Impact L.A. on Giving Tuesday and Beyond

December 1, 2015

Today, individuals, families, businesses and nonprofits will come together to support Giving Tuesday, a national day celebrating generosity. It’s a day in which all can participate – either by giving financially or through volunteerism.

In Los Angeles County, we found that a staggering 80 percent of residents said they are willing to increase their volunteerism and 65 percent would be willing to donate more money to build a better L.A. County, but are unsure about the opportunities out there.

To help facilitate more involvement today and every day, this December we are featuring CCF initiatives and volunteer opportunities and tips so that you can make an impact in Los Angeles. We’ve partnered with L.A. Works, the largest volunteer network in Los Angeles, to help Angelenos discover the wide array of meaningful opportunities across the county. As L.A. Works Cofounder and Board Chairman Bob L. Johnson said, “service to others is a nonpartisan, cost-effective way of building community and creating tangible change. We can all volunteer.”

We invite you to join us in supporting the funds and organizations dedicated to improving the lives of L.A. residents. We hope these ideas will motivate you to give back.

Five Tips for Volunteers, from L.A. Works

Want to give back to your community this holiday season, but not sure how? This is the time of year when people need help the most. Here’s five tips from L.A. Works project leaders to make your volunteering experience worthwhile — for you and those receiving your generosity. Click here for a list of holiday volunteer opportunities in Los Angeles County.

Go with your heart. “Volunteer for a cause that speaks to you,” says Ed Simon of The Midnight Mission, who oversees craft activities with homeless kids. “The closer it is to your heart, the more fulfilling it will be.”

Know before you go. “Sometimes people sign up unaware we’re a special-needs program,” says Crystal Garcia of KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now), which provides athletics for the disabled. “A little research goes a long way.”

Be flexible. “Volunteer morale could make or break a project,” says Kelly Newman of Aviva Family and Children’s Services, which runs a West Hollywood shelter for at-risk girls. “When trying to motivate our teens to go hiking for instance, everyone needs to be on the same page.”

Don’t flake. “A sorority signed up once to volunteer, and not one showed,” says Bona Tucker, founder of PetSave Foundation, a rescue for abandoned rabbits. “When you’ve got hundreds of rabbits to feed and clean, this could be a disaster. Advanced notice is key.”

Have fun! “Volunteering should be joyful, not a chore,” says Joe Mullich of Children of the Night, an organization that rescues teenagers from prostitution. “Perhaps the greatest thing about it, apart from serving others, is working side-by-side with fun, compassionate Angelenos you might otherwise never meet.”

L.A. Works creates and leads hands-on community service projects throughout the region. You can follow them on social media for all the latest: Instagram: @LAWorksnow | Twitter: @LAWorksNow | Facebook: LAWorks | LinkedIn: bit.ly/LAWorks

As part of Giving Tuesday, consider donating to the Future of L.A. Fund, one of the simplest ways to give to Los Angeles through the California Community Foundation. This fund allows you to make a gift and rely on CCF to make grants to organizations across the county with the greatest need, based on our expertise in the community.

This is the first in a series of Giving Season posts to inspire generosity and positive change in Los Angeles County.

TAGS: california community foundation, Centennial, Giving Season, L.A. Works, Volunteerism

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