executive director of The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation. “As the mother of a teen with autism, I know firsthand the pathways to professional development for neurodiverse individuals is limited. We anticipate our grant will give the Friendship Campus the tools they need to help teens and young adults find their lifelong passion in a setting that is as unique as each individual student.” The new Friendship Campus is expected to be completed in fall 2024 at a cost of $40 million. With this recent donation from The Bhatia Family Foundation, $36.5 million of the budget has been committed from private funding including Founding Donor Greenberg Family/Skechers; Legacy Donor Harris & Linda Toibb; Founders Circle Donors Ted & Claudette Schwartz and Josef & Chana Malka Gorowitz; and Visionary Donors: Jon & Nicole Hirschberg, Mike & Rose Kaplan; Dr. Miriam & Dr. Ben Landau; Paul & Georgia Solomon; and Margaret Haueisen. The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, founded in 2006, is a private family foundation established by Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia. The Foundation is dedicated to making an impactful change around the world by funding innovative solutions and programs that enrich communities and serve the common good. The Foundation’s grant making focuses on local, national, and international organizations that support medical and healthcare research, education, mental health, intellectual and physical diversities, human rights and social justice, women and girls’ empowerment, and emergency responses. In addition to the Friendship Foundation partnership, over the past year, the Bhatia Family Foundation has supported many other programs that support neurodiverse and physical diversities. A $1 million gift to Ability Connection in Dallas in 2020 funds a group house for individuals with varying needs, which is scheduled to be completed in 2023. In April 2021, it committed a 3-year investment for two programs, NEXT Gen Connect and NEXT for DEI Disability Inclusion in the Workplace. The Friendship Foundation is dedicated to building an integrated, accepting and unified community for our children and young adults. It was founded 15 years ago by Yossi Mintz with the goal of providing neurodiverse children with those with varying abilities the same advantages as their peers to enjoy and experience life. The organization has developed programs that allow all children to play, grow, develop and thrive together. The success and growing demand from the Foundation’s existing programs have expanded the vision to include an innovative new campus centered around turning special needs into special contributions to society.
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FEATURE STORY: THE DAILY BREEZE10/18/2021 Friendship Foundation receives $5 million grant for new Redondo Beach campusRendering of the future Friendship Campus in Redondo Beach. (photo courtesy of Gensler) By MICHAEL HIXON | mhixon@scng.com | The Beach Reporter PUBLISHED: October 16, 2021 at 6:00 a.m. | The Friendship Foundation, a nonprofit that helps young adults with special needs, recently received a $5 million grant for a vocational training center it is developing on 3.25 acres in Redondo Beach. The grant from the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation will help the Friendship Foundation nearly reach its goal of $40 million in private donations for its new campus and related programming. The campus is expected to open in 2024. So far, the foundation has raised $36.5 million for the Friendship Campus. The Friendship Foundation was founded more than 15 years ago by Rabbi Yossi Mintz and the Jewish Community Center Chabad of the South Bay. Since its founding, the Friendship Foundation has operated out of school and community facilities. The new campus, which will train special needs young adults to enter the workforce, will be its first permanent home. The Bhatia grant will mostly help fund job training courses that will “enhance the possibilities and opportunities for kids to become a part of the tapestry in the workforce of our great country,” Mintz said in a Thursday, Oct. 14, phone interview. But some of the money will also go toward ensuring the campus has the needed infrastructure to make those courses accessible and available, Mintz said. “This is truly a miracle,” Mintz said. “They found us. They read up about what we are doing and they really want to make a difference.” Originally, the fundraising goal for Friendship Campus was $36 million. But, Mintz said, a size increase, design costs and the rising cost of construction have increased the goal to $40 million. Other major donors to the project include $10 million from the Greenberg Family/Skechers and $5 million from Harris and Linda Toibb. The campus, 850 S. Inglewood Ave., will feature a 64,000-square-foot facility that will include a mentoring program, recreation center and a state-of-the art studio with training in digital media, visual arts and music. Mandi Blue, manager for the Bhatia Family Foundation, said what the Friendship Foundation is doing is incredible. “When you learn a little bit more about the fact that when these kids get older, there really