Giving Back This Holiday Season
It’s the season to give back and this year, doing our part is more important than ever. Whether it’s a financial donation, buying supplies or volunteering virtually, we can all do our part to help each other and the communities we live in. We’ve highlighted five LA-based non-profit organizations that are worthy of our support this holiday season and beyond.
Empowered LA
Empowered LA is a Faith based mentor program providing quality sessions for all youth and young adults ages 11 to 18, created by our very own Operations Director and Agent, Rodney Williams II. His organization aims to empower, motivate, and ensure that each mentee reaches their highest potential in life. It provides resources, support, and encouragement through activities, workshops, one-on-one, virtual, and group mentoring. To find out how you can get involved, click here.
Beauty 2 The Streetz
Recognizing that the lack of a home does not mean a lack of humanity, Beauty 2 The Streetz is dedicated to making those who are homeless look good and feel even better by providing hot meals and beauty treatments. Founded three years ago by Shirley Raines, she and her team of volunteers, made up of licensed hair stylists, barbers, makeup artists transform Skid Row into an outdoor beauty salon every Saturday morning. Given that the homeless population is one of the most vulnerable communities to COVID-19, Raines and her team have shifted focus to providing food, hygiene and protection.. Donate supplies here.
Heart of Los Angeles
Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) gives underserved kids an equal chance to succeed through a comprehensive array of free after-school academic, arts, athletics and wellness programs. From what started 27 years ago with just a handful of kids in a dilapidated gym, HOLA now serves over 2,100 youth ages 6-24, on a four-building campus in the Rampart District. HOLA has three core academic programs and offers a wide range of enrichment activities, including a comprehensive music department, a robust visual arts program, premier sports leagues and activities and healthy living classes, and a cutting edge scientific arts program.
Baby2Baby
Baby2Baby provides mothers of infants living in poverty with basic supplies. The organization has launched nationwide disaster relief efforts for families impacted by the pandemic. Since March, they’ve distributed over 50 million items to address families’ most critical needs. Baby2Baby is currently accepting new donations including diapers, wipes, formula, hygiene items, and school supplies through contactless drop-off at their Culver City headquarters.
Dynasty’s United Youth Association
Dynasty’s United Youth Association (DU-YA) is a non-profit organization that provides free tutoring, homework assistance, mental health counseling, job-readiness workshops, and college/career advice to youth ages 5-18 in Los Angeles County. We currently serve foster, probation, special education, and ESL (English as a second language) students. During the pandemic, DUYA’s Virtual Learning program is playing a pivotal role in supporting families with their students’ education in the absence of physically going to school and having after-school programs. They are currently seeking donations here to hire additional tutors to accommodate more students who have been severely impacted by COVID-19 for the 2020- 2021 school year.
