NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR (LARGE) FINALISTS
Founded in 1946, Exceptional Children’s Foundation (ECF) provides the highest quality services for children and adults who are challenged with developmental, learning and emotional barriers – empowering them to reach their greatest potential. ECF’s clients include people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, learning/intellectual disabilities, developmental delays, emotional disturbances, speech and language impairments, or traumatic brain injuries. As a large, multi-service agency, ECF serves nearly 4,000 people with disabilities and their family members each year. The organization provides services for clients of all ages from 15 service sites, in clients’ homes, in community settings and remotely on a county wide scale. ECF is the only organization of its kind in California to provide a lifespan of services for people with developmental disabilities. In addition, ECF is committed to educating and encouraging the general public and legislators to integrate and include people with special needs in all aspects of community life.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank has been fighting hunger for 50 years, and continues to provide food and nutrition assistance to people all over Los Angeles County. With an estimated two million people struggling to consistently access nutritious food in LA County, the need for food assistance is high. Despite the improved local economy, the Food Bank and its network of partner agencies continue to provide essential support, with an average of 800,000 people receiving food assistance each month during 2022. Thanks to support from the community, the Food Bank’s total revenue increased significantly from $131 million in 2019 to $252 million in 2022. With more than 96% of all contributions going to programs, the Food Bank efficiently and effectively distributes food to those in need. In 2022, the Food Bank distributed 110 million pounds of food and other items, which is enough for 88 million meals.
As the largest provider of pediatric orthopedic care on the West Coast, Luskin Orthopaedic Institute for Children (LuskinOIC) provides academic-level specialty care to all children, irrespective of their background and insurance status. Founded in 1911, it has served more than three million children worldwide. More than 95% of LuskinOIC’s patients are uninsured or underinsured, and 75% of them come from the Latinx and Black communities. In alliance with UCLA Health, LuskinOIC also provides all the pediatric orthopedic care for the entire UCLA Health System, including Mattel Children’s Hospital, seeing over 75,000 patients annually in two locations, its main campus in downtown Los Angeles and Santa Monica. Through LuskinOIC’s various fundraising campaigns, the organization raised more than $10 million to establish its new Ambulatory Surgery Center and more than $20 million to open a state-of-the-art Urgent Care Center, Ahmanson Foundation Fracture Center, Sports Medicine Center, and Scoliosis Center – all downtown.
Since 1980, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California (RMHCSC) has expressed its mission through its programs, which today include seven Ronald McDonald Houses in Bakersfield, Inland Empire, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County, Pasadena, and the Westside of Los Angeles. RMHCSC operates two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at CHOC Children’s Hospital in Orange and CHOC Children’s at Mission Hospital. The organization is developing a new Family Room in Ventura, at the Ventura County Medical Center, and a new House near the UCLA/Mattel Children’s Hospital on the Westside of Los Angeles. RMHCSC is one of the only Ronald McDonald House Charities chapters world-wide that operates a cost-free, medically-supervised Camp for children with cancer and their families, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times. RMHCSC’s Family Support Services provides resources and counseling to families who stay at a Ronald McDonald House and/or attend Camp.
NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR (MID-SIZE) FINALISTS
The Library Foundation of Los Angeles (LFLA) and the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) have been partnering to bring free and accessible services to the Library for more than 30 years. Los Angeles Public Libraries are powerful sources of trusted information that maintain vital resources for everyone. Both organizations have the understanding that libraries are bigger than a building and more than just books and work together to fundraise and advocate for neighborhood Library branches across the city. There is a wide range of programming at the Los Angeles Public Library, such as adult literacy, helping adults learn to read as well as helping new Angelenos master English; Career Online High School, a program that encourages busy adults who were not able to get their high school diploma the chance to graduate through an online program; and Teens Leading Change, which teaches teens in Los Angeles about civic engagement.
