Edison Donates Van to Anti-Gang Program

With a van recently donated by Southern California Edison, staff members of a local anti-gang program won’t be putting so many miles on their own cars.

A ceremony was held Friday to note the gift of a nine-passenger van to Communities In Schools, a Pacoima-based organization that started informally in 1993 as the Valley Unity Peace Treaty.

The van will be used to take at-risk youth to community events as well as to transport supplies to Pacoima’s Humphrey Park for a mural project.

“Transportation is always an issue. For instance, we just had a corporation donate 50 tickets to a Kings game,” said William “Blinky” Rodriguez, executive director of Communities In Schools. “This will save staff putting wear and tear on their cars.”

Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), who officiated the ceremony, was aware of the organization’s need for a van when he learned that Southern California Edison donates an average of four retired vans each year. Cardenas’ staff made the request and a couple of months later, Communities In Schools got its wish.

“They were doing some very good things in the community, and we thought they were very worthy,” said Tom Boyd, a Southern California Edison spokesman.

Rodriguez said Communities In Schools’ name will appear on the side of the van as soon as a donor is found to make that possible.