Children's Lifesaving Foundation

Basic Information

Address: We operate weekly out of: The Boys & Girls Club of Venice 2232 Lincoln Blvd. Venice, CA-90291

Phone Number: 310-450-3701

Fax Number: 310-451-7818

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Email: info@childrenslifesaving.org

Director: Maria D'Angelo

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Additional Information

Causes Served: homeless, at-risk and very low-income youth & families in the LA county area.

Clearances Required: Yes

Background Check: Yes

Population Served: at-risk youth youth, primarily Latino, living in LA county

Ages for Volunteer: 18+

Hours of Service: One hour between 4 pm and 6 pm

Minimum Hours Required: One to two per week is the ideal

Days of Service: Tuesdays and Thursdays during the academic year

Mission Statement:

The Children’s Lifesaving Foundation (CLF!) is a non-profit completely dedicated to changing the lives of at-risk and shelter-housed homeless children and their families by providing basic, life-enriching services that totally transform lives!

Philosophy/Belief Statement:

By focusing on the clear-cut philosophy of providing the child with the basic foundation for a full, rich life: One-on-One Educational attention and college preparation, housing access for hard-working families still living in shelters, incredible recreational and outdoor opportunities, and sharing the Holiday spirit with their friends and community- the CLF has found its prime role in helping a core group of LA youth and families reach its most full, and best, potential.

Emphasis is highly placed on “Giving Back,” specific awareness of relevant world issues and events, with specific attention being paid to the child’s individual financial and professional dreams for their future.

Program History:

Since 1993, the CLF has enriched the lives of over 50,000 children, moved 40 families into their own homes, and awarded 41 college scholarships to deserving teens. Each year, 3,000 children are provided with great Holiday programs, summer camp excursions, and awesome cultural field trips, and terrific “Care through College” Educational Program in Venice!

The CLF’s Adopt-A-Family, Care through College Learning Center, Kids Helping Kids & the Project Angel Wings Holiday Programs offer extensive outreach to the most needy of the youth's families, while our “Care through College” Educational Program focuses exclusively on a specific group of children, mentoring them and tutoring them successfully through to college age with a unique program component involving the local community, and providing a safe, nurturing and highly focused after-school environment.

Events:

After-School tutoring through our "Care through College" Program. Camp4All Summer Surf Camp in Malibu, Project Angel Wings Thanksgiving & Holiday Events each year, helping low-income families move into better living conditions with emergency funds, furniture, deposit payments and much more, PLUS- great monthly field trips, distribution of new clothing, school supplies and backpacks, toiletries, and SO MUCH MORE!

Additional Information:

Our Programs:

Summer Camp4All Enrichment Program:Our Camp FUN Enrichment Program addresses the immense need to provide our inner city and shelter-bound youth with educational, recreational, and memorable experiences. Team-building Skills -- Through specially designed rope courses, cooperation exercises, and outdoor wall climbing. Mentoring and Cultural Awareness -- Teachings of Native American Chumash history by Native Elders and special guest artists. The children learn about the songs, dances, beading and lore of the Chumash. Recreational, Educational Nature Skills – Surf camps at nearby beaches, informative hikes in the Santa Monica Mountains, Live wildlife presentations. Drum Circles, and delicious organic meals.

Adopt-A-Family Program: Our 'Adopt-A-Family' program stabilizes and rehabilitates homeless families by moving them out of shelters and into a home. We meet and evaluate the prospective families, at our camp and through agency referrals, to determine that the parents are drug and alcohol-free, have job skills, and are committed to changing and improving their lives. If the family becomes part of our Foundation Family, we provide the needed funds, assistance in the physical move, and supply them with furniture and appliances. The families become permanent, active members of our organization. Over the past 13 years, over 40 families have successfully transitioned to self-sufficiency. Many of the children grow up to become CLF volunteers, inspiring and teaching younger children.

“Care through College” Learning Center: In 2004, we also began tutoring the children in the Adopt-A-Family Program at a Center in Venice. In February 2006, we opened a new “Care through College” Learning Center in Santa Monica. This new facility acts as an incredible, inspiring place of learning and academic focus, where the children receive one-on-one tutoring sessions, use of our up-to-date computer lab and internet labs, and participate in a global AWARE Program, as well as excellent cultural field trip outings, special workshops, Teacher Open Houses, and Family Pizza Nights. Our main objective is to make certain that the parents succeed and that each child becomes ready for college, insuring a secure and successful future. (Over 41 college scholarships have been awarded to date.)

Project Angel Wings Holiday Events: Thanksgiving: over 10,000 Los Angeles area shelter-bound children and their families have enjoyed our 'Gospel Brunch and Thanksgiving Meal' since 1994, hosted for the past 12 years by the House of Blues.Christmas: our 'Become AWARE Youth Board' coordinates Holiday Parties for 600 homeless children each year. Over 8,000 shelter-bound and at-risk youth have participated in their wonderful parties. The event includes eight to ten wrapped gifts for each child, a deejay, crafts, and of course, Santa! Several local companies sponsor these spectacular events, (Disney, Baby Einstein, KAYO, California Supply, Topson-Downs) with toys provided by local school student toy drives and generous toy corporations.

*Children also receive backpacks, books and school supplies through our “Kids Helping Kids” Program, which is a local group of students and parents who fundraise and procure all these great items year-round. The Malibu Chapter of “Kids Helping Kids,” known as “Project Imagination” is the creation of the Wirht children-Kelly, Nicole, Lindsey, and Jackson- who started the entire program- along with their mother, Pam. There are the Philadelphia, Boston and Florida chapters, and more will be opening up in the new future.

Utilization of Volunteers: Volunteers are the lifeblood of the CLF, and, especially, at our new “Care through College” Learning Center. Students from local universities and surrounding neighborhoods volunteer as tutors, and volunteers from other programs number at well over 250 annually, donating a vast number of in-kind work hours per year, totaling in at well over 2,000 volunteer hours last year.