Wilk presented the Nonprofit of the Year Award to Desireé Smith, Shameka Beaugard and Project Joy founder Kimberly Watson during California Nonprofits Day at the State Capitol.
“Fittingly founded on Valentine’s Day in 2014, Project Joy is all heart. Its mission – to empower, educate and encourage its clients to break the cycle of poverty – has provided children and families dealing with homelessness, domestic violence, living in foster care and other traumatic issues with a helping hand,” Wilk said. “These are some of the most challenging problems facing Californians and Project Joy fills that niche with grace and love.
Project Joy has made a lasting impact on the lives of many Antelope Valley families. Its programs – Families in Transition (F.I.T.) and Young Learners For Life (YL4L) – conduct donation drives for career clothing, books and other needed materials. Project Joy also meets the needs of at-risk students by adopting a school and providing college scholarships to students that have overcome extreme odds.
The 2019 Nonprofit of the Year award winners were chosen based on their long-standing support of the community, civic involvement and dedication to the community in which they are located.
“Our team is filled with caring individuals who are willing to go that extra mile to help someone in need,” Kimberly Watson said. “Everything we do is carefully designed to empower, educate and encourage our youth and adult participants. Every project we undertake has the ultimate goal of spreading joy. If this recognition draws some attention to the very real needs of people in our community, it will bring me some joy.”
[Information via news release from the office of Senator Scott Wilk.]
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Eric says
Never heard of them, I attend most community outreach meetings, never heard of them
Scott Wilk Fan Club says
Scott Wilk is really photogenic.