Allstate Insurance Company Presents Donates $10,000 to the Wilshire CommunityPolice Council

LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, January 7, 1999
Today, Allstate Insurance Company, through a local Koreatown agent, James Song Ho Chu, presented a check for $10,000 to the Wilshire Community Police Council. The donation is part of large Building Safe Blocks grant program that Allstate is conducting in communities throughout Los Angeles. Similar donations totaling $180,000 have been made to each of LAPD’s 18 stations.

"This generous grant from Allstate will clearly benefit the communities in the Wilshire Area. The Wilshire Community Police Council (WCPC) board of Directors will administer the grant," said Captain David Powers of LAPD’s Wilshire Station. "The WCPC provides funds for our Police Explorer Program, a scouting program for young adults, and for our DAPS, the Deputy Auxiliary Police, an activity program for elementary age neighborhood youth. The WCPC has also supported community relations efforts, provided for some improvements at the station for officers and hosted station open-house events for the community. We hope to expand the DAPS and Explorer membership with some of these funds."

Mr. James Song Ho Chu, the local independent Allstate Insurance Agent, who has an office at 3443 West Eighth Street, Los Angeles said, "This is an important program especially for the Wilshire area youth, and we are proud to support these efforts." Chu’s office is in Koreatown and he provides several types of insurance.

Mr. Floyd Simmons, the new WCPC President, and Mr. Eugene Grace, the 1998 President, were on hand with Mr. Arthur Hasselbrink, the WCPC treasurer to accept the grant. A WCPC committee composed of Simmons, Powers, Ms. Harriet Perry, a Mid-Town resident and community activist, as well as Ms. Pat Karasick, a teacher who lives and works in the Wilshire Area will identify projects to be considered for funding.

As they accepted the check, Powers said, "This is really an opportunity to celebrate!" He and Simmons urged Wilshire Area businesses and residents to join WCPC. We are conducting a membership drive during January.

Information on WCPC, the Police Explorer Program and the DAPS can be obtained through the Wilshire Police Station’s Community Relations Office at (213) 485-4020.

For Release 3:05 pm PST
January 7, 1999