Anyone can get involved in the Boots to Suits program by donating gently used clothes to Goodwill.

Goodwill, Serving the People of Southern Los Angeles County (Goodwill SOLAC) is part of the Boots to Suits Veteran Program, sponsored by Goodwill Southern California, which gives U.S. veterans and active military members $50 towards clothing and accessories to help prepare for employment.

“Our Veterans face a number of challenges re-entering the workforce, and one which many of us take for granted, is having the appropriate attire for a job interview,” said President & CEO, Janet McCarthy of Goodwill SOLAC. 

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Sock It To Em collects more than 3300 socks for homeless in Long Beach.

After a visit with some Long Beach homeless men and women at local hotels and at a few tent encampments along the LA River on January 20, Justin Rudd set a goal to collect 1,000 brand-new pairs of socks to warm the wet feet of adults and youth on that rainy, cold weekend.

He called the campaign “Sock-It-To-‘Em” and quickly spread the plea via Facebook and email. The 10-day campaign ended on Tuesday, and had collected  3,309 pairs — with a few more pairs still expected! 

Read the rest of Sock-It-To-Em Campaign Gathers More Than 3,300 Socks for LB Homeless

The June 10, 2012, Grand Opening is a culmination of the historic site’s comprehensive restoration and preservation process —marking a new chapter in experiences at Rancho Los Alamitos.

On June 10, 2012, Rancho Los Alamitos, Povuu’ngna—a sacred site that represents the past, present and future of California—will open to the public its new Rancho Center and restored historic Barns Area. As the centerpiece of Rancho Los Alamitos’ long-term transformation, the Rancho Center project will present engaging new ways of connecting with the diverse voices and stories that shaped this uniquely California site and reflect the ongoing blend of regional culture and environment, including the Native American, Spanish, and Mexican periods, the ranching and farming era, and the imprint of early 20th century development upon the landscape.

The Grand Opening Year will invite visitors to experience the reinvigorated site in a new light through the Rancho Center’s permanent exhibition and learning spaces.

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The Preservationist of the Year Award will be presented to John Thomas.

Experience the elegance of the Art Deco era when you attend Long Beach Heritage’s 2012 Awards Benefit and Gala on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 5:30 p.m. This special event, held in the beautifully decorated Grand Salon on the historic Queen Mary, celebrates a number of notable restoration efforts and the remarkable achievements of longtime preservationists.

People who attend the major fundraiser will not only help support Long Beach Heritage’s preservation efforts, they will also enjoy a fabulous dinner and have the opportunity to participate in a silent auction full of unique and antique items and gift certificates. 

Read the rest of Long Beach Heritage 2012 Awards Recognizes City’s Preservationists

The Legacy Project supports the interest of students and their access to science.

The Aquarium of the Pacific recently received grants from Oxy Long Beach, Inc. and the LeBurta Atherton Foundation that will benefit the Aquarium’s Legacy Project. This project will continue the Aquarium’s long-standing relationship with two local schools and provide science learning experiences to underserved Long Beach families. Oxy granted $25,000 toward this project, and the Atherton Foundation gave $10,000.

The Aquarium has established relationships with the Cesar Chavez Elementary School and Washington Middle School communities and will continue to build on those relationships through the Legacy Project. Aquarium educators will adjust the focus of the project to allow for more sustainability and bring high-quality science activities, materials, and experiences to the parents, students, and teachers of those particular schools, as well as other Title I schools in Long Beach. 

Read the rest of Grants Support Aquarium’s Legacy Project Bringing Students and Science Together

Photo by notanartist

NO MORE COLD FEET! Will you help us reach the goal to collect and distribute 1,000 PAIRS of NEW socks for homeless men, women and youth in Long Beach by this Tues., Jan. 31? The 10-day campaign headed by Justin Rudd and his Community Action Team (CAT) is called “Sock-it-to-’em!”

Read the rest of 1,000 Pairs in 10 Days; CAT’S Goal to Collect & Distribute New Socks to Long Beach’s Homeless

The mission of Operation Jump Start (OJS) is to provide structure and resources for disadvantaged youth to reach their potential through a college education. OJS provides 1 to 1 mentoring to 6th – 12 grade students from the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD). Founded in 1994, OJS has positively impacted the lives of vulnerable youth, as well as countless community volunteers, each of whom chose to make a difference in the life of a child.

Read the rest of Operation Jump Start Offers You The Opportunity to Make a Difference Through Mentoring!