isn’t a lot of options for them as far as secondary school, college,” Blue said. “It’s heartbreaking.” Part of the campus will be named the Bhatia College for Professional Development, Blue said. It will focus on vocational programs for students after they’ve graduated high school, from culinary arts programs to learning about the restaurant industry. “There’s gonna be a wide variety of different vocational courses that these kids can take as they kind of figure out what their path is,” Blue said, “what they’re passionate about, where their skills are.” The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation was founded in 2006. The private foundation grants money to local and international organizations that focus on everything from medical and health research to women’s and girl’s empowerment. “As the mother of a teen with autism, I know firsthand the pathways to professional development for neurodiverse individuals is limited,” Anita Bhatia, executive director of the Bhatia Family Foundation, said in a press release. “We anticipate our grant will give the Friendship Campus the tools they need to help teens and young adults find their lifelong passion in a setting that is as unique as each individual student.” The Friendship Foundation, meanwhile, is also in the beginning stages of working with Kinecta Federal Credit Union to create financial literacy classes, Mintz said, which could potentially lead to a job at one of the company’s locations. “This is a tremendous opportunity for young adults,” Mintz said. “We could train them and give them opportunities to work with these companies.”
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FRIENDSHIP FOUNDATION PARTNERS WITH BHATIA FAMILY FOUNDATION TO CREATE THE BHATIA COLLEGE FOR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT$5 million grant will fund curriculum creation and training for postsecondary students with physical and intellectual diversities at Friendship Campus, expected in early 2024 Redondo Beach, Calif., October 13, 2021 - The Friendship Foundation, dedicated to elevating the lives of those with varying abilities for 15 years, announced an exciting new partnership with The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation for its Friendship Campus. A $5 million grant from the foundation will be used to create an innovative program for postsecondary students who are intellectually and physically diverse, which will be the cornerstone of a new 3.25-acre state-of-the-art education Campus expected to be completed in early 2024 in Redondo Beach, Calif. An organization dedicated to making impactful change by funding innovative solutions and programs that serve the common good, this partnership marks The Bhatia Family Foundation’s first major grant in the Los Angeles area.
Almost 200,000 students are enrolled in special education in Los Angeles County alone and 8 in 10 Americans with disabilities are unemployed. Friendship Foundation’s new community-integrated, inclusive Campus will give individuals with physical and intellectual diversities the tools to transform the workforce and find a lifelong passion and purpose. The Bhatia College for Professional Development will collaborate with Vanderbilt University’s Frist Center for Autism and Innovation, local and national universities, and major corporations to help build a bridge for college-bound students and guide a path to successful employment and careers. “We are honored to work with The Bhatia Family Foundation knowing they’re as passionate as we are about helping every student contribute to the workforce in a meaningful way,” said Yossi Mintz, founder of the Friendship Foundation. “There is a crucial need for career development beyond high school and this incredibly generous commitment from the Bhatia Family will help develop the most impactful curriculum at our Campus. We’re immensely grateful and thrilled to welcome them to the Friendship Foundation family.” 3.25-acre Friendship Campus for Postsecondary Training The innovative Campus will include a 64,000 square foot facility to develop an engaging and inviting environment for the entire community. Friendship Foundation will focus on serving the whole individual with talent and skill building; personal growth and development programs; social and emotional wellness; healthy lifestyle habits and physical fitness; job training and exploration programs. Technology, media, hospitality, retail, culinary, office, education, trades, and landscaping are some of the initial vocational programs planned. A state-of-the-art studio will include training on digital media such as graphic design, coding, game design; visual arts such as painting, photography, filmmaking; craftwork such as woodwork and jewelry making; and music such as songwriting, audio production and music mixing. Culinary arts will feature a Friendship Café and Teaching Kitchen to give students hands-on learning experience for training in hospitality and culinary industry careers. “When we learned about the Friendship Foundation and their vision for a unified campus, we knew that we wanted to be involved,” said Anita Bhatia, executive director, The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation. “As the