Business-Education Partnership Award Goes to The Volunteer Center of Los Angeles (VCLA) and the Madison Community Collaborative Healthy Start The Volunteer Center of Los Angeles (VCLA) and the Madison Community Collaborative Healthy Start (MCC), which oversees both Madison Middle and Grant High schools, were awarded the third annual Economic Alliance Business-Education Partnership Award. VCLA and MCC have partnered since 1997. The mentoring program, YSYI - Youth Serving Youth Initiative - is one of many services provided by the partnership.

Luis Flores (r), a mentor with the YSYI Program, with his mentee, Ray Salazar (middle), and Eric Aldaco (a volunteer with the program) enjoying an L.A. Clippers game.

It matches Grant High students with Madison students and has been very successful at motivating the middle school students to improve their school performance and surround themselves with positive peer influences. The Business-Education Partnership Award, established in 2000 by the Alliance, promotes business-education partnerships in the Valley by saluting outstanding cooperative models. The Economic Alliance awards the education partner $2,500.

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