Imagine LA is proud to announce two new Faith Partners: Temple Judea and Zion Temple Community Churh. Zion Temple Community Church joined us in May 2010 and has already been matched with an eight-person family...our largest to date! The family was referred to us by the VA VASH program.

Temple Judea, located in the West Valley, joined us in July 2010 and has just completed our Homeless Sensitivity & Mentorship Training.

Imagine LA is pleased to announce the addition of Pastor Ryan J. Bell and Reverend Andy Bales to our Faith Community Outreach Council (FCOC). Pastor Bell joins us from the Hollywood Seventh Day Adventist Church and plays an active part in its urban congregation. Reverend Bales is the CEO of Union Rescue Mission which has been a long-time transitional housing partner for Imagine LA. We are enthused to have them both be a part of our FCOC!

Pastor Ryan Bell                                                            Reverend Andy Bales

                                 

Imagine LA recently received grants from both the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation and the Conrad N. Hilton foundation. These grants will help fund our growing Supportive, Sustainable Family Housing and Mentorship Program. To learn more about these foundations, please visit www.parsonsfoundation.org  and www.hiltonfoundation.org.

 

The Radio Disney sponsored Celebration of Family event, held on May 23rd, 2010 at the beautiful Lakeside Country Club in Toluca Lake, was a celebration in the true sense--full of laughter, pride of accomplishment and fun!

Over 450 attendees included our no longer homeless families, their Faith Partner mentor's families and our service providers' families. It was a Disney inspired carnival of games, slides, air tattoos, Disney crafts, old fashioned food and festive music which had the kids entertained and the adults smiling...
 

Imagine LA is pleased to announce the election of Rabbi Ken Chasen to its Board of Directors. Rabbi Chasen has served as Leo Baeck Temple's Senior Rabbi since 2003. He came to Leo Baeck after five years of service at Westchester Reform Temple in Scarsdale, New York. Rabbi Chasen began his professional career in television and film music composition; today, he continues his passion for music as a member of the Reform Movement's Joint Commission on Worship, Music and Religious Living, and as a part of the Jewish musical group, Mah Tovu. He serves on the National Board of Directors of the Association of Reform Zionists of America and the Board of Trustees of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, among many other things. Also a member of ILA's Faith Community Outreach Council, Rabbi Chasen is excited to join the Board of Directors and continue his commitment to the ILA cause.

Imagine LA will be holding its third annual Celebration of Family event this spring! Join us on Sunday, May 23rd, from 2-5pm as we bring together our formerly homeless families, their Faith Partner mentors and volunteers, donors and their families, and many more. The event will be held at Lakeside Golf Club in Toluca Lake, California, and will feature celebrities, live music, games and activities for children, guest speakers and more.

Tickets are $150 for individuals, $250 for families, and will be available through our Website in the upcoming weeks (look for updates on our site). Sponsorships are also available and range from $1,000 - $25,000. Please contact Jill Bauman if you are interested in sponsorship opportunities - jill@imaginela.org.

We look forward to seeing you all at this heart-warming, fun-filled event!

Imagine LA welcomes Toby Waldorf as its newest member of the Board of Directors. Toby has years of experience as an educational consultant. In 2004, she launched Destination-U.com, a Website designed to personalize and aid in the college selection and acceptance process. Toby is very active in UCLA philanthropy (Royce Center Circle, Women & Philanthropy, Foundation Board of Trustees) and social justice (Venice Family Clinic, Piece by Piece and more). As a member of the Board, Toby will be active on the Program and Development committees, in addition to heading the organization's Viable Education/Career Initiative. 

In 2009, a number of new faith communities joined the Imagine LA cause by becoming Faith Partners. Here is a list of Imagine LA's current Faith Partners:

• Shoreline Community Church
• Kol Tikvah Temple
  
• Valley Beth Shalom
• Bel Air Presbyterian Church
• Thad's
  
• Leo Baeck Temple
• B'nai David Judea
• Temple Emanuel
• Congregation Tikvat Jacob
  
• Hollywood Seventh Day Adventist
• Lake Avenue Church

With the help of each of these Partners' congregations and volunteers, four previously homeless families were placed in permanent, furnished housing in 2009. Imagine LA is excited to continue working with these Faith Partners and families in 2010!

The John W. Carson Foundation has awarded Imagine LA with a $25,000 grant. The funds will be used as scholarships for faith communities that wish to become involved in the ILA program but are lacking the financial capacity to do so.

Imagine LA received a grant from the Rose Hills Foundation, which will help to fund our growing Supportive, Sustainable Family Housing and Mentorship Program.