Spectrum/West works under the umbrella of The Organization for Strategic Studies (OSS). It is a 501 (c) 3, California non-profit organization. It was founded in 1985 to provide financial support and job training for the Highland House Shelter for Battered Women. In 1991, the OSS turned the shelter operations over to key personnel in the Glendale Adventist Hospital, and changed it's emphasis towards helping veterans that were disabled in the Vietnam war.
OSS provided funding and technical support to form a training and employment organization that would be operated solely by disabled veterans, to help disabled veterans. It was called Spectrum/West. Spectrum/West is a California Certified, Service Disabled Veteran Business Enterprise, operated by disabled veterans to provide training and jobs for disabled veterans and under certain conditions, handicapped civilians.
The Dalmatian mascot was "Lady" and later "Rust Puppy". Lady was the companion of one of the homeless applying for a job. She was used to illustrate the concept that "Nothing was either black or white or impossible in the real world." The Founders, George B. Robinson, Dr. David De Mulle' and Anita Bancroft got the idea of forming this self-help group after seeing homeless veterans applying for food and lodging at the local Pasadena shelters. Companies which donate used computer materials are given a tax receipt for the "fair market value" of the materials. These donations of salvageable materials are used to train our vets and remanufactured to produce working computers. The end product is donated or sold at low cost to day care centers, Head Start programs and schools.
Salaries and operating expenses are derived from the sales of the scrap materials, and in part, by the sale of the working computer systems. (For example, we can provide a complete working computer system to an after school project for approximately $50.)
Donating and setting up 6 computers and 10 color printers at the Pasadena USD - Hamilton School.
Donating 6 computers and printers to the LA County Stoneman School for the emotionally disturbed,
Room 5.
Donating 27 software programs and installing them in computers at the LA County Stoneman School.
Donating $10,000 worth of computer and science equipment to the Pasadena High School.
Donating over 200 man hours to the Pasadena USD - Hamilton School.
Donating funds to the John Muir H.S. Jr. ROTC Nov. 11th aircraft flyover.
Donating a fax machine to the John Muir Jr. ROTC.
Donating a high speed copier to the Sierra Madre City Hall.
Donating computers to local churches.
Certified by the California Attorney General's office as a non-profit training and
rehabilitation program, Spectrum/West received a Certificate of Commendation from the California
Employers Council for hiring staff which consisted of 90% disabled veterans.
Our Motto is "By Vets - for Vets!"
Tujunga, CA, USA
(818) 951-0933
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Copyright © 2001 SRL
Last modified: 15 November 2002