Reading to Kids: Inspiring Children with a Love of Reading

Dedicated to inspiring underprivileged children with a love to read, Reading to Kids is a grassroots organization that works to better children’s lives and enhancing their opportunities for success in the future.

Reading to Kids gathers over 850 children and over 360 volunteers at reading clubs the second Saturday of each month spread over 7 different locations. Volunteers read aloud to children while parents receive training on how to make reading an important part of their child’s education. Since 60% of all low-income homes do not have age-appropriate reading materials for their children, Reading to Kids donates books at the end of each reading club to kids, teachers and school libraries.

A Positive Impact on Child Education

Reading to Kids has given over 93,700 books to children who attend reading clubs, almost 17,000 hardcover books to libraries, and 107,900 hours spend reading to kids in a little over a decade.

Their goals are simple: to promote reading skills in elementary school children, to develop library resources, to give children books to read at home, to offer rewarding opportunities, and to bring the “Reading Club” program to elementary schools. Children who live in urban areas of Los Angeles do not have as much access to safe recreational areas, and have limited access to practice proficient English. This at-risk child population is the focus of Reading to Kids.

Impact the Children in Your Area

Reading to Kids survives with the help of volunteers. You can be a part of operational duties, become a part of the committee, or volunteer as a reader. From volunteer opportunities to internships to the Reading to Kids taskforce, there is a lot of information where you can learn about the Saturday reading clubs, or take a bigger part in the organization.

You can also donate today to Reading to Kids.

Los Angeles House of Ruth: Empowering Women, Changing Lives

The Los Angeles House of Ruth has experience helping women in emergency situations. They say that most of the women that they encounter have recently left their abusive husbands with nowhere to live, nothing to eat, and children to support. House of Ruth works to give women not only a place to stay, but also the life skills to live independent, successful lives.

“Our program is so successful that we have a 95% success rate in keeping families off the streets for the rest of their lives ensuring positive futures for their families and future generations.”

Since 1978, the House of Ruth has been one of a few specialized shelters in Los Angeles. They offer an environment that resembles a home, and give immediate attention to children who suffer from the consequences of chaotic, toxic environments. The Los Angeles House of Ruth offers both women and children a “new way of life.”

Special Circumstances Call for Your Immediate Attention!

2010 has been an especially tough year for the House of Ruth in Los Angeles with the need for homeless assistance rising by 50% and the donations decreasing by 30% leaving them with a shortfall of $150,000 for the year.

If they do not raise that money, they will be forced to close one of their four shelter houses and put homeless families back on the street.

Campaign 15 is a push to raise $150,000 in 15 days. They say that for the cost of two lattes and a bagel, you can keep families off the streets and help women and children in their journey to living successful lives.

Donate now to the Los Angeles House of Ruth to save one of their shelters.

To get in touch with the Los Angeles House of Ruth, email them directly at Ruth33288@aol.com or call the office at 323-266-4139. You can also send them mail at PO Box 33288, Los Angeles, CA 90033.

YWCA Santa Monica/Westside: Opportunities to Empower Women

Mission: Strengthened by diversity, the YWCA empowers women and girls by creating opportunities for growth and leadership.

Through investing in the community’s women and girls throughout their entire lives, the YWCA works to improve their lives by providing child development, teen leadership, transitional housing, education, girls’ athletics, financial counseling, parenting classes, basic health and fitness awareness, and cancer support. The YWCA has served as a “turning point” in the lives of many at-risk women and young girls.

Free Programs for Women and Girls to Fill a Vital Community Need

Grants, private contributions and special events fund transitional housing and education programs for young women, as well as leadership programs for middle-school girls. Rehabilitation programs, the Libbie Agran Financial Literacy Center, A Place for Parents and an athletic program for ages 7-14 years are also funded by these contributions.

Paid Classes to Enhance the Community

The YWCA offers classes where women and girls pay for lessons in art, drama, gymnastics, dance, exercise, and self-defense. An annual membership is about $45 per year. They also offer scholarships. To enroll in these classes call Linda Garcia at 310.452.3881 or click here to enroll.

Get Involved with YWCA

You can help out at the YWCA Santa Monica/Westside by becoming a member, donating, passing out newsletters or by volunteering.

The smallest donation can help out at the YWCA. As little as $25 can help 30 cancer survivors participate in rehabilitative pool exercise classes. You can donate with cash or check by mailing money to 2019 14th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90405. You can donate online by clicking here.

You can also volunteer at YWCA by coaching girls’ athletics, helping at the front office, or even through fundraising. You can check out their volunteer application online or contact Linda Garcia at 310.452.3881 or lgarcia@smywca.org.

United Friends of the Children: Long-Term Commitments Leading to Lasting Impacts

United Friends of the Children is dedicated to ameliorating the lives of children in foster care to help them achieve successful adult lives. They provide housing and educational programs to make sure that youth in foster care will graduate from high school and college, find a job and housing, and they serve as a support system to gradually teach them independence.

