Times Awards $225,000 in Quake Aid Grants From Book Revenues

The Los Angeles Times awarded more than $225,000 in earthquake aid at a luncheon Friday to 29 nonprofit organizations from the San Fernando Valley, Ventura County, Los Angeles and Santa Monica.

The grants of $5,000 to $20,000 each were funded by proceeds from the sale of “4:31: Images of the 1994 Los Angeles Earthquake,” The Times book of essays and photos of the Jan. 17 quake.

The book, published in February, has sold more than 100,000 copies and was on the Los Angeles Times’ Paperback Bestsellers list for nonfiction for two months--making it one of the best-selling books the paper has published.

“We are pleased to be able to help these organizations, which have provided such valuable services to our communities at such a critical time,” said Richard T. Schlosberg III, The Times’ publisher and chief executive officer. “The Times’ contribution to their recovery is an endorsement of their hard work and dedication.”

The awards luncheon was held at The Times’ Valley Edition plant in Chatsworth.

In all, The Times and its parent company, Times Mirror Co., have given out almost $500,000 in earthquake assistance. In the days after the quake, the two companies donated $100,000 to the United Way Earthquake Relief Fund. In February, The Times gave $23,000 to the School of Journalism at Cal State Northridge to help rebuild its devastated journalism lab.

The Los Angeles Times Fund has also given more than $130,000 to 22 youth agencies in the Valley and Los Angeles.