In 1982, the city of Inglewood created a charitable entity, the Inglewood Community Services Corporation (ICSC) also known as the Inglewood After School Recreation Program. The program was designed to raise funds to create after school programs, for single and two parent families, with low to moderate income, who need after hours child care for their children. These charitable funds are now being used to supplement the annual Inglewood Earth Day concert.
There have been two separate occasions that Inglewood parents were threatened with facing either increased after school program fees or elimination of the after school programs. Parents currently pay $30 per child with the general fund subsidizing the rest.
A review of guidestar.org shows ICSC regularly raises money, through charitable donations, and raised $143,435 in 2017 with expenses totaling $141,137.
2013- $55,485
2014- $17,650
2015- $64,904
2016- $51,935
2017- $143,435
Rarely, if at all, are contributions to ICSC agendized on the regular city council agendas. However, on May 17, 2019, $5,500 dollars were put towards the 2019 Earth Day festival for plants, table linens and balloons for the stage and “green room” for VIP’s.
According to the staff report requesting payment, on May 7, 2019, two weeks after the event took place, the city noted they received sponsorship from the Clippers, Consolidated Waste/Republic, West Basin and KJLH. Its hard to comprehend why money earmarked for after school programs are being used to supplement the costs of a public works event.
Do donors of ICSC know their charitable contribution are being used to fund a concert and not needy children? In the past some of these funds were used to purchase Thanksgiving turkeys that were distributed by Snoop Dogg.
2UrbanGirls has requested a list of all contributions taken in by ICSC and corresponding council agendas where council voted to receive them.
According to annual filings due to the Secretary of State, Parks & Rec Director Sabrina Barnes, Successor Agency Manager Margarita Cruz and Assistant Finance Director Sharon Koike are listed as the persons over the corporation.
On annual tax returns the mission has deviated from funding after school programs to enriching the lives of the citizens of the city of Inglewood.
Related: Poor neighborhood endures worst LAX noise but is left out of home soundproofing program
The LA Times has already shown us that poor homeowners aren’t getting soundproofing windows because the money is being directed to the more affluent homeowners in the Northern part of the city and now poor children are being left behind to fund concerts on the south lawn of City Hall.
