Children Affected by AIDS Foundation: Bringing Joy and Fun into their Lives

The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation is solely devoted to support programs for vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS. Through domestic grant making, domestic initiatives, international grant making and international initiatives, CAAF works to ameliorate the lives of at-risk children.

Domestic grant making provides basic needs, psychosocial support, social and recreational parties, field trips classes, and camp network grants. CAAF also develops initiatives to “fill in the gaps” in services including spreading information and providing camps.

Making an International Difference

The Children Affected by AIDS Foundation has partnered with Mattel to start the International Program for HIV-Orphans and Vulnerable Children. Last year alone they helped out more than 28,000 Latin American and Caribbean children infected, affected or orphaned by HIV/AIDS.

They also have partnered with CoNEVIH to implement “Prevention by Intervention” to rural healthcare centers in Guatemala. The main goals of this initiative is to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child during pregnancy, labor, or while breastfeeding. They have tested over 26,000 pregnant women and trained over 14,000 midwives that serve in Guatemala. They partner specifically with MAC, AIDS Fund and Gilead.

“Lend Your Support”

Volunteering is a great way to help the CAAF staff with the overwhelming amount of tasks. In the fall season, office administrative support is needed to answer phones, file, photocopy, and enter data. Other volunteering opportunities include the special fundraising events assembling gift bags, checking-in guests, and serving food. To see what volunteer opportunities are available visit the events section of the CAAF Website.

You can also donate now to the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation.

Their Los Angeles office is at 6033 W. Century Blvd, Suite 603, Los Angeles, CA 90045. Call them at 310.258.0850.

Dress for Success: Suits to Self-Sufficiency

Dress for Success works to promote the economic independence of at-risk, disadvantaged women. Providing professional attire and a network of support, Dress for Success works to give women the tools they need to develop their careers and gain self-sufficiency.

The Los Angeles affiliate branch of Dress for Success is the Dress for Success Worldwide – West headquarters. Low-income women are their focus and their goal is to remove these women from public assistance. Suits provide confidence, and help women look their best.

Dress for Success Statistics

Of the women Dress for Success assists:

• 40% are African American
• 37% are Hispanic
• 13% are Caucasian
• 2% are Asian
• 79% are mothers
• 76% are single mothers
• 15% are divorced, separated, or widowed

Volunteer and Donate to Dress for Success

There are a lot of volunteer opportunities at Dress for Success. From Image Consultants, to Career Coaches, Dress for Success is looking for volunteers to help women get their careers on track. You need to fill out the volunteer application and then send it to adriana@dressforsuccess.org.

If you don’t have time to volunteer you can always donate money or clothing. To donate money, click here. $50 sponsors one woman in the Suiting Program and provides her professional attire before her first interview.

You can also donate clothing. They accept clothing donations each month on the second Saturday of each month from 9:30 am to 12 pm at 1680 N. Vine, Suite 900 in Hollywood in the Taft building at the corner of Hollywood and Vine. You should pull up to the 5 min loading zone, park your car, and come in to the 9th floor. Volunteers can help you carry your clothing up. You can also park in metered street parking. For a list of what they accept, click here.

Contact Dress for Success Los Angeles at 323.461.1021 or email them at worldwidewest@dressforsuccess.org. They are located at 1680 N. Vine Street Suite 900, Hollywood, CA 90028.

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.

Downtown Women’s Center: Ending Homelessness for Women in Los Angeles

The Downtown Women’s Center works to give homeless women permanent housing and a safe, healthy community that increases their self-respect and personal stability. Their goal is to eradicate homelessness for women.

The Downtown Women’s Center (DWC) opened in 1978. Before their existance, homeless women were dominated by the “man’s world” of Skid Row and other homeless areas that were only accessible to men. Women, especially mentally ill women, were left homeless on the streets with the closing of psychiatric hospitals in the early 1970s. Thus, Jill Halverson in 1978 founded the city’s first day center for women providing a place to live and meals to women in need.

Statistics: Women in Homelessness

• Over 50% of homeless women are homeless due to domestic violence.
• 75% of poor elderly people are women.
• 60% of women getting public assistance have been victims of domestic violence
• 14% of the homeless population are single women
• 92% of homeless mothers were victims of physical or sexual assault

Women and children are often referred to as “the hidden homeless” because they are the most turned away group of people from homeless shelters due to safety concerns of aggressive homeless men.

“It is not acceptable for children and families to be without a roof over their heads in a country as wealthy as ours.” – President Barack Obama

The DWC provides lasting solutions for homeless women and the children they provide for.

Give Back to the Downtown Women’s Center to Help Homeless Women

You can volunteer or donate to the Downtown Women’s Center to give back.

Volunteering at the Downtown Women’s Center is an easy process. You can choose from one of their available volunteer opportunities and then fill out the individual application or group application and send it to volunteer@dwcweb.org. Then you will have to attend a volunteer orientation/training session (which is not required for all volunteer positions). Check out their events calendar to see which dates work for you.

Don’t have time to volunteer? You can always donate money or in-kind donations. Donate online or send a check to 325 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013. $36 provides a monthly management session for 3 DWC residents and $2000 provides a year of individual and group counseling reaching over 100 women. Every bit helps. For more information on how to donate click here.

You can also contact the Downtown Women’s Center at 213-680-6000 (administrative offices) or 213-613-0761 (day center). They are located at 442 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90013.