Eric Garcetti turns to private donors for public change (Neon Tommy)

With Eric Garcetti’s one-year mayoral anniversary rapidly approaching, the Los Angeles Mayor is continuing to work on city-enhancing programs despite his meager budget. 

With hopes of boosting cultural tourism, helping low-income teens secure summer jobs and improving the Los Angeles River, the Mayor decided to look beyond public funding. The result: The Mayor’s Fund for Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization overseen by an independent Board of Directors that aims to use private donations to help create programs that will benefit the city without weighing heavily on tax payers. 

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"The Mayor's Fund combines the best of the public and private sectors to create new, transformative solutions that improve our city's economy, quality of life, resiliency, and government efficiency," said Mayor Garcetti in a press release. "The Mayor's Fund will harness new ideas and new resources to make L.A. the most livable city in the world."

As of Friday, the L.A. Times reported that the fund had already received over $2.3 million in donations. 

“The Fund allows Los Angeles to be at the forefront, propelling innovation and creating a stronger community for all," said Deidre Lind, Acting President of the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles. "We can be agile and responsive, prioritizing opportunities ripe for partnership and action."

Contact Deputy Editor Sara Newman here. Follow her on Twitter here.