SPJ/LA Donates $10,000 to the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation for Emergency Relief for Journalists

The Society of Professional Journalists Greater Los Angeles chapter will donate $10,000 to the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation to provide emergency relief to journalists facing economic pressures during the coronavirus pandemic.The spread of coronavirus and accompanying stay-at-home orders have sparked a huge drop in advertising, sponsorship and event revenue for news organizations across the nation. With local newsrooms experiencing layoffs and furloughs, SPJ/LA reached out to the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation, a nonprofit group with a long history of helping Southern California journalists who are facing financial difficulty."We are deeply saddened by these cuts and our hearts go out to the journalists who find themselves in financial need during these difficult times,” said SPJ/LA spokeswoman Sarah Favot. "We are proud to support the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation as it provides them much needed help."Established in 1954, the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation offers grants to journalists to help pay for food, housing, medical care and other essential expenses."This generous donation from SPJ/LA comes at a time when Southern California journalists are more in need of emergency financial help than ever," said Tony Valdez, chairman of the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation. "Every dollar donated to the foundation is a dollar we can give to a journalist to keep food on their table, a roof over their head and the medical care they need to put their lives and their careers back together."SPJ/LA is an all-volunteer organization that has worked since 1934 to support journalists and protect free speech and freedom of the press. The group encourages Southern California journalists who are facing financial distress to apply for help from the foundation here.Those who wish to provide additional support to the foundation may make tax-deductible contributions here or by sending a check to the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation, PO Box 10186, Burbank, CA 91510-0186.For information on SPJ/LA, contact Sarah Favot at sarah.favot@gmail.com. For information on the 8-Ball Welfare Foundation, contact Tony Valdez at tony.valdez@8ballfoundation.com.