FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 1, 2010

MEDIA CONTACT:

Tricia Mathis

(714) 530-0430 ext. 966

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REACH FOR LITERACY AWARDED $5,000 GRANT BY PACIFIC LIFE FOUNDATION

GARDEN GROVE, CA (February 1, 2010) - In late January, the Pacific Life Foundation announced over $3.3 million in grants, ranging from $2,500 to $152,000, to over 200 nonprofit agencies serving Southern California.  Overall, the Pacific Life Foundation has committed to provide $5.5 million in charitable funding throughout 2010.

Within the Education area, 30 Southern California nonprofit agencies received grants, which included the REACH For Literacy program of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove.  The grant comes at a crucial time when program cuts by the state resulted in a 50% decrease in funding for the program, and family literacy services continue to experience a high rate of demand and parents without jobs need our services now more than ever.  The grant will help provide program and reading materials required to keep our students advancing in their quest for improved literacy skills.

Besides improving literacy, we have found that the REACH For Literacy program improves the relationships between parents and children from the additional time spent together reading and bonding through other literacy-related activities.  The parent education sessions augments our efforts by addressing key issues such as improving communication, effective discipline and how to become more involved in their child’s progress at school.

The Pacific Life Foundation was established in 1984.  Together with Pacific Life, the Foundation has contributed donations totaling over $57.2 million to hundreds of nonprofits over the past 26 years.  For more information about the Pacific Life Foundation, visit its website at www.PacificLifeFoundation.com.

Offering insurance since 1868, Pacific Life provides a wide range of life insurance products, annuities, and mutual funds, and offers a variety of investment products and services to individuals, businesses, and pension plans. With more than half of the 100 largest U.S. companies as its clients, Pacific Life is also a member of the Insurance Marketplace Standards Association (IMSA), whose membership promotes high ethical standards for the sale of individual life insurance and annuities.  For additional company information, including current financial strength ratings, visit the About Pacific Life section of this web site.

Pacific Life refers to Pacific Life Insurance Company and its affiliates, including Pacific Life & Annuity Company.  Client count as of April 2009 is compiled by Pacific Life using the 2009 FORTUNE 500® list.

ABOUT REACH FOR LITERACY

REACH (Reading Education for Adults and Children) for Literacy, provides English language instruction for adults, and also equips parents with specific techniques for becoming involved with their child's education. REACH also offers language enrichment activities and homework assistance to children 2 to 14 years old, including reading clubs and library fieldtrips. REACH hopes to increase literacy in the home, empowering parents as their child's first and most important role models. For more information, please contact Alexis Wall, Director of REACH for Literacy Programs, at (714) 530-5399 ext. 17.

ABOUT BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF GARDEN GROVE

For more than 50 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Garden Grove (BGCGG) has helped kids “BE GREAT” by changing and saving young lives, playing an integral role in its community. Striving to help children succeed in life, the Boys & Girls Clubs provide hope and opportunity through after-school programs, family support and community outreach. Known as The Positive Place For Kids, our 57 program sites serve over 5,000 young people from “Diapers to Diplomas,” ages 18 months-18 years old, every day.

The Clubs are open daily with programs in character and leadership development, education and career enhancement, the arts, health and life skills, and sports, fitness and recreation. Our family outreach programs such as Family Campus Preschool, School Readiness, REACH For Literacy (Reading Education for Adults & CHildren), ARCHES (Access to Resources for Children's Health, Education and Support), FYOP (Family & Youth Outreach Program), and TRC (Truancy Reduction Center) expand our services to ensure that the needs of the whole child are met. Through our efforts we do our best to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Please visit www.begreatgardengrove.org for more information.