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During the month of April, communities across the country will celebrate "Community Spirit Days" to recognize the enormous contributions of the men and women who work and volunteer for our local nonprofits and charities. By providing greatly needed services to members of our community, they help to make us all stronger, healthier and safer. These devoted public servants give us hope for a better tomorrow and a deeper appreciation for what it means to be part of a community.

To help the nonprofits in our congressional district succeed in their mission, it has been my privilege to provide them with important information about federal grants and sponsor an annual workshop on how they can successfully apply for federal funding. This year's workshop is in Downey on April 8. I encourage all nonprofits in the 34th District to attend. It's free of charge and participants are given the opportunity to learn directly from the federal officials who review grant applications. They will explain what they are looking for and provide technical assistance on grant writing.

Now in our 10th year, I'm pleased that thousands of constituents from local organizations throughout the district have attended my workshops. Darrell Jackson, founder of the 10-20 Club, Inc. based in Downey, said his attendance last year gave him the confidence he needed to personally apply for a federal grant to support his anti-gang program instead of paying a consultant to complete the application. Mr. Jackson said, "We went to her workshop and learned from one of the presenters that we could basically write the grant application ourselves ... With the information you receive at the workshop, you're not just rolling the dice. You're able to put things down on paper and know what the agencies are looking for."

Whether the nonprofits are dedicated to helping teenagers stay out of trouble or providing meals to homebound senior citizens, community service organizations all face similar financial challenges in pursuing their worthy missions. This is particularly true today as funding cutbacks continue at the local, state and federal level.

It is my privilege to partner with these worthy organizations to help improve the quality of life of the wonderful people I am honored to serve. I commend the dedicated staff and volunteers who make up these organizations for their "community spirit" and commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of so many in the 34th District and I look forward to seeing them on April 8.