Program areas at Assistance League of Los Angeles
Operation school bell (osb): provides underserved and at-risk elementary school children with new clothing and supplies. Children from disadvantaged circumstances have improved school attendance, classroom behavior, confidence, and levels of engagement with their peers and school activities when they do not "wear" their poverty. This year, more than 5,600 children were given new clothing, jackets, socks, shoes, undergarments, personal hygiene kits, backpacks, books, and school supplies. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, osb modified service in 2021-22 to prepare backpacks with clothing and other supplies and deliver them safely to children identified as in-need. Theatre for children program: this arts (cont'd on schedule o) enrichment program utilizes the oldest children's theatre in Los Angeles, bringing the joy of live theatre to more than 17,000 underserved and handicapped children every year. The productions are offered free to children from title i lausd schools along with free bus transportation. Tickets are available at reduced rates to school groups, and for a nominal fee, to the public on weekends. The League strives to offer children in Los Angeles an arts enrichment experience with live theatre. Due to the covid-19 pandemic and limitations on field trips for schools in Los Angeles, theatre for children modified service in 2021-22 to produce videos of performances and behind-the-scenes infotainment which are shared with schoolchildren on youtube. Foster children's resource center (fcrc): children entering foster care or in a crisis situation are sometimes moved suddenly with few personal possessions beyond the clothes that they are wearing. Fcrc provides more than 1,400 youth referred by department of children and family services (dcfs) with brand new clothing, undergarments, socks, jackets, pajamas, backpacks, school supplies, toys, books, and grooming kits to give them what they need to attend school and bolster their self-esteem during a difficult time in their lives. Due to the covid-19 pandemic, fcrc modified service in 2021-22 to fill orders placed by social workers and foster parents for curbside pick-up. Preschool learning center: studies show that children who attend preschool outperform their peers academically and are more likely to graduate high school and attend college. The League's nationally accredited preschool provides a quality preschool education free of charge to children ages three to five from low-income families. The program instills academic and social skills in children and encourages their social, emotional, cognitive, creative and physical development.bright future scholarhip: the League awards financial support for graduating high school seniors from Los Angeles unified school district's homeless and foster education office to fund their college education. The bright future scholarship award is based on academic achievement, character, and commitment to the community. Scholarship awardees receive the same funding for freshman through senior years by maintaining no less than a 2.0 gpa.
Court referred volunteer center (crvc): provides courts, probation departments, and judicial authorities with a viable option for community service as an alternative to fines and incarcerations for adults who are convicted of infractions, misdemeanors or felonies. Crvc enables defendants to complete their community service sentences by matching them to nonprofit agencies and their program needs. The program allows defendants to make restitution, provides nonprofit agencies with volunteer labor and instills in the defendant a sense of civic responsibility and a better understanding of the consequences of violating the law.