mother of a teen with autism, I know firsthand the pathways to professional development for neurodiverse individuals is limited. We anticipate our grant will give the Friendship Campus the tools they need to help teens and young adults find their lifelong passion in a setting that is as unique as each individual student.” The new Friendship Campus is expected to be completed fall 2024 and cost $40 million. With this recent donation from The Bhatia Family Foundation, $36.5 million of the budget has been committed from private funding including Founding Donor Greenberg Family/Skechers; Legacy Donor Harris & Linda Toibb; Founders Circle Donors Ted & Claudette Schwartz and Josef & Chana Malka Gorowitz; and Visionary Donors: Jon & Nicole Hirschberg, Mike & Rose Kaplan; Dr. Miriam & Dr. Ben Landau; Paul & Georgia Solomon; and Margaret Haueisen. To see a full list of donors, participate or learn more, please visit Friendship Campus (friendshipfoundation.com). About Friendship Foundation The Friendship Foundation is dedicated to building an integrated, accepting and unified community for our children and young adults. It was founded 15 years ago by Yossi Mintz with the goal of providing neurodiverse children with those with varying abilities the same advantages as their peers to enjoy and experience life. The organization has developed programs that allow all children to play, grow, develop and thrive together. The success and growing demand from the Foundation’s existing programs have expanded the vision to include an innovative new campus centered around turning special needs into special contributions to society. Follow Friendship Foundation at https://www.instagram.com/thefriendshipfoundation/ and https://www.facebook.com/FFsouthbay/. About The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, founded in 2006, is a private family foundation established by Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia. The Foundation is dedicated to making an impactful change around the world by funding innovative solutions and programs that enrich communities and serve the common good. The Foundation’s grant making focuses on local, national, and international organizations that support medical & healthcare research, education, mental health, intellectual and physical diversities, human rights & social justice, women & girls’ empowerment, and emergency responses.
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THE YMCA OF METROPOLITAN LOS ANGELES PARTNERS WITH THE RAMESH AND KALPANA BHATIA FAMILY FOUNDATION TO PROVIDE FREE BACKPACKS TO STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES (September 28, 2021/Los Angeles, CA) - A partnership between the YMCA-LA and the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation provided students in South Los Angeles and the Valley with access to free backpacks and school supplies.
The Bhatia Family Foundation’s generous gift of $50,000 provided the opportunity to help over one thousand students at Southeast-Rio Vista Family YMCA in Maywood, Weingart East Los Angeles YMCA in East LA, Weingart YMCA Wellness & Aquatic Center in South Los Angeles, and Mid Valley YMCA in Van Nuys start the school year with much needed supplies. “We are thankful for the generous gift from the Bhatia Family Foundation. It will help us in our effort to make sure students in underserved communities have access to the resources they need to start school with the tools for academic success,” said Victor Dominquez, Executive Vice President & Chief Mission Advancement Officer, YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. “At the start of this new school year, we wanted to lend a hand to the kids and families that have endured so much since the start of the pandemic,” said Anita Bhatia, Executive Director, Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation. “Education is the foundation for all children, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner than the LA Y to help us provide school essentials to children across Los Angeles. About Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation: The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, founded in 2006, is a private family foundation established by Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia. The Foundation is dedicated to making an impactful change around the world by funding innovative solutions and programs that enrich communities and serve the common good. The Foundation's grant making focuses on local, national, and international organizations that support medical & healthcare research, education, mental health, intellectual and physical diversities, human rights & social justice, women & girls empowerment, and emergency responses. http://www.rkbhatiafoundation.org. About the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles: The YMCA-LA is committed to rebuilding communities by providing equitable programs and services to empower all Angelenos. The Y-LA is focused on fighting food insecurity, providing equity in education, making sure every child has the opportunity to experience the joy of sports, ensuring kids and teens have a safe place to grow, learn and live a healthy lifestyle. The LA-Y’s health and wellness initiatives offer medical and mental health resources to ensure everyone has access to basic health needs. During the pandemic, the LA-Y became the safety net for millions of Angelenos. They provided millions of meals, hundreds of thousands hours of free child care, arranged critical blood drives, provided showers for the homeless, flu and COVID vaccines as well as medical and mental health assistance. Visit ymcala.org for more information. Media Contact: The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation Erin Kane | Communications Manager 310-403-4002 | Erin@rkbhatiafoundation.org