Olive Crest transforms the lives of children in crisis through the healing power of God, family, and community… “One Life At A Time.” The organization’s model of strengthening, equipping, and restoring children in crisis has proven to be extremely effective in stopping the cycle of abuse and neglect and empowering strong families to become healthy and productive in their communities. As a result, Olive Crest is leading the charge in redefining the way we care for and equip children in crisis, and in so doing, positioning the organization to exponentially increase its impact. In 2022 Olive Crest served 3,700 families. One of the biggest areas Los Angeles helps provide support in is prevention from children entering the foster system by inviting low income and vulnerable children to community events to provide support (Easter baskets, backpacks, Christmas, essential items).
CR Business Finance (PCR) is a 45-year organization dedicated to serving underserved small businesses with access to capital, training, and advising services in the Los Angeles area. PCR is a CDFI providing loans from $5,000 and up to $650,000 for working capital, inventory, and business expansion. PCR also hosts a Small Business Development Center (SBDC). Over the last three years, including the pandemic, PCR has helped 193 New Businesses get started, hosted nearly 573 workshops, and advised 4380 clients with one on one advising. PCR also operates the Business Interruption Fund for Metro to provide grants to businesses that have construction impact from rail construction. During the pandemic, it was clear that small businesses needed more assistance learning the language of money. PCR and the SBDC created “Financial Fitness” training options and collaborated with banks to improve the financial literacy of small businesses through workshops.
SoCal Grantmakers (SCG) is a community of philanthropists and grantmakers working to make a difference in local communities and around the world. Members include family, private, public, independent, community, and corporate foundations and corporate giving programs, individuals, and government agencies. 2023 is SCG’s 40th anniversary, and increasingly, it has been providing our community with cutting-edge learning opportunities, creating meaningful ways for members to connect with each other and collaborate, as well as advancing a bold agenda for an equitable Los Angeles. SCG has been curating learning opportunities to inspire investments in the narrative infrastructure needed to shift our country’s prevailing attitudes and mindsets around systemic injustice. In addition, recognizing that artists are key drivers of change, SCG provides arts and culture programming featuring artists and storytellers. SCG has also cultivated collaborative learning spaces that inspire actions needed to address complex systems of social, historical, civic, and institutional inequities.
NONPROFIT OF THE YEAR (GROWING) FINALISTS
Founded in 1971, Brentwood Art Center’s (BAC’s) tradition has been the pursuit and achievement of high artistic standards. Since becoming a nonprofit 503(c)(3) organization in 2012, BAC has provided an arts education that encouraged creative self-expression and skill-building in a supportive environment. Throughout its history, BAC has been known for its exceptional pro-gramming in support of community, children, seniors, and veterans – and most recently a virtual place of support and solace from a pandemic-weary world. In 2020, during the pandemic, BAC gave up its beloved home of over 50 years and transitioned to online programming. Since then, its goal has been to secure a new physi-cal space devoted to creative self-expression. BAC recently announced that the Center has secured a new physical location where it once again began providing in-person pro-gramming beginning in March 2023.
Created in 1995 by the agency’s managing partners, CAA’s philanthropic arm is an integral part of its culture. The CAA Foundation activates popular culture to cre-ate sustainable social change by mobilizing timely initiatives and partnerships that create awareness and action. The Foundation has become a leader in the entertainment community on education, the environment, civic engagement, and social issues. The CAA Foundation empowers employees, companies, athletes, and artists to make a difference, be of service, and improve con-ditions in communities worldwide. Examples of the CAA Foundation’s work with clients include: F.C. Barcelona’s support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on behalf of their polio eradication initiative; Jennifer Garner’s work with Save the Children; amplifying the efforts of Sean Penn and his organization CORE Response; helping to launch the Social Change Fund United with NBA stars; and Andy Cohen’s partnership with the Family Equality Council.
