So many nonprofits were nominated for #SupportingOurSector this year and we were overwhelmed with the heartwarming nominations that came in! When we designed this initiative, we wanted to be sure to help amplify the causes that our community cares about. In response to the dozens of organizations and hundreds and hundreds of meaningful recommendations we read through, we’re sharing the list of nominated organizations with links to their website and social media pages, and a selection of the nominations we received.
We encourage you to visit them and learn about a new organization, or more about one you may already be familiar with.
Safe Place for Youth
“Safe Place for Youth works to support homeless teens in a nurturing, caring, nonjudgmental environment. They provide everything from food, clothing, toiletries, to medical care (provided on-site by the Venice Community Clinic), counseling, legal assistance, employment and educational services, and more. The goal is to create a caring connection, provide a support net and inspire and encourage the clients to see their own potential, make positive choices and take control of their lives.” -Judy F.
- Website: http://www.safeplaceforyouth.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/safeplace4youth
Self Help Graphic and Arts
“Self Help Graphics (SHG) provides the space, resources and tools to support local artists. The organization’s programming also includes economic development opportunities through the arts such as its professional printmaking workshops and craft and art fairs. SHG also provides summer art training and digital media program to local teenagers. The organization also provides a voice to the community and recently hosted art making party for the Woman’s March.” -Luis R.
- Website: https://www.selfhelpgraphics.com/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SHG1970
Skid Row Carnival of Love
“This organization shows that you can truly make a difference in a persons life and give them hope, which can lead to changing their lives. Being apart of the carnival last year, I got to experience this firsthand and it changed my life because it solidified my belief that you don’t need a lot to help someone else, all you need to do is care and show someone that they are loved.” -Julyza C.
- Website: https://www.thewayfarerfoundation.org/about-2/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skidrowcarnival/
Southeast Community Foundation
“The Southeast Community Foundation (SCF) is introducing a new concept designed to address the continuing and growing problem of our youth in Southeast Los Angeles becoming adults without the necessary skill sets to earn a job, maintain a career and strive toward a positive life. ” -Rose V.
- Website: http://secfoundation.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SECfoundation
Step Up Women’s Network
“Step Up is an organization I’ve been proud to champion since 2000. At the time, I was inspired by their work to strengthen community resources for women and girls in Los Angeles; over the years they have refined and grown their impact in other cities as well, focusing on empowering girls in under-resourced communities to become confident, college-bound, career-focused, and ready to join the next generation of professional women. Step Up’s benefit also has another level of impact for the members and community partners who support each other through the power of networking, mentoring, and professional development programs. ” -Jen B.
- Website: https://www.suwn.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/suwn
Swipe Out Hunger
“Swipe Out Hunger is a non-profit that enables college students to donate leftover money from their meal plans to support their peers in need. The program began as a grassroots initiative at UCLA in 2010 when a few friends went into the dining hall, used their meal cards to take away some sandwiches, and delivered them around town. A few months later the team experienced exponential growth after partnering with Dining. In its new model, students were given the option to donate the extra dollars from their meal plan to their peers and community members. By 2012 the organization was invited to the White House and recognized as a Champion of Change. Based on the organization’s successful track record of addressing college student hunger, in 2017 Swipe Out Hunger was asked to co-author legislation that led CA to allot $7.5 million to support a “Hunger-Free Campus” initiative statewide. Today the program has spread to over 30 universities, including schools like Penn and Northwestern, where students have the option to donate unused dining hall money which is then issued to the accounts of students who are food insecure, or converted into funds to stock a food pantry on campus or nearby. Swipe Out Hunger has served 1.3 million meals served to date.” -Marissa S.
- Website: http://www.swipehunger.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SwipeHunger
Synergy Academies
“Synergy Academies is a non-profit charter school operator whose mission is to create and share solutions that eliminate the achievement gap. Founded in 2004 by two former teachers in the heart of South Los Angeles, Synergy is proving that inner city students can achieve academic success regardless of their backgrounds, and to share out their best practices once their students achieved academic success. ” -Anonymous
- Website: http://www.wearesynergy.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/WeAreSynergy
The Gelt Foundation
“Most housing assistance programs will only help once you have been evicted or homeless. The Gelt Foundation wants to help prevent homelessness and eviction by assisting responsible tenants going through a financial emergency, and helping them stay in their apartments.” -Tina O.
- Website: https://www.thegeltfoundation.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/geltfoundation
Think Together
“Think Together builds communities where all kids have a chance to succeed. Founded in the early 1990s, we equip students with the tools they need. Equipping schools with the solutions to transform teaching and learning from the boardroom to classroom.” -Marti R.
- Website: https://thinktogether.org/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThinkTogether/
Western Center on Law and Poverty
“Western Center leads the fight in the courts, counties, and capital to secure housing, health care and a strong safety net for 8 million low-income Californians. They are the voice of protection and justice who make systematic change.” -Anonymous
- Website: http://wclp.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/Western_Center
WriteGirl
“WriteGirl has provided a gateway for numerous young women in the Los Angeles area to attend college, to inspire them to use their voices in a creative and positive way. To become women of strength and courage to tackle the world and given tools to strive in making a difference.” -Bonita T.
- Website: http://www.writegirl.org/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriteGirlLA
Please note, Starfish Impact did not conduct any due diligence on the above organizations to ensure their nonprofit status, and is not explicitly endorsing any or all of these organizations. The quotes are pulled from the nominations, and attributed when permission was received, or anonymized if not. Minimal edits were made for brevity or fluidity.
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