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PRESS RELEASE: NEXT FOR AUTISM6/18/2021 The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation Funds NEXT for AUTISM to Expand Mentorship and Employment Opportunities for Autistic AdultsNEW YORK, June 16, 2021 — NEXT for AUTISM announces its new partnership with The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, an organization dedicated to making impactful change by funding innovative solutions and programs that serve the common good. With a $300,000 grant, the Bhatia Family Foundation is helping NEXT for AUTISM launch the first year of two brand new, dynamic initiatives to support adults on the spectrum. NEXT Gen Connect, the first of these two initiatives, is a peer mentor-to-mentor program to improve the acquisition and retention of employment for autistic adults. The second, NEXT for DEI, is a new initiative centered on the importance of inclusion for adults with autism in the workplace. “We are incredibly grateful to the Bhatia Family Foundation for their generous support and thoughtful collaboration on these two important efforts within our organization,” said Dr. Patricia Wright, PhD, MPH, who serves as NEXT for AUTISM’s SVP of Strategic Initiatives. “Thanks to the Bhatia Family Foundation, NEXT Gen Connect and NEXT for DEI have the opportunity to not only make their way off the ground, but truly soar.” “As the mother of an autistic teenager, it is a privilege to partner with NEXT for AUTISM as they forge new ground for adults with autism,” said Anita Bhatia, Executive Director, The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation . “Their work is changing lives not only in the autism community, but in the community at large. It’s time for autistic individuals to be seen as key components of our society and should be included in conversations around diversity, equity, and inclusion, especially in the workplace.” Innovative Programs Expand Opportunities for Adults with Autism NEXT for AUTISM is in the development stage of NEXT Gen Connect, with the intent to pilot the content in Year 1, followed by dissemination aimed at higher education programs working with soon to be college graduates, as well as organizations and corporations who often engage in mentorship experiences to support the emerging workforce. Looking ahead, NEXT Gen Connect will encourage and foster a more inclusive programming within a corporations’ current infrastructure. NEXT for AUTISM, with the support from The Bhatia Family Foundation, will provide that critical starting point and next step. NEXT for DEI addresses NEXT for AUTISM’s strong belief that people with disabilities need to be valued and represented in the conversation and analytics of the diversity, equity, and inclusion movement. The organization is committed to changing the narrative, ensuring people with disabilities are included; through education, advocacy, and true equity for people in corporate America. Valuable partnerships and community relationships remain key elements of NEXT for AUTISM’s work and their goal of expanding the organization’s impact and visibility. People with disabilities can’t wait any longer. Through education and advocacy, and the support and generosity of the Bhatia Family Foundation, NEXT for AUTISM can promote inclusivity in the workplace. ABOUT NEXT FOR AUTISM: NEXT for AUTISM transforms the national landscape of services for people with autism by strategically designing, launching, and supporting innovative programs. We believe that individuals with autism have the potential to live fulfilling, productive lives when supported by excellent services and connected to their communities. We continually ask, what’s next for people on the autism spectrum? www.NEXTforAUTISM.org ABOUT THE RAMESH AND KALPANA BHATIA FAMILY FOUNDATION: The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation, founded in 2006, is a private family foundation established by Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia. The Foundation is dedicated to making an impactful change around the world by funding innovative solutions and programs that enrich communities and serve the common good. The Foundation's grant making focuses on local, national, and international organizations that support medical & healthcare research, education, mental health, intellectual and physical diversities, human rights & social justice, women & girls empowerment, and emergency responses. http://www.rkbhatiafoundation.org. Media Contact: The Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation Erin Kane | Communications Director 310-403-4002 | Erin@rkbhatiafoundation.org |