LONG BEACH - Two Long Beach social service organizations got exciting news this week. Centro Cha, earned a three-year $150,000 grant and the United Cambodian Community received a three-year $120,000 grant, both from the California Wellness Foundation.

This is the first time Centro Cha has received a grant from California Wellness and comes at a critical time in the face of the economic downturn and the loss of several grants due to budget cuts.

Similarly, the grant fills a big void for UCC, which will finally receive some grant money for services it has provided for years without funding.

The grant to Centro Cha is to pay for core operating costs and to continue to allow it to provide employment and case management to prevent violence.

Jessica Quintana, executive director of Centro Cha, said it was particularly gratifying to see the foundation "recognize the importance and strength of minority-led grassroots organizations that work at the forefront of reducing violence at its root causes."

Centro Cha works with at-risk, former gang and previously incarcerated youth in Long Beach. It offers free social and legal counseling, education, and job training and placement in attempts to steer youth to become contributing community residents.

The organization was created in 1992 to address the causes of gang violence - poverty, lack of education and opportunity and as the group says "perhaps most importantly, a lethal absence