Throughout Goodwill Southern California’s territory of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, up to 25% of children live in poverty, over 26,000 youth are under supervision of the Probation Department, 34-54% of high school students drop out, and up to half of youth who have aged out of foster care end up homeless or incarcerated. But we know these kids are more than numbers or labels. They are untapped potential. They are our future. And they are worth every moment, every resource and every bit of effort it takes to help empower them to succeed in life.
Can we count on you to help Change the Words for these kids? Please join us at the second annual Goodwill Gala for Heroes as we celebrate youth and those who empower them. Proceeds from the Gala will go directly to helping at-risk youth redirect their lives, further their education, train for sustainable employment and realize their untapped potential. Together we can change labels like worthless, loser and stupid into words like successful, hard-working, and confident.
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Please join us for a deeply inspiring and entertaining evening. You will be profoundly moved by all our 2014 honorees.Hyatt Regency Century Plaza
2025 Avenue of the Stars
Los Angeles, CA 90067
Reception . 6:00pm
Dinner & Program . 7:00pm
cblumenkrantz@goodwillsocal.org, 323.539.2035
2014 Honorees
The California Endowment, Dr. Robert K. Ross, M.D., President and CEO
One of California’s largest private funders of “healthy communities”, The California Endowment has recently made a commitment to address the crisis of young black men and men of color in our communities, laying a marker on the future of the state. The California Endowment is a private, statewide health foundation with a mission to expand access to affordable, quality health care for underserved individuals and communities, and to promote fundamental improvements in the health status of all Californians. calendow.org
California Community Foundation, Antonia Hernández, President and CEO
California Community Foundation’s ambitious BLOOM initiative, which seeks to change the outcomes of young system-involved black males in South Los Angeles, is the only major philanthropic initiative in the nation that is focused specifically on Black male youth in the juvenile justice system. CCF is a leading convener and grantmaker on the most pressing and critical issues facing Los Angeles, particularly in the arts, education, healthcare, housing, and economic development. calfund.org
Drs. Jesse & Halene Giddens, Destiny Christian Center
Dr. Jesse J. Giddens is the Pastor and Founder of Destiny Christian Center in Victorville, and his wife of 27 years, Pastor Halene, is also a licensed and ordained minister. The Giddens and Destiny have been very involved in youth ministry as well as community outreach and support for youth education and employment programs. destinychristiancenter.org
