Los Angeles, CA – March 19, 2024
Today, MacKenzie Scott announced The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company as one of Yield Giving’s 2024 awardees receiving a $2M award. The unrestricted gift will support The Unusual Suspects’ 5-year expansion plan, which includes the launch of a state-of-the-art theatre conservatory where youth from underrepresented communities of Los Angeles will gain free access to college-level education in acting, playwriting, directing, and production design.
Founded in the wake of Rodney King and now celebrating its 30th anniversary, The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company embraces theatre as a vehicle for social empowerment, providing thousands of children and youth an opportunity to discover the power of their own voices. The prestigious award constitutes a significant milestone towards the organization’s mission.
“We are thrilled and deeply honored to receive such a meaningful gift grant,” said Abiram Brizuela, Executive Director of The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company. “This will enable us to significantly expand our reach and impact, providing invaluable opportunities for young people to explore their artistic voices and devise an exciting future for themselves and their communities.”
The establishment of the organization’s Youth Theatre Conservatory represents a pivotal moment in The Unusual Suspects’ history, amplifying its commitment to providing free access to high-quality arts education in Los Angeles. Through comprehensive theatre training, mentorship programs, and performance opportunities, the conservatory will serve as a transformative space where the next generation of Los Angeles’ artists can unlock their potential and cultivate lasting connections with their peers and communities.
“We firmly believe that the future of theatre lives in Los Angeles ” remarked Brizuela. “Our goal is to create a nurturing environment where every young person has the opportunity to explore their boundless creativity, regardless of their socio-economic status or background.”
The Open Call, held in partnership with Lever for Change, received 6,353 applications and initially planned for 250 awards of $1 million each. In the Fall of 2023, organizations top-rated by their peers advanced to a second round of review by an external Evaluation Panel recruited for experience relevant to this cause and underwent a final round of due diligence. In light of the incredible work of these organizations, as judged by their peers and external panelists, the donor team decided to expand the awardee pool and the award amount. While many grantees received $1 million gifts, The Unusual Suspects was awarded $2 million for being in the group of highest-scoring organizations.
“We are excited that our partnership with Yield Giving has resonated with so many organizations,” said Cecilia Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change. “In a world teeming with potential and talent, the Open Call has given us an opportunity to identify, uplift, and empower transformative organizations that often remain unseen.”
More information on the Yield Giving Open Call and other initiatives can be found at www.leverforchange.org.
For more information about The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company and its transformative programs, visit theunusualsuspects.org
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Contact Information:
Carina Gavino
Director of Communications,
(323) 739-0768 | [email protected]
The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company
Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company is a nonprofit arts organization that capitalizes on the power of storytelling as a vehicle for social empowerment. Providing free access to dozens of youth theatre residencies focused on the creation and performance of original plays; The Unusual Suspects has evolved from a local program serving roughly 50 participants in Van Nuys in 1993 into a robust program that served over 3,800 youth in over 20 communities of Los Angeles in 2023 alone.
For more information about The Unusual Suspects Theatre Company, visit
https://theunusualsuspects.org/
Yield Giving
Established by MacKenzie Scott to share a financial fortune created through the effort of countless people, Yield Giving is named after a belief in adding value by giving up control. To date, Yield’s network of staff and advisors has yielded over $16,500,000,000 to 1,900+ non-profit teams to use as they see fit for the benefit of others. To learn more, visit www.yieldgiving.com.
Lever for Change
Lever for Change connects donors with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems—including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change. Using an inclusive, equitable model and due diligence process, Lever for Change creates customized challenges and other tailored funding opportunities. Top-ranked teams and challenge finalists become members of the Bold Solutions Network—a growing global network that helps secure additional funding, amplify members’ impact, and accelerate social change. Founded in 2019 as a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Lever for Change has influenced over $1.7 billion in grants to date and provided support to more than 145 organizations. To learn more, visit www.leverforchange.org.
