Boys & Girls Clubs in Los Angeles provide young people with the tools they need to succeed in school and life, including a safe place to learn; academic assistance; support from trained, caring adults; and fun, enriching experiences during the out-of-school hours. Life-changing programs focus on helping youth achieve outcomes in the areas of Academic Success, Good Character and Citizenship, and Healthy Lifestyles.

Does it work? Research shows that young people who attend Boys & Girls Clubs are more likely to stay engaged in school, avoid risky behaviors and participate in healthy physical activities.

Los Angeles-area Clubs are part of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s nationwide network of some 4,000 community-based Clubs serving nearly 4 million youth. Boys & Girls Clubs are changing the future for kids in L.A. and across the country. Great Futures Start Here.

Today, via the services of their more than 70 member-agencies, the Westside Food Bank altogether provides over 4.7 million pounds of food a year for the most economically fragile members of their community, mostly through community food pantries. 

Westside Food Bank acquires food through both donations and food purchases.  Donated food makes up approximately 50% of their distribution and comes to us via community food drives, our Extra Helpings Westside program, and the California Association of Food Bank’s “Farm to Family” produce project.  In order to round out the nutritional value of the food they provide, Westside Food Bank makes extensive targeted bulk food purchases at the best wholesale prices available.

Since the beginning of the economic crisis in late 2008, pantry visits at their member food pantries have increased by 78%.  During the same period, they have been able to increase the amount of food distributed from their warehouse by only 40%.  The face of hunger has also changed, with more families who have never before needed help now seeking emergency food.  They are working hard to hard to meet the growing need, but funding shortages mean they are cutting back on food purchases for the first time in nearly a decade.  Every additional dollar we receive goes directly toward acquiring more healthy food for distribution and each dollar provides enough food for four nutritious meals.

while medical technology and treatments have allowed the children we serve to lead longer lives, we continue to strive towards our ultimate mission of fulfilling a wish for every child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition in Los Angeles County.

the Make-A-Wish Foundation is the nation’s largest wish-granting organization. it has fulfilled the wishes of more than 200,000 children in the United States and its territories since 1980. based in Phoenix, the Make-A-Wish Foundation serves every community in the United States, Guam and Puerto Rico through its 62 chapters.

ADA is the only organization committed to helping children and adults with all types of diabetes, as well as those at risk. through the tireless efforts of thousands of volunteers and staff across the country, they dedicate themselves to improving the lives of all those affected by diabetes, and to one day finding a cure.

but there is much work to be done. this burgeoning health crisis costs our nation more than $200 billion each year. every 17 seconds, someone is diagnosed with diabetes, a disease that kills more Americans each year than breast cancer and AIDS combined. current estimates project that as many as 1 in 3 American adults will have diabetes by 2050. that is not a future the ADA is willing to accept. to truly change the trajectory of this disease it will take the bold commitment of a strong, passionate network of individuals, organizations and communities united behind a single goal, to STOP DIABETES®.