Full Notification

The Gardena Police Department is proud to announce that the Gardena Police Foundation has reached a significant milestone, attaining over $500,000 in assets! The Gardena Police Foundation, incorporated in September 2006, is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides supplemental resources directly to the Gardena Police Department in the form of grant funds. As a community-police partnership, the Gardena Police Foundation has helped to make Gardena one of the safest cities in the South Bay. It is fully organized and supported by committed business leaders, currently with a Board of twenty-one Members and two Associate Board Members. The Foundation relies solely on the generous contributions of individuals, businesses, philanthropic organizations and its Board of Directors to meet specific grant requests from the Police Department for programs, equipment, and training that the city budget does not cover.

The Gardena Police Foundation is the largest source of private funding for public safety in Gardena. Below are just a few of the numerous grants that the Foundation has provided the Department:

• Donated $100,000 to the citywide video policing system
• Funded the purchase of two K-9 vehicles
• Funded the purchase of two speed radar displays to calm traffic
on busy streets in the City of Gardena
• Funded two T-3 mobile devices for use in specials events,
increasing police presence at these events
• Funded the purchase of 14 iPads to supplement the
Department’s E-Policing program. The use of the iPads allows
the Department to test new ideas on how to facilitate real-time
crime data systems from remote locations.

Since 2008, the Gardena Police Foundation has hosted an annual dinner to recognize local business owners, provide scholarships for Police Explorers, and recognize law enforcement officers that have demonstrated their commitment to Gardena businesses, the community, and law enforcement. The event is generally held in November and is attended by elected officials, business owners, community members, and Department staff.

Since 2010, an annual Golf Tournament has been a fundraiser that has grown to be increasingly successful and well-attended. This year’s tournament is on June 3, 2013, at the Rolling Hills Country Club. Sponsorship opportunities are available, as well as individual golfer participation.

If you are interested in becoming a Gardena Police Foundation Board Member, or would like more information about the golf tournament, please contact Lily Hyde, Executive Director, at (310) 965-2324 or [email protected]. You can also visit the Foundation's website at www.gardenapolicefoundation.org.