As we at Crail-Johnson Foundation enter our 20th year, we reflect on how much we have learned about philanthropy and the niche where we feel we can be most effective. Early on, we listened to our grantees and shaped our grant-making policy to give general operating funds because these are the most difficult funds to get. Over the years, we've counted on our conscientious and dedicated grantees to decide how funds are best spent, thus allowing them to best serve their clients and enabling them stay focused on their core activities.

Although generally, our approach has been handsoff, there are some very special projects completed in recent years which we are also very proud of. This year, one of those projects was realized; the opening of The Accelerated School in South Central Los Angeles, the first charter school in the nation based on the accelerated school model, which treats every child as gifted and teachers are evaluated based on student performance. I'd like to acknowledge the pivotal role our Board Chair, Eric Johnson, has played in the expansion, financing and construction of the school. He has worked countless hours over ten years to realize this ambitious project and the results speak for themselves.

Congratulations to the Los Angeles Maritime Institute (LAMI) on the re-commissioning of the Exy Johnson, one of two youth sail training vessels that was damaged last year. The LAMI program, serving 4,000 low income youth annually, would not be where it is today without the contribution and commitment of another one of our Board Members, Sherry Hutchison. We acknowledge his hard work on this worthwhile project.

Finally, words cannot express how grateful The Crail- Johnson Foundation is to our outgoing president, Carolyn Johnson, for her many years of service. Carolyn's steady hand and wisdom have grounded and shaped the organization since its inception. We have often leaned on her expertise and familiarity with the challenges facing low income children in Southern California and, although she will continue to be active in the Foundation, her leadership will be missed.

As we look to the future, we will continue to learn and grow, helped along by our dedicated program officer, Pat Christopher, and the many community members that help us do our job.

Alan Johnson