Joe Jost's To Donate Profits Sat. Jan. 22 b/w 1-5 p.m. To Public Safety Fund of Greater LB Foundation

The fragile public safety network in the Long Beach area is being threatened. Many of the best public and nonprofit programs that support this network are at risk of being cutback or even eliminated. Also, new and innovative programs are possible if funds can be raised. Grants can only be made to the extent that funds are raised...

Like any major metropolitan area, Long Beach will always be challenged by violent crime, graffiti, blight, substandard and overcrowded housing and gang violence -- not to mention vulnerability to earthquakes and other natural disasters. All residents, regardless of age or status, are affected. Recent statistics coupled with the city’s budget challenges indicate that our tenuous grip on safety and security is being threatened. There are no secret resources available to overcome those threats.

The GLBF Public Safety Fund is the result of a framework developed over a year’s time with the cooperation and assistance of both the Police and Fire Departments and the nonprofit community. The Foundation will solicit grant proposals from these agencies and nonprofit community organizations for unique, innovative projects that enhance all areas of public safety, including disaster preparedness, fire prevention, community policing, outreach and intervention programs, special training, hi-tech equipment and emergency response.

A key objective of the Public Safety Fund is to involve the public. Participation by the public is critical to its success. Seed money to launch this campaign was donated by individuals in the Police and Fire Departments and their professional associations, and then matched by the Greater Long Beach Foundation. Contributions must now come from the general public, businesses and other foundations in order to sustain the effort to keep Long Beach safe.