AALA established FRIENDS OF AALA, a 501(c )(3) nonprofit corporation in January 2011, to continue our outstanding student scholarship program for deserving LAUSD students. In May 2026 AALA awarded 45 scholarships to graduating seniors representing high schools and community adult schools. The 2025-2026 school year marked AALA’s 45th year providing scholarships to students.
Friends of AALA also recognizes the tremendous support given by community volunteers at local school sites and presents five awards each year.

The Board of Friends of AALA meets its annual fundraising goal by seeking donations from AALA’s active and alumni members, private foundations, service clubs, organizations and businesses. The generosity of these donors is much appreciated.
All donations to FRIENDS OF AALA are tax deductible.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
| President | Juan A. Flecha |
| Vice President | Dr. Rosa Maria Hernández |
| Secretary | Dr. Deborah Wiltz |
| Treasurer | Daryl Narimatsu |
| Directors | Charlotte Lerchenmuller |
| Maria E. Nichols (de facto) | |
| Dr. Judith Perez | |
| Rhonda Sparks | |
| Dr. Lilian Utsumi |

About AALA Scholarships
Investing In Our Future
Each year, AALA awards scholarships to outstanding LAUSD students for their academic achievement, school/community service, and their need. Students in traditional high schools, options schools, and community adult schools are eligible to apply for these awards. The application period is generally from January to the first of March each year.
School-site administrators, principals and assistant principals, and the college counselor are emailed copies of the application to duplicate and distribute to interested students, and the application is also available on the AALA website.
An AALA Scholarship Committee reads and selects the recipients from the applications received. The number of scholarships awarded is determined in large part by the amount of donations received by the Friends of AALA, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization established to raise funds for the scholarship program.
Once the students are selected, they are invited to the annual Scholarship and Community Awards Banquet held in May where they receive their awards. The students’ parents and/or guardians are also guests at the banquet. The evening is a wonderful celebration of academic excellence and extraordinary service. It is an evening that showcases the accomplishments of LAUSD students. Among the special scholarships presented are the following:
- Dr. William J. Johnston Leadership Scholarship—Established by AALA in 2011 to honor an outstanding retired superintendent.
- Jack H. Silas Social Justice Scholarship—Established by AALA in 2012 to honor an outstanding retired administrator and AALA staff member.
- Jack Moscowitz Memorial Scholarship–Established in 2014 to honor a special colleague and friend.
- Dr. Judith Perez Scholarship–Established in 2015 to honor an outstanding educator and AALA President.
- Nellie and Bernard Kleiner Memorial Scholarship–Established in 2017 by Neal Kleiner and Karen Miller in memory of their parents, strong public education supporters and believers in a college education for all students.

DONATE
INDIVIDUAL DONORS
You make a tax-deductible donation in the following ways:
- By check – Print and complete the Friends of AALA Donor Form and mail the form and check to AALA, 1910 W. Sunset Boulevard, Suite 410, Los Angeles, CA 90026
- By phone – Call Javier Melendez at AALA, (213) 484-2226, with your credit card information. You may also fill out the form listed above and fax your information to AALA at (213) 484-0201.
BECOME AN AALA ANGEL
Active AALA Members can become an AALA ANGEL who provides ongoing support for AALA’s annual scholarships. Simply make a payroll deduction of $5.00 each pay period and the amount will be painlessly deducted from your warrant. You can sign up HERE.
For additional information about Friends of AALA, contact Juan A. Flecha, President, Friends of AALA at jflecha@teamsters2010.org or Friends of AALA, Associated Administrators of Los Angeles, 1910 W. Sunset Boulevard, Suite 410, Los Angeles, CA 90026. You may also contact Javier Melendez at the AALA office – (213) 484-2226.