The Get Together Foundation was founded in 2001 by Kevin and Mare Wachs. As a 100% volunteer-based family foundation, the Get Together Foundation has raised and disbursed over $664,000 in charitable contributions as of 2021. Fundraising efforts encompass benefit concerts, online telethons, charity drives, auctions, direct donations and more. Committed to action, GTF’s programs provide direct services – food, shelter, supplies, education, and other services – to children and families in need. This includes financial support for “bridge” (transitional) housing and mobile food delivery programs as well as a new daycare facility for families living in shelters. GTF extends its reach by partnering with other organizations to provide a greater continuum of care for the community. It operates on the premise that even if it can’t completely solve a problem, it can at least start moving the bar in the right direction.
Founded in 2001 with a cohort of only 36 children, Harmony Project began as a public health initiative that seeks to nurture the development of students through the study, practice, and performance of music. Today, it annually engages more than 3,500 underserved K-12 students residing in 19 historically marginalized communities located within Los Angeles County, including Altadena, Boyle Heights, Compton, Cren-shaw, Hawthorne, Hollywood, Koreatown, La Habra, Lawndale, Leimert Park, Lennox, Long Beach, Lynwood, Nickerson Gardens, Paramount, Pasadena, South Los Angeles, West Athens, and Wiseburn. Harmony Project’s innovative music education curriculum promotes the development of essential life skills such as collaboration, problem-solving, and emotional maturity. In addition, Harmony Project has expanded its catalog of programs and services to include a wide array of academic resources and social support activities that encourage participat-ing students to become creative thinkers and confident learners capable of realizing their full potential.
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Learning for Equity (L4E) is the education arm of Community Health Councils (CHC) and established as an accredited curriculum in 2018 by Pacific Oaks College. L4E delivers series of certificated courses that builds capacity at the grassroots (individuals and communities) and grass tops (philanthropist, admin officials, organizations, etc.) levels, to collaborate more effectively on initiatives designed to increase social equity to achieve community well-being. L4E methodologies are steeped in emancipatory action practices as well as methodologies related to CHC’s Model for Community and Social Change and other participatory approaches. All these models, theories and practices embody equitable and catalytic styles of working with communities, organizations, and individuals.
Mobility Management Partners (MMP) is a 501(c)3 social enterprise that provides travel training services and call center services in collaboration with Access Services, Inc. (ASI) for over ten years. The call center answers calls relating to MediCal and mobility management calls among other things. This effort has resulted in millions of dollars of savings to the ASI budget. Established in 2009 in response to a growing need for professional mobility management services, MMP seeks to employ the best and brightest professionals, coupled with the latest technologies and methodologies in the transportation and human services fields. MMP provides travel trading services to seniors and disabled citizens of Loa Angeles County under a contract with ASI. MMP’s vision is to see that all persons have access to safe, reliable and affordable transportation regardless of physical, intellectual or economic barriers that may hinder their ability to travel independently.
BUSINESS ANGEL OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
Arthur Greenberg has always said that members of the firm “do well by doing good.” This statement has become a core value of the firm, forming the basis of everything it does. One area in which this value is evident is in the firm’s corpo-rate social responsibility efforts. For one, throughout the year, Greenberg Glusker hosts a number of fundraisers. One of the biggest fundraisers it participates in, called Food From The Bar, takes place every spring. Each year, through activities like the firm’s “Pie a Partner” challenge and the Greenberg Glusker lip sync battles, the firm has raised about $10,000 for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. The firm also participates in Dress For Success’ annual “Your Hour, Her Power” fundraising campaign, in which the team members have the opportunity to donate an hour of pay to help support women in need who are pursuing economic advancement.
IPSY, the largest beauty membership in the world with a diverse community and self-expression at its core, has invested more than $75 million in Black and Latinx-owned brands to date. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IPSY strives to empower the local, young Latinx community. IPSY invests in approximately 250,000 products on average for each of the Black and Latinx brands the company partners with. IPSY provide two times the average brand exposure to amplify these brands, increasing customer awareness and engagement. It also created a $1 million fund for up-front investment in product sourcing in order to support those brands that wouldn’t be able to work with the organization if they needed to wait to be paid when goods are delivered. In addition, IPSY provides access to product development and introductions to supply chain resources to help these brands thrive.
