Disneyland Awards $400,000 in Grants to 26 Nonprofit Organizations

Rose Espinosa’s nationally acclaimed after-school tutoring program, which she runs from her garage, has been awarded another honor for encouraging disadvantaged youths to succeed.

Because of her efforts, La Habra Neighborhood Housing Services received a $40,000 award from Disneyland. The grant was among 26, totaling $400,000, awarded to nonprofit organizations throughout the county for community service projects.

Other top awards went to groups that also focus on education, including the Docent Guild of Bowers Museum of Cultural Arts in Santa Ana, the Boys & Girls Club of Tustin, the Shalimar Learning Center in Costa Mesa and the Leukemia Society of America, Tri-County chapter.

The awards were handed out during a ceremony that featured actress Michelle Pfeiffer Wednesday at Disneyland.

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And the Winners Are . . .

1997 Disneyland Community Service award winners:

* Boys & Girls Club of Tustin: $40,000

* Boy Scouts of America, Orange County Chapter: 40,000

* La Habra Neighborhood Housing Services: 40,000

* Leukemia Society of America, Tri-County Chapter: 40,000

* Shalimar Learning Center: 40,000

* The docent guild of the Bowers Museum of Cultural Arts: 40,000

* Community Services, YMCA: 26,000

* Vietnamese Community of Orange County: 26,000

* Orange County Rescue Mission: 10,000

* St. Joseph Ballet Company: 10,000

* Pediatric Adolescent Diabetes Research Education Foundation: 10,000

* Mater Dei Special Olympics: 10,000

* The Blind Children’s Learning Center: 10,000

* Fullerton Arboretum: 10,000

* Twelve organizations were awarded: $4,000 each.

* Tim Young won the VoluntEAR of the Year Award

Source: Disneyland; Researched by APRIL JACKSON / Los Angeles Times