PUENTE Charter Elementary School students in Transitional Kindergarten
PUENTE Learning Center is honored to announce a $1 million gift from the Helen and Will Webster Foundation to fund major improvements across the PUENTE campus. This transformational gift will help ensure that future generations continue to learn, grow, and thrive at a campus designed to inspire possibility.
The gift will support a re-imagined schoolyard, a refurbished parking lot, as well as enhanced campus fencing and security to create a safer, more beautiful, and more welcoming environment for everyone who walks through PUENTE’s doors.
“We are deeply grateful to the Helen and Will Webster Foundation for their extraordinary generosity and longstanding belief in our mission,” said Jerome Greening, Chief Executive Officer of PUENTE Learning Center. “This transformational investment reflects the Foundation’s confidence in the work we do every day to expand educational opportunity and strengthen our community. It will allow us to make lasting improvements that will benefit children, families, and adult learners for decades to come.”
Following the successful seismic upgrade and renovation of the Richard J. Riordan Building, these campus improvements represent the next chapter in creating an inspiring environment where learning can flourish. At a time when many families in Boyle Heights continue to navigate significant challenges, this investment reinforces PUENTE’s commitment to serving as a trusted community resource.
Rich Webster speaking at Bridging Generations, PUENTE Learning Center 40th Anniversary Gala
“For more than 40 years, PUENTE Learning Center has been a trusted resource for children, families, and adults seeking greater opportunity through education,” said Rich Webster, Co-President and Treasurer of the Helen and Will Webster Foundation. “Our Foundation is proud to support PUENTE’s mission and invest in a campus that reflects the dignity, hope, and opportunity every learner deserves. We believe these improvements will strengthen the community for generations to come.”
Since 1985, PUENTE Learning Center has served as a bridge to opportunity for children, youth, and adult students through high-quality education, workforce development, and comprehensive family support. This extraordinary investment will enhance the learning environment for thousands of students, families, and community members while strengthening PUENTE’s role as a welcoming hub for education, opportunity, and community.