This program accelerates the lives of children that were put in difficult situations. UFC volunteers build relationships over an extended period providing commitment and consistency and serving the emotional needs of children. Once a kid turns 18, they are gradually taught independence while still being offered support and love from these enduring relationships.

Making Foster Care Better

Children that end up in foster care have had tumultuous childhoods. They have been neglected, abused, and even abandoned by their parents. Over 75% of children in foster care are there due to neglect.

In Los Angeles there are over 20,000 youth in foster care. There are about 500,000 foster youth in the United States, and 20% are in California.

In California, $1.7 billion dollars per year are spent on foster care. At United Friends of the Children, $15,000 will send a child to college, $5,000 will fund two summer internships, and $1,500 will offer three recent college graduates housing assistance.

What sets UFC apart from other child welfare organizations is that they continue caring for children once they have “aged out” of foster care after age 18. This means that they are no longer dependent on the state. United Friends of the Children make kids feel like they are part of a family, offering consistency and support through college.

Help out United Friends of Children

You can help out United Friends of Children by donating, volunteering, or providing internships.

Donating to UFC will give long-lasting effects to foster youth. Kids supported by UFC are graduating form high school, attending college, and securing permanent housing. Donate today.

Volunteering with United Friends of the Children includes providing group products, college readiness activities, life skills classes, fundraising activities, annual special events, holiday help, office assistance and tutoring. Download the Volunteer Application.

Providing Internships will help the UFC youth gain work experience, develop professional work habits, build self confidence, and gain networking opportunities. It is a great way to offer a child in need the experience they need to compete in the job market. Contact Carla Palmer for more info about providing internships to foster youth.

Want more contact information for United Friends of the Children? Call them between 9AM and 5PM Monday through Friday at 213-580-1850 or visit them on their website at www.unitedfriends.org.

Para Los Niños: Helping Children Succeed

Para los niños, for the children. This non profit organization is focused on the social wellbeing of children and their academic success. Providing high-quality education and family support services, Para Los Niños partners with charter schools and communities to alleviate the stresses of living in high-poverty areas of Los Angeles.

The Inspiration that Lead to the Formation of Para Los Niños

In 1979, an article was published by the LA Times illustrating children living in Skid Row, wandering the dangerous streets while their parents worked to support them. These “forgotten children” were forced to fend for themselves during the day, and their education and well being was overlooked. 90% of them did not attend school.

Tanya Tull formed Para Los Niños within a year of this article being published. It started in a previously owned false eyelash factor where at-risk children could have a safe environment with the chance of an education. With poverty at an all-time high in Los Angeles, Para Los Niños attempts to build stable families and create hopeful futures for children. They now help over 7,000 children, youth and families annually with their 400 employees over 22 locations. For a list of locations visit their Fact Sheet.

Margarita’s Story

“Margarita has a big smile on her face these days. After battling severe depression brought on by her mother’s drug addiction and months of living in foster care, Margarita now lives a peaceful life with her father.

Fourteen-year-old Margarita was referred to Para Los Niños’ Mental Health Services by her County case worker. Margarita had been removed from her mother’s care due to her mother’s drug use. Unfortunately, this turn of events left Margarita severely depressed, with thoughts of suicide. Margarita’s condition was so poor that Para Los Niños immediately arranged for psychiatric hospitalization for the heartbroken girl.

When Margarita was released from the hospital, she returned to Para Los Niños for outpatient care. Medication and therapy had relieved the worst of her symptoms, but Margarita was still a very troubled girl. She did not respond to her foster mother, and was faring poorly in school. Para Los Niños’ therapists – with the help of Margarita’s caring foster mother – helped Margarita cope with her situation. The therapists also reached out to Margarita’s mother. Sadly, Margarita’s mother, deep into her drug addiction, refused to help Margarita.

Soon, though, a relative of Margarita’s long-absent father discovered that Margarita was living in foster care. Her father had no idea of his daughter’s circumstances. With the help of her therapists, Margarita reconnected with her father, and her depression lifted. Margarita was able to discontinue the use of medication, and her case was closed when she successfully reunited with her father and his family.”

How You Can Help Para Los Niños

More than 6 million children go home alone each week. A child in California is born into poverty every 5 minutes. A child in California is abused or neglected every 4 minutes. Para Los Niños needs your help to alleviate these terrifying statistics.

You can help Para Los Niños by donating or becoming a mentor. To become a mentor you need to complete an application, pass a background check, submit a DMV driving record, participate in a personal interview, provide 4 references, attend the Orientation, and attend a four hour mentor training. You can download the application here. For more information on becoming a mentor visit them on there website www.paralosninos.org.

To donate to Para Los Niños click here. Your donation will go directly to help a child living in poverty in Los Angeles.

To contact Para Los Niños headquarters, email them at info@paralosninos.org or call them at 213-250-4800. You can also visit their website at www.paralosninos.org.