New $800,000 budget for Valley’s Family Resource Center

Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian was surprised with an endowment bearing his name after handing over an $800,000 check for student center.

By Monserrat Solis, Co-Editor-in-Chief

After securing $800,000 from a state budget carve-out for Valley College’s Family Resource Center, Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian was honored with the creation of ‘Adrin Nazarian Scholarship and Endowment.’

Nazarian represents the 46th Assembly District, which encompasses the central-southern San Fernando Valley, and is the first Iranian-American to the California State Legislature. This week, he presented an $800,000 check to Valley’s President Dr. Erika Endrijonas, LACCD Board of Trustee member Andra Hoffman, Family Resource Center (FRC) Founder and Director Marni Roosevelt, FRC Program Coordinator Amber Angel and Valley’s Adult/Community Education and Workforce Training Dean Dr. Doug Marriott during a special reception.

“We originally asked for $500,000 but he upped it to $800,000 so it could do more at Valley,”  said Marriott.

The carve-out will allow the FRC to expand its facility on campus and create a satellite location to reach more student parents, workforce training participants and other vulnerable students, according to Valley’s press release.

Currently, the FRC offers student-parent programs, parenting workshops, internships and provides a lactation room, diapers, wipes and formula. Since 2000 they have been supporting “vulnerable populations” like food and housing insecure students and workforce participants, according to their website

“The Family Resource Center at Los Angeles Valley College is so lucky to have the support of Assemblyman Nazarian, who knew from the second he visited the FRC, that helping student parents holistically is part of ensuring their student success,” said Endrijonas in the press release.

At the end of the reception, Nazarian was surprised with an endowment named after him, the ‘Adrin Nazarian Scholarship and Endowment,’ which will be awarded annually to student parents.

Endrijonas and Patricia Ballew, Valley’s Foundation board president, donated $100 to the new scholarship. The Foundation will also provide up to $1,000 in matching funds.

If the Nazarian scholarship becomes endowed, this will be the first student-parent scholarship offer at Valley.

“It was meant to honor the student research center,” said Marriott, “and it will be in his name.”

Solomon Smith contributed to this article.