There is no cost to participate. In fact, Justin Rudd’s Community Action Team (C.A.T.) is donating $10 on behalf of every person that participates in the Long Beach Polar Splash (up to $2,000). In order to “earn” a donation for one of their preferred charities, participants must submerge completely (including the head). And NO wetsuits! 

Read the rest of Long Beach Polar Splash Invites Locals to Chill Out for Charity

(Left to right, standing) Wendy Puzarne, Jewish Family & Children’s Services; Mary Walton, Interval House; Bill Cruikshank, Meals on Wheels of Long Beach; Thyda Duong, Interval House; Alan Terway, Westside Neighborhood Clinic; Jeff Antonoff, Alpert Jewish Community Center; and Denise Dahlhausen, For the Child.(Left to right, seated) Barbara Lieberman-Jones, Children’s Dental Health Clinic; Felton Williams, Chair, St. Mary Community Grants Committee; and TuLynn Smylie, WomenShelter of Long Beach. (Not shown) Linda Gutierrez, Behavioral Health Services Inc. at FlossieLewisCenter.

On January 10, 2012, St. Mary Medical Center awarded $102,748 in grant funds to assist eight gratefulLong Beach non-profit agencies at a luncheon held in their honor at the John Parr Health Enhancement Center on the campus of St. Mary Medical Center. This is over $6,000 more than last year’s awards. 

Read the rest of St. Mary Foundation Awards Over $100,000 in Grants to Local Non-Profits

Customers can pre-order the Danny Thomas Forever Stamp online at usps.com.

The United States Postal Service has unveiled a commemorative Forever Stamp honoring legendary entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of renowned St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The unveiling took place at a star-studded gala in Los Angeles this past weekend to celebrate Thomas’ 100th birthday and the St. Jude’s 50th anniversary.

“The Danny Thomas stamp, which will go on sale on Feb. 16, will become an ambassador for philanthropy, traveling on letters and packages to households and businesses throughout America and the world,” said Ed Ruiz, USPS Los Angeles district manager. “It also will serve as a lasting tribute to one of America’s most beloved and enduring entertainers who worked tirelessly to help the most helpless of all – children with diseases.” 

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How long has Long Beach Cinematheque been around? Did it start in Long Beach?

Hello!

The Long Beach Cinematheque was founded in Long Beach, CA, and is celebrating over two years of cinematic, multimedia, and community events and programming.

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The YMCA of Greater Long Beach staff hope to make many more journeys to the Cambodia YMCA.

Six of The YMCA of Greater Long Beach Community Development YMCA Cambodian American Staff have been working on a service learning cultural exchange experience in Cambodia partnering with the Cambodia YMCA. The team of six young Cambodian Americans along with the Vice President of Community Development, the Senior Art Director of Change Agent Productions and the Community Development YMCA Board Chair all traveled to Cambodia to help the Cambodia YMCA strengthen its programming, strategize its PR and learn from its participants and members.

This international project’s goals were to help the six Cambodian American YMCA Staff who have never visited their country of origin to learn from their home country’s cultural heritage and also give back to the young people involved with the YMCA there.

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LB firefighters are collecting gifts in for their annual Spark of Love Toy Drive.

Once again, the Long Beach Fire Department (LBFD) kicks off the Spark of Love Toy Drive. Through the combined generosity of businesses and residents, each year the Spark of Love program provides gifts to needy kids throughout Long Beach.  Spark of Love works in conjunction with several other charitable organizations to both giving and receiving toys and donations.  Each year we provide toys for about 400 families and over 20 different community groups. 

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Dr Gale A. Granger, PhD (aka Morrie) in the 1960s.

It’s been 40 years since Dr. Gale “Morrie” Granger first learned about the Arthritis National Research Foundation (ANRF). At the time, ANRF was a small foundation in Long Beach making small research grants in California only.

“I was a young faculty member at UCI,” says Granger, “and my research findings that did not agree with the current thinking of how the immune system caused cell and tissue damage. After the ANRF directors visited my lab and reviewed the results, they decided to support our then-controversial studies.”

Dr. Granger developed a new way of looking at how white blood cells cause tissue damage.

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Read the rest of Local Non-Profit To Give Away 2,200 books to Children at the Daisy Avenue Christmas Parade

Doctor Grant Uba Photo from Jessica Pollack

It is the end of mile 47 of his 50-mile fund-raising walk and Doctor Grant Uba is maintaining the same pace he has been walking for nearly 12 hours