OUTSTANDING COLLABORATION BETWEEN A BUSINESS AND A NONPROFIT FINALISTS
The Adopt-A-Center Program was founded in 1999 by Stacy D. Phillips and her former law firm, Phillips Lerner, when e saw the need to support and raise the public profile of Los Angeles-based non-profit organizations helping underserved children and families in significant and sometimes unexpected ways. When Lerner joined Blank Rome in 2016, firm leadership and colleagues embraced the Program and it became the Blank Rome Adopt-A-Center Program, continuing the legacy that Lerner began and the positive impact on the greater Los Angeles community. 2023 marks the 24th year of the Program, and the RFP for nonprofit partners has just been released. Blank Rome’s Adopt-A-Center Program annually selects, “adopts” and partners with an LA-based nonprofit organization helping underserved children and families. The goal is not only to raise funds for the organization – which the Program does, but to also tap the resources of Blank Rome and its people.
The National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) is the world’s largest nonprofit orga-nization serving people with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. In 2022, the NPF launched fundraising walks in multiple cities across the U.S. to raise funds and awareness for the more than eight million Americans living with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Dermavant, a specialty biopharmaceutical company developing innovative prescription therapies for dermatologic diseases, served as a national sponsor for and participant in this important initiative, demonstrating the company’s steadfast commitment to advancing innovative treatment options for patients with chronic skin conditions. Over 200 Dermavant employees participated in walks and fundraising efforts in six cities, including the Los Angeles NPF Walk in November. Together, Dermavant raised more than $21,000 for this important cause, supporting NPF’s vision of a life free from psoriatic disease and the burdens that come with it.
The Library Foundation of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Public Library have been partnering to bring free and accesible services to the Library for more than 30 years. Los Angeles Public Libraries are powerful sources of trusted information that maintain vital resources for everyone. There is a wide range of programming happening at the Los Angeles Public Library, such as Adult Literacy, helping adults learn to read as well as helping new Angelenos master English; Career Online High School, a program that encourages busy adults who were not able to get their high school diploma the chance to gradu-ate through an online program; and Teens Leading Change, which teaches teens in Los Angeles about civic engagement through projects that bring positive change to their communities like assisting seniors, creating hygiene packages for those experiencing homelessness, being active in local elec-tions, and more.
PCL Construction had a stellar United Way campaign this past year, raising a total of $265,940 through its employees generous contributions, 100% corporate match and various events. PCL had an amazing participation rate of 86% that included an average gift of over $600 with an incredible 61 individuals generously donating over $1000 to their employee giving campaign. PCL’s Giving Week theme was “100 Reasons We Give,” in support of United Way’s 100th year in LA. The campaign kicked off with a Townhall and a Burrito Breakfast with presentations. Other campaign events included a Golf Tournament, Leadership Breakfast for employees who contribute at the $1000 level, a 50/50 raffle, a silent auc-tion and a Family Football Viewing Party that included plenty of food, fun, and cama-raderie. It all added up to a phenomenal display of giving and generosity to United Way and the Los Angeles community.
OUTSTANDING SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FINALISTS
More than nine million reside in Los Angeles County and many of these individuals are vulnerable, disenfranchised and don’t vote. In response, AltaMed Health Services launched a non-partisan campaign called “My Vote. My Health‚” or “Mi Voto, Mi Salud‚” launched to reach eligible voters in a culturally competent way to improve civic participation and voter turnout in underrepresented areas of Los Angeles and Orange counties. AltaMed’s goal is to engage and empower its patients and employees to participate in local, state, and federal elections to shape policies that affect their communities and have a voice in the political process. Turning its clinics into civic engagement hubs, from front office staff to nurses and doctors, AltaMed employees were trained to ask patients about their civic health. Staff had education materials about upcoming elections in English and Spanish to inform its patients about ballot initiatives that could impact their communities.
