Silicon Valley Independent Living Center 

 

 

A disability justice organization that creates fully inclusive communities 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos by Tom Olin 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jody Yarborough 

December 2, 2011 Phone: 408.894.9041 
Mobile: 408.396.7965 

 

SVILC REACHES GOAL OF RAISING $25,000 TO SAVE YOUTH PROGRAM 

 

Matching Grant Contribution of $25,000 by Shortino Foundation will fund program for disabled youth 

 

SAN JOSE — With the same passion of its grassroots advocacy and social justice campaigns, Silicon Valley 
Independent Living Center (SVILC) successfully raised $25,000 for a matching grant awarded to SVILC by the Leo M. 
Shortino Family Foundation on July 1, 2011. In total, the $50,000 means that SVILC will be able to continue to 
operate its Youth United Leadership Program for youth with disabilities. 

 

SVILC increased its individual donor base by 33 percent, with donations ranging from $2 to $2,000. “It is truly 
unbelievable how strong the network of CommUNITY is. Old and new friends responded with donations and good 
wishes; many responded with ‘money is tight but I support you.’ Sadly, not one dime came from Silicon Valley 
Corporations,” said Development Director, Debra Sue Stevens. 

 

SVILC empowers youth with disabilities to take pride in themselves and their accomplishments. We offer youth-friendly 
peer support groups and self-advocacy 
skills development, an 8-week 
leadership program, mentoring 
opportunities, and prepare local teachers to implement disability history week in the schools. Our Youth Advisory 
Council helps us stay on track to make sure all our programs and advocacy are youth-friendly. 


 

Sara Moussavian, one of SVILC’s Youth Leaders is someone who has benefited from the empowerment and 
leadership skills that Youth United provides. She explains, “As I was growing up, my classmates had a fear of being 
friends with me because they thought my disability was ‘contagious’ so they were afraid to even be near me. After 
graduating, I thought about many of the friendships I missed out on and that are when I realized I wanted to make a 
difference and break down the barriers that so many people with disabilities face every day.” Moussavian is one of 
the youth who helped draft and secure passage of ACR-162 
which made Disability History Week resolution in 
California, followed by helping to prevent the repeal of the Fair Education Act that provides anti-bullying 
programs 
in schools. 

 

SVILC will continue to lead and teach the next generation of young leaders with disabilities (aged 13-25) 
to find 
meaningful choices to live, learn and work in their communities; be considered as contributing decision-makers 
in 
society. 

 

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 SVILC is a cross-disability, 
intergenerational, and multicultural disability justice organization that creates fully inclusive 

communities that value the dignity, equality, freedom and worth of every human being. For more information go to 

www.svilc.or 

 

Main Office: 2202 N. First Street .San Jose, CA 95131 .Ph: 408.894.9041 .TTY: 866.945.2205 .Fax: 408.894.9050 

Branch Office: 7800 Arroyo Circle, Suite A .Gilroy, CA 95020 .Ph: 408.846.1480 .TTY: 866.945.2205 .Fax: 408.842.2321 
www.svilc.org