NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Dec. 12, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The PIMCO Foundation, the philanthropic arm of global investment management firm PIMCO, has awarded this year more than $2.1 million in grants to 72 organizations serving some of the most at-risk populations.

“Through the PIMCO Foundation, we aim to build a culture of opportunity and resiliency – for both our PIMCO colleagues and our nonprofit partners,” said Emmanuel Roman, Chief Executive Officer of PIMCO and President of the PIMCO Foundation.  “By deploying our time and talents, we are pleased to support the important and inspirational work of organizations like this year’s grantees that make such a difference in people’s lives.” 

Since inception, the Foundation has awarded more than $35 million to our nonprofit partners as part of its mission to empower people globally to achieve their full potential.

The Foundation’s Grants Program supports organizations working in three distinct categories.

  • Critical Community Needs: Organizations that address economic instability in Orange County and the New York Metro Area, specifically focusing on food security, homelessness and housing and workforce development.
     
  • Education: Organizations that focus on early childhood education and/or college access.
     
  • Gender Equality: Organizations that promote gender equity and empowerment for women and girls around the world.

The 2017 grants were awarded to:

Critical Community Needs:

Access California Services Anaheim, CA
AIDS Services Foundation Orange County Irvine, CA
Bridges Outreach Summit, NJ
Brooklyn Community Housing and Services Brooklyn, NY
Build Futures Huntington Beach, CA
Casa Teresa Orange, CA
Families Forward Irvine, CA
Friendship Shelter Laguna Beach, CA
Futures and Options New York, NY
Genesys Works New York, NY
Giving Children Hope Buena Park, CA
Hope Builders Santa Ana, CA
Hour Children Long Island City, NY
Human Options Irvine, CA
Illumination Foundation Irvine, CA
Mercy House Living Centers Santa Ana, CA
New York Common Pantry New York, NY
Per Scholas Bronx, NY
Project Dignity Garden Grove, CA
QSAC New York, NY
Services for the UnderServed New York, NY
South County Outreach Irvine, CA
STRIVE New York, NY
The Bowery Mission New York, NY
The Doe Fund New York, NY
The HOPE Program Brooklyn, NY
Thomas House Family Shelter Garden Grove, CA
University Settlement Society of New York New York, NY
Urban Upbound Long Island City, NY
WHW Santa Ana, CA
Working Wardrobes Costa Mesa, CA
   

Education:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County and the Inland Empire Tustin, CA
Blue Engine Brooklyn, NY
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast Santa Ana, CA
BUILD NYC New York, NY
Council for Economic Education New York, NY
Figure Skating in Harlem New York, NY
Girls Inc. of Orange County Costa Mesa, CA
Girls Write Now New York, NY
Harlem Children’s Zone of NYC New York, NY
Henry Street Settlement New York, NY
KidWorks Santa Ana, CA
Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America New York, NY
MOMS Orange County Santa Ana, CA
Moneythink Chicago, IL
New Heights Youth New York, NY
Orange County Community Housing Corp Santa Ana, CA
Project Access Orange, CA
Read Ahead New York, NY
Reading Partners New York, NY
Room to Grow New York, NY
ScriptEd New York, NY
Student Sponsor Partners New York, NY
Summer Search New York, NY
The Wooden Floor Santa Ana, CA
Virtual Enterprises International New York, NY
   

Gender Equality:

Accion East New York, NY
Acumen Fund New York, NY
Callisto New York, NY
Friends of Women’s World Banking New York, NY
Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance Larkspur, CA
Hot Bread Kitchen New York, NY
KickStart International New York, NY
Mercado Global Brooklyn, NY
Plan International USA Washington, DC
Rising Tide Capital Jersey City, NJ
SHE-CAN San Rafael, CA
Sustainable Health Enterprises New York, NY
Tahirih Justice Center Washington, DC
Thistle Farms Nashville, TN
Trickle Up New York, NY
Women’s Refugee Commission New York, NY
   

As part of the Annual Grants Program and associated Celebration of Partnership event, in which all grantees are recognized and honored, two nonprofits are highlighted as recipients of the Foundation’s Leadership Circle Award.

Through the Leadership Circle Award, the PIMCO Foundation seeks to honor and support organizations poised to drive social change and progress.

Recipients of this award are organizations adept at growing their impact and demonstrating ingenuity, while maintaining their quality and increasing their results.

The 2017 Leadership Circle Award recipients are Hope Builders, located in Santa Ana, California, and Blue Engine, located in New York City. Past recipients include Accion East, Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Orange Coast, Illumination Foundation, Mercado Global, Per Scholas, and The Wooden Floor.

Other 2017 Giving
Outside of the Grants Program, the PIMCO Foundation supports nonprofit organizations through a range of other initiatives. In 2017, the Foundation committed more than $2.6 million in global support of nonprofits through its Innovation Fund, Community Support, Volunteer, Global Pro Bono, Disaster Assistance, and Employee Match Programs.

About the PIMCO Foundation
The PIMCO Foundation is the philanthropic arm of PIMCO, based in Newport Beach, California, which helps people around the world to reach their full potential by engaging, empowering and investing in communities. It carries out its mission by identifying areas of community need and volunteering time and financial resources to support high impact projects and programs. The Foundation’s website can be accessed directly at www.pimco.com/pimcofoundation and on social media @PIMCOFoundation.

About PIMCO 
PIMCO is one of the world’s premier fixed income investment managers. With our launch in 1971 in Newport Beach, California, PIMCO introduced investors to a total return approach to fixed income investing. In the 45+ years since, we have continued to bring innovation and expertise to our partnership with clients seeking the best investment solutions. Today we have offices across the globe and 2,150+ professionals united by a single purpose: creating opportunities for investors in every environment.

Except for the historical information and discussions contained herein, statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements may involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the performance of financial markets, the investment performance of PIMCO’s sponsored investment products and separately managed accounts, general economic conditions, future acquisitions, competitive conditions and government regulations, including changes in tax laws. Readers should carefully consider such factors. Further, such forward-looking statements speak only on the date at which such statements are made. PIMCO undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements.

Contact:
Agnes Crane
PIMCO – Media Relations
Ph. 212-597-1054
Email: [email protected]