L.A. Works Electronic Newsletter

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January, 2005
L.A. Works Makes it Easy to Volunteer in Los Angeles!

Over 60 Projects
Available each Month

L.A. Works makes it easy to volunteer in Los Angeles. This month we have over 60 projects working with kids, seniors, animals, the environment and more. To see our monthly calendar of projects, click here.


Meet Our
Project Leaders

Each month we recognize an outstanding leader in our community. Click here to visit the L.A. Works Project Leader Recognition Page and meet these outstanding volunteers who lead our projects each month. This month's Project Leader of the Month: Andrew Anura Abeyesinghe.


The L.A. Works Truck Needs Your Help!

Our campaign to raise money to purchase a new truck continues. Thanks to all who contributed the first $3,080 towards the $35,000 we need to raise.

This truck will replace 'ol blue, that drove over 250,000 miles transporting thousands of gallons of paint, tools, and supplies to projects that help our city year-round.

To donate, either mail a check made out to L.A. Works to:

L.A. Works
570 W. Avenue 26, #400
Los Angeles, CA 90065

Or visit our website at www.laworks.com and click on the Donations button on the left menu to make a secure online donation via credit card. Thanks for your help!

Donate your Unwanted Car to Support L.A. Works

L.A. Works has partnered with Cars for Causes so that you can support L.A. Works by donating your old car, while you get a substantial tax-deduction for your generous contribution.

To arrange for your car to be picked up, and proceeds from its sale to benefit L.A. Works, just:

1) Call 1-800-766-CARE or visit their website at cars4causes.net

2) Specify L.A. Works as the cause you wish to support.

We greatly appreciate your support!


Website Tip
of the Month

What's the easiest way to volunteer with your family members?

If everyone in your family is registered on the website, they can all sign up as individuals. But the easiest way to sign-up to volunteer with your family is to form a family team!

You then will be able to sign up your entire family team for a project, and manage their attendance.

Click here to read more about creating and managing teams.

Got a question about using any of the features at the Member Center? Email us at techsupport@laworks.com


Thanks to our
Major Sponsors


Join us Next Week for
our New Year's kick-off party!
January 15 at Hollywood Billiards
6- 9 pm
It's free!

If you volunteered in 2004, you might win a free I-pod. Come and meet fellow volunteers and the L.A. Wortks Staff. Enjoy free food and billiards.

First drink is on us for the first 75 people to arrive. Bring family, co-workers or friends -- all are invited. Learn about exciting new L.A. Works opportunities for 2005.

Please come and learn why we're more than just a website. L.A. Works is the smart way to volunteer in L.A.

Click here to sign-up now!

Help Support Tsunami Relief

As you all have heard by now, the devastation in Southeast Asia and Eastern Africa as a result of last week's tsunami is growing by the minute.  The death toll is over 100,000 and growing by the day.  Infrastructure for disaster recovery and aid is barely existent and these countries need our support in this time of devastation. 

While it is our practice at L.A. Works to actively improve our communities, in this tragic case our help is also needed to provide direct financial donations to the agencies directly involved in sending aid to the victims.
 
Please consider the agencies below if you would like to make a donation to support the victims of the Southeastern Asia crisis.  Together we can make a difference in helping these countries recover faster.   

To donate to one of the following organizations, simply click on the link below to be directed to the online donations page.

CARE - CARE is an international non-government organization, headquartered her in Atlanta that works globally to reduce poverty through community-based projects in areas such as education, health care and economic development.  CARE has multiple offices in southeast Asia and Africa and have been mobilizing support through donations to help those in India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Thailand and Eastern Africa that have been hardest hit.  Online contributions may be sent to CARE by clicking here.

American Red Cross International Response Fund - The American Red Cross is supporting the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies efforts with a monetary contribution to the appeal, and basic materials needed for survival, and personnel.   Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross International Response Fund by visiting www.redcross.org.

Islamic Relief USA - Southeast Asia Earthquake Emergency - Islamic Relief Worldwide has increased its emergency appeal $5 million. This includes an initial $270,650 for relief and rehabilitation intervention in the region, and $27,000 to meet the immediate needs of victims in Sri Lanka. The victims of the disaster are in need of medical supplies, tents and sanitation facilities. Islamic Relief USA is requesting all of its donors, supporters, and volunteers to act immediately to assist the victims of this horrifying disaster. Please pray for the victims of this catastrophe and their families.  Online contributions may be sent through the following link - www.irw.org/asiaquake

Volunteer Opportunities - At this point, the major relief efforts are happening through the mobilization of cash donations to support immediate response needs. Volunteer management is not being coordinated in any systematized way for individuals living outside of the affected areas. However, we have found one organization that has volunteer opportunities posted. - Click here for details.

 

Featured Projects of the Month

City Wide Clean Up Day (PAVA) The Pacific-American Volunteer Association (PAVA) is a 3 year-old organization dedicated to community service from the Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and other Asian communities. On January 8, PAVA has organized a city-wide clean-up day, based on a Korean tradition of cleaning house at the start of the New Year. L.A. Works has organized a campus beautification event at Magnolia St. Elementary School as part of PAVA's big day beginning at 9 am and ending at 1 pm. The school is located near Koreatown at the corner of Venice Bl & Orchard St. There is plenty of parking on and around the campus. Click here for more information and to sign-up!

Let's Read Winter Sessions starting soon. Let's Read is one of L.A. Works' most valuable volunteer programs. Volunteers make a weekly commitment to provide kids with the tools that will enable them to reach their dreams. We work individually and as a group with neighborhood kids to help them with school-related materials as well as to expose them to topics that they may not otherwise be familiar with. This mentoring relationship can change the lives of these kids.

Volunteers for Let's Read commit to come each Saturday morning during the Winter Term from January 15 - March 26.

Pueblo Del Rio in Southeast Los Angeles. (First time Let's Read volunteers should also sign-up for the Let's Read Orientation for Pueblo Del Rio on January 8th).

 

Other Volunteer Opportunities

The following opportunities are not L.A. Works managed projects, but should be of interest to our volunteers.

L.A. Works has begun listing "ongoing" volunteer opportunities for agencies that need volunteers on a regular basis. These are all referrals and not L.A. Works managed projects, but this list may be of interest to volunteers looking for places to help in the coming months. Click here to see the current list.

THis list will be updated continuously and is accessible from the bottom of all Calendar, Search, and Browse pages on the website.