(Artist rendering courtesy: Nordson Corporation Foundation)
Carlsbad CA— Nordson Corporation Foundation, the charitable arm of Nordson Corporation, a global leader in dispensing and conformal coating equipment and technologies, has awarded $225,000 to nonprofit Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI). The major financial gift from company’s foundation is in support of BLCI’s “Inspire Opportunity” Capital Campaign, which will allow the community organization to acquire a permanent location and remain in the neighborhood that needs them most.
Established in 1996, BLCI set out to break the cycle of poverty by preparing underserved students to be the first in their families to go to college. From third grade through college completion, BLCI provides specialized tutoring sessions, field trips, workshops and introductions to career pathways. Students attend workshops and meet with BLCI specialist after their traditional school day ends, participating in activities that are age appropriate and culturally relevant. The results have been amazing, receiving local, statewide, and national recognition. Even more impressive are the individual lives they affect – 100% of their students go to college.
The Nordson Corporation Foundation was first introduced to BLCI when they applied for a grant in 2017. The foundation’s Community Affairs Committee members were very impressed with the program which was a standout among the grant applications, because of the length of time students participate in the program as well as the parent engagement. “The Nordson Corporation Foundation is dedicated to improving our communities by supporting the continuum of education from birth to adulthood in the belief that education is the key for individuals to become self-sufficient, productive members of society,” says Sara Vaz, community relations manager, Nordson Corporation Foundation and a member of BLCI’s Advisory Council. “BLCI’s mission and the remarkable impact of their direct service programs are aligned with our philanthropy focus. BLCI is changing an entire community generationally and creating opportunities for many years to come, which will have ripple effects throughout our region.”
BLCI to Remain in Barrio Logan
Prior to receiving the major lead gifts from Nordson Corporation Foundation and others, leaders of the San Diego homegrown nonprofit even considered that they may have to relocate outside of the Barrio Logan community, which could have created difficulty for families enrolled in the program.
“The current location of BLCI is in the Monarch School, and we were notified earlier this year the school needed additional space to allow them to serve more children,” says Barbara Ybarra, interim chief executive officer, BLCI. “It was a signal to us we needed to invest in ourselves and find a permanent home.” Through the generosity of donors, BLCI is on track to move into their new space located at 2104 National Avenue in winter 2020, just in time for the start of the spring semester. It is closer to the residential area of the neighborhoods BLCI serves and will allow many families to walk to the campus.
“With the rising costs of purchasing a building and the associated costs for tenant improvement, there was a real threat Barrio Logan College Institute would have to relocate outside of our current neighborhood of Barrio Logan,” says Ybarra. “This would cause a burden on our families, but we have some real generous champions who want to see us grow and continue to succeed. Our program and methodology work, and the kids and families see our program as an opportunity for social mobility through education.”
New Home to Inspire Opportunity
In total, the organization’s goal is to raise $3.5 million to pay for tenant improvements, expand programs, and ultimately purchase the building. The renovations will transform the former print production facility into a state-of-the-art education center for kids and their families. “Our new site is 20 percent larger than our current space, and we will be able to serve 200 students at this location with our classroom and communal spaces, as well as the new quiet study areas,” says Ybarra. “There is data that says a better learning environment creates better learning. Our designs reflect this, and we are excited to create a space that is welcoming and comfortable so our kids will be inspired to learn and grow.”
In addition to the generosity of Nordson Corporation Foundation, early investors include The Stiefel Behner Charitable Fund ($500,000), The Aquilera Family, Andy Achterkirchen ($200,000), the Schulze Family Foundation ($100,000) and Joyce & Rick Ross ($50,000). But more support is needed to meet their fundraising goal. To learn more about the Inspire Opportunity Capital Campaign for BLCI, visit their website.
About Nordson Corporation
Nordson Corporation engineers, manufactures and markets differentiated products and systems used for the precision dispensing of adhesives, coatings, sealants, biomaterials, polymers, plastics and other materials, fluid management, test and inspection, UV curing and plasma surface treatment, all supported by application expertise and direct global sales and service. Nordson serves a wide variety of consumer non-durable, durable and technology end markets including packaging, nonwovens, electronics, medical, appliances, energy, transportation, construction, and general product assembly and finishing. Founded in 1954 and headquartered in Westlake, Ohio, the company has operations and support offices in more than 35 countries, including Carlsbad, CA. Visit Nordson on the web at http://www.nordson.com, @Nordson_Corp, or www.facebook.com/nordson.
About Barrio Logan College Institute (BLCI)
For 23 years, Barrio Logan College Institute has worked to break the cycle of poverty by preparing underserved students to be the first in their families to go to college through after school programs that begin in third grade. Learn more at www.blci.org.