As a part of its commitment to making long-term investments in the community it serves, LAX Integrated Express Solutions (LINXS) will award $120,000.00 to the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce (GLAAACC) for its Education Fund and Foundation Scholarship program. In April, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a 30-year $4.9 billion contract to LINXS, an eight-member business consortium, to design, build, finance, operate and maintain the Automated People Mover (APM) train system at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). LINXS fully integrated team is comprised of Flour, Balfour Beatty, ACS Infrastructure Development, Dragados USA, HOCHTIEFF PPP Solutions, Flatiron, Bombardier Transportation, HDR and HNTB. According to officials, the APM system is set to be operational in 2023.
“We are passionate about opening doors and investing in the local community. The Automated People Mover affords us a once-in-a-generation opportunity for lasting economic and community benefits,” said Sophia Cavalli, LINXS Inclusivity Manager. “This includes supporting the next generation of entrepreneurs and leaders – youth engagement is a priority for us.”
For nearly two decades, GLAAACC Education Fund and Foundation (Ed Fund) has awarded scholarships to deserving college-bound high school seniors from Crenshaw, Dorsey, Washington Preparatory and Jordan High Schools. To date, GLAAACC’s Ed Fund has presented more than $500,000 to over 100 minority students from underserved communities.
“GLAAACC is proud to be a beneficiary of LINXS investment in the community and partner with them to support the business leaders and entrepreneurs of tomorrow” said GLAAACC Chairman Gene Hale. “GLAAACC is all about empowering minority businesses and providing them with the tools they need to succeed. It all starts with a good education.
“This is also possible because of the efforts of Debra Flint the CEO of LAWA who insisted on contractors working with local community organizations to develop constructive partnerships,” said Hale. “Kudos also goes to GLAAACC vice chair Jamarah Harris Hayner who played a role in helping to secure this amazing scholarship grant.”
To ensure they are equipped to manage their funds, students receiving a scholarship from GLAAACC are required to attend a financial literacy class facilitated by a certified wealth management company. This includes learning the basics of time management, credit management and how to balance a check book.
“The generous donation from LINXS will have a lasting impact on our scholarship program,” said GLAAACC Ed Fund Chairman David Ford. “Each dollar is an investment in the future of our community. The return on that investment will be a diverse population of future business leaders fully equipped to meet any challenge.”
LINXS will officially present the first check to GLAAACC Ed Fund at the 19th Annual Scholarship Reception on June 20 at the Microsoft campus in Playa Vista. Supervisor Mark Ridley Thomas will be on hand to acknowledge the participants at the Scholarship reception.
For more information on GLAAACC, visit glaaacc.org or call (323) 292-1297.
