The pandemic sparked unprecedented challenges to our education system, creating the most obstacles for students who were already vulnerable. Everyone deserves access to affordable internet, and these days it’s a necessity for families juggling online learning with virtual events, meetings, and other obligations. This is why United Way of Greater Los Angeles is partnering with… continue reading Bringing Digital Equity to Greater Los Angeles

Capacity Building Taken to New Heights with Building Skills Partnership Community organizations do a remarkable job serving Los Angeles County and their services are even more important as we collectively grapple with the coronavirus pandemic. Supporting organizations throughout our region as they grow and transform is a core component of the work of United Way… continue reading Building Skills Partnership

The weight of the pandemic has affected millions of people in the U.S. In Los Angeles County alone, more than 50% of Angelenos filed for unemployment and the numbers continue to grow. This does not include the several thousands of individuals who do not qualify for government support, like Steven Conaway, also known as the… continue reading The Peanut Man was a vision years in the making

In spring 2019, United Way of Greater Los Angeles awarded $5 million in grants to a range of bold projects through the Accelerating Permanent Supportive Housing competition (APSH).  APSH asked applicants to tap their creativity while designing grounded, realistic, and scalable projects. The competition cast an especially broad net, looking for the best ideas and… continue reading Accelerating Permanent Supportive Housing for Quality Construction, Faster and Cheaper

This summer, United Way announced our TransformED Program to transform our education system in an equitable way, moving it away from ineffective models that deepen racial and economic inequities. TransformED invests in a dozen local organizations with a track record of student-centered services and advocacy. Grantee initiatives include increasing capacity-building for educators, establishing social-emotional support for families… continue reading Strength-Based Community Change is a Lifeline Empowering Families and Helping them Navigate Distance Learning

The primary driver of homelessness in Los Angeles County is the lack of affordable housing. Many families were struggling before COVID-19 and this has been compounded by job losses and a lack of childcare brought on by the pandemic. A UCLA study from May found that 36,000 additional families could become homeless as a result of eviction… continue reading supporting eviction defense and preventing homelessness

In March of this year, school closures turned students’ lives upside down from one week to another. United Way of Greater Los Angeles and our Pandemic Relief Fund grantee Communities in Schools Los Angeles have stepped up to help families during this challenging time. Paulina Fernandez College Acceptance Photo “For many, school provided a consistent… continue reading Young Civic Leaders Program and Communities in Schools LA step up as students face the challenges of COVID-19

Reflections from Elise Buik Yesterday the world was hit with the devastating news of the sudden deaths of NBA Legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, along with her basketball teammates Payton Chester and Alyssa Altobelli, Payton’s mother Sarah, Alyssa’s parents John and Keri, assistant basketball coach Christina Mauser and pilot Ara Zobayan, due to a… continue reading United Way of Greater Los Angeles Remembers Kobe Bryant

For the last 6 months, Nancy had been coached on tracking her spending and creating a budget through the help of a financial coach from the Building Skills Partnership (BSP), supported by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Together with her coach, they outlined a goal to spend less on clothes and save $20 for… continue reading Meet Nancy, Recipient of Successful Economic Mobility Partnerships

Yesterday was a promising start to the new year as we saw the grand opening of 88th and Vermont, a 62-unit project of supportive and affordable housing, with a youth and family support center, is one of many that will open this year under the Proposition HHH housing bond. These homes, being developed throughout the city, will… continue reading 88th and Vermont Grand Opening