OCCHA Scholarships and services

Organizacion Civica y Cultural Hispana Americana Inc. is a nonprofit organization that services Hispanics and the community at large in the Mahoning Valley. Its mission is to focus on programs to address social, economic, educational and cultural needs.

History: OCCHA was established in March 1972. Its main goal is to identify and address problems in the Spanish-speaking community. Funding sources are individual, private, corporate money and federal, state and local grants.

2008 Navarro Family Scholarship Recipients: Alberto Miranda Jr., Danielle Basora, Aaron Bonilla, Victoria Cook, Dominic Corso II, Dana M. Hughes, Gustavo Martinez, Adam Maga ±a, Jessilyn Marinelli, Ashley Mohnacky, Manuel A. Monos, Alex Sanchez, Kara M. Sliwinski, Anthony Sudon, Stephanie L. Santiago and Angelica Vega. The amounts range from $500 to $1,000.

2008 scholarship recipients: Lydia Gonzalez, OCCHA Academic Achievement Scholarship; India Harris, Hispanic Teachers’ Scholarship; Anthony DeFelice, Drs. Servio and Clara Becerra Scholarship; Stephanie Santiago, Rafael and Marta Romero Memorial Scholarship; Nina Gabrelcik, Medical Scholarship; Wilson Bradley II, First Spanish Evangelical Church Scholarship; and Noelle Bruno, Judge Diane Vettori-Caraballo and Ismael Caraballo Jr. Scholarship. The amounts are $500.

OCCHA programs: Social services and family support including emergency assistance, counseling, referrals, interpretation and translation; employment services including job readiness and placement, referrals and job fairs; education services including English, financial literacy and computer classes; after-school and summer day camp for youth; recreation, cultural activities, college and university fairs and educational workshops; health services including seminars and a health fair; and senior outreach including recreational and educational workshops.

Contact information: OCCHA is located at 3360 Shirley Road, Youngstown. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 8 a.m. to noon Fridays. Phone: (330) 781-1808.

Source: OCCHA