When Armanino was founded in 1969, its founding partners emphasized the need for remaining grounded in the community it served. The firm’s commitment to social responsibility touches everything from how it serves the communities it works in to how it operates internally with a focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. Beginning in 2009, for one day each year, partners and employees at the firm close their offices and spend a day of service working on large projects for local nonprofit organizations that require more resources than they normally have. Whether that’s landscaping or decommissioning and scrap-ping computer hardware or even serving food at a soup kitchen, Armanino’s team enthusiastically steps up to get the work done. In 2022, employees volunteered over 15,000 hours of service to more than 100 charitable causes and nonprofit organizations from coast to coast – including more than a half dozen in Southern California.
Giving back to the communities they are honored to serve has been part of the Farmers & Merchants Bank (F&M ank) business model since the beginning. In 2022, F&M Bank provided over $4.6 Million in community support to more than 680 organizations across Southern California. From financial support and in-kind donations to access to grant funding, F&M Bank strives to provide support where it is needed. The mission of the F&M Bank Founda-tion is to support and enhance the communities it serves by providing philanthropic support to qualifying organizations who provide impactful community benefits in the areas of faith-based initiatives, education, healthcare, human services, and the arts. In 2022, the F&M Bank Foundation distributed $388,508 to 52 deserving recipients in the impact area of human services. Employees were given the opportunity to vote for the organization of their choice to receive the greatest share of the $70,000 award funds.
Technology is an essential part of everyday life for people around the world, and yet the “digital divide” – the gap between those with affordable access, skills, and abil-ity to thrive in the digital world and those without – continues to persist, leaving many in the dark. Within Los Angeles County, 365,000 households are on the wrong side of the digital divide. For over a decade, Ver-izon has dedicated its resources, including networks and talent, in an effort to bridge this divide and ensure citizens of the Los Angeles surrounding area have the tools they need in order to succeed in today’s increasingly digital economy. As a leader in technology and communi-cations services, Verizon has made community-driven corporate social responsibility a core business priority. Last year, the com-pany doubled down on this commitment, creating more opportunities for students, small business owners, rural communities, and others disproportionately lacking tech access and skills.
FUNDRAISING EVENT OF THE YEAR FINALISTS
In December 2021, Greater Los Angeles Area Council held its annual Good Character Gala – the first gala to return to in-person after the pandemic. The Gala honored Jim Ellis, former dean of USC Marshall School of Business, for his significant contribution to young people in our community. The event raised nearly $1.2 million – the most successful gala in history – which will be utilized to deliver an affordable Scouting program to local youth. Greater Los Angeles Scouting serves 10,000 local youth – both boys and girls – through Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, Venturing, Sea Scouts, and Exploring programs. Greater LA Scouting strives to deliver high-quality programs that are affordable and accessible to any youth that wish to join regardless of background or socioeco-nomic status. Through its work, Greater LA Scouting empowers young people to live confident, capable, and compassionate lives through its leadership programs and outdoor adventures.
Held Friday and Saturday, April 29 and 30, at the historic Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, the Law Rocks rock concert fundraiser set a new record for Law Rocks last year with over $228,000 raised. Over two nights, the energy at the Whisky was electric as friends, colleagues, and family of legal professionals-turned-rock stars took the stage to rock out for charity. An extremely popular aspect of Law Rocks events is that each band selects a local nonprofit they are passionate about as a beneficiary. Representatives from each Los Angeles nonprofit took the stage and shared a bit about their mission before introducing the band! The night raised funds for amazing nonprofits including LA organizations City of Hope, Los Angeles County Bar Association Counsel for Justice, LA Family Housing, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, Olive Crest, and United Friends of the Children.
