Val Verde, CA – Congressman Mike Garcia (R, CA-25) today presented his personal monthly salary donation to the Youth Activities League (YAL), a Santa Clarita Sheriff’s Station youth after-school program based in Val Verde that provides food, shelter, tutoring, counseling and mentorship for local students.
“YAL has been helping to mentor local students in the Val Verde community for years, and the program has become even more critical since the pandemic began. Deputy Rooney and the team are doing incredible work to make sure these students have whatever they need to succeed,” said Congressman Garcia. “This program is an outstanding example of the community policing we should strive to emulate across the district and the country, and I am proud to personally support their efforts.”
Congressman Garcia’s YAL donation comes after his October donations to the SCV Food Pantry and Circle of Hope, a Newhall non-profit that provides financial, educational and emotional assistance to SCV residents battling cancer.
“Charitable giving is how we stay afloat, so donations like Congressman Garcia’s go a long way for providing services for the kids. Mike’s donation will most likely be used to keep our internet running for the next six to eight months — we have kids who come sit at the park to do their homework because they don’t have Wi-Fi access in our area — and to cover PPE to prepare for the COVID restrictions if we are allowed to reopen,” said Deputy Brian Rooney, who runs the YAL program. “It will be used for a lot of odds and ends to keep us running so we can provide for the kids and the community.”
Since his election to Congress in May, Garcia has committed to supporting local charitable organizations with monthly contributions equivalent to 10% of his salary. He has made donations to a variety of charities across the district, including non-profits supporting local veterans and law enforcement officers. Garcia will continue to fulfill his commitment as the 25th district community continues the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
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Mike Garcia believes in a strong national defense and is a pro-business, pro-taxpayer, political outsider with nearly 20 years of service to this country as one of the first Super Hornet strike fighter pilots in the Navy and is a highly decorated US Naval Officer. Garcia is a first-generation American whose father immigrated to the US in 1959 and has lived in the 25th district for nearly all of his life. Garcia lives in Santa Clarita with his wife and two sons. He was elected to Congress on May 12, 2020, winning a Special Election with 55% and becoming the first California Republican to flip a Democrat seat since 1998.
The 25th district encompasses the cities of Santa Clarita, Simi Valley, Palmdale, Lancaster and the northern part of the San Fernando Valley. The median income is $76,866 and the ethnic breakdown is 45.8% White, 8% Black, 7.7% Asian and 35.3% Hispanic.
To learn more about Mike and his campaign for Congress, visit https://ElectMikeGarcia.com.
