2021 Accomplishments

As we reflect on another unimaginable year, we have so much to be proud of. Join us in celebrating our achievements!

Families

• Served 208 families / 696 individuals -- a 26% increase over 2020

• Enrolled 21 new families

• 9 families completed a Living-Wage Career Pathway

• 8 families Commenced from the Family Partnership Model

• Served 33 alumni families / 102 individuals

• 28 families participated in Financial Fitness programming

• Moved 8 families into luxury G8 building in Marina del Rey

• Youth Ambassadors in college received care packages and support for school 

• 2021 Mentees/Families of the Month: January, March, May, July, & September

Programs

• Hired: Program Associate, four Family Team Managers, one Program Manager, and one Economic Mobility Program Manager  

• Two Promotions: Mentorship Program Coordinator and Program Manager of Training & Program Development

• Relaunched “Tuesday Tips” resource email for current and alumni families

• Monthly “The Training Continues” resource emails to mentors and mentors waiting for match to reinforce training 

• Increased ICMS slots from 89 to 104

• Created a neighborhood directory and welcome kits for Missouri Place families

• New comprehensive data tracker

Events

• Incredible family fun events! Love Yourself, Spring Grab & Go, Celebration of Family, Back to School Bash, Thanksgiving Grab & Go, and Winter Wonderland

• Added volunteer deliveries to events — 60 families took advantage at three events where it was offered

• 194 family attendances logged across 6 events

• Average attendance of 32 families per event – 2.25x increase over 2021

• Hosted virtual VIP reception for Westside Coalition's Celebrating Success breakfast 

Partners & Volunteers

• 2021 Mentors of the Month: February, April, June, August, October, November, December

• 35 Mentors invested hundreds of hours into their mentee relationships

• Major collaboration with Westside Coalition 

• Honored Cornerstone West LA and Ward AME at Celebrating Success Breakfast 

• McKinsey, Operation HOPE, Cedars Sinai partnerships booming

• Partnership with CORT to provide Welcome Home Kits at discounted prices 

Communications

• Defined 5 Program pillars/components 

• 3 UCLA undergrad volunteers transfer 80 blog posts from old website to new website and update Program forms and documents

• Increased and honed web content to provide deeper dives into innovative work 

• Featured as Logotech.com June Nonprofit of the Month

Development

• Welcomed 14 new Heart Club monthly donors

• Developed Donor Bill of Rights 

• Raised $38,000 for Missouri Place Welcome Home Kits

• Raised more than $1,000,000 in foundation grants, including prestigious national Bank of America Neighborhood Builders award

• Raised more than $200,000 through year-end Just Imagine Generosity Campaign

• Increased DHS funding by 89 family slots 

• Expanded Elevate grant writing partnership

Sector Leadership & Advocacy

• Published groundbreaking research on the social safety net with USC Price Center

• Three impactful and inspiring Virtual EDI events

  • Rising Together: Building Equity In Organizations

  • Getting Real with EDI Work: The Staff Perspective - A Free Virtual Panel

  • What Does It Cost to Live in LA?

• Advocacy activities – signed onto dozens of letters of support, submitted public comments, etc.

Operations

• Launched new internal communications updates for staff alignment

• Created more opportunities for checking in and providing feedback

• Partnered with Get Lit to offer vaccinations to community, staff, and families at office 

• Adobe subscriptions for everyone 

• Provided all staff with “work anywhere” stipend

• Received Ahmanson Foundation funding for database overhaul

Culture

• Collaborated and created Core Values

• Staff bonding events - virtual (origami workshop, trivia challenge) and in-person (Griffith Park hike, Missouri Place tours, Halloween treats & sweets)

• EDI work with Board – hired consultant, full organization assessment, developed EDI Task Force, wrote strategic plan, developed EDI Statement, roundtable discussions, and hundreds of hours of training

Board

• More engagement and transparency

• Evolved Community Engagement Committee to Community Champions and recruited 4 new members – including three Ambassadors and one funder

Plus!

• Published Imagine LA Family Cookbook

• Launched 2022-2024 Strategic Plan Task Force

Thank you to all our supporters, partners, staff, and families. We could not have done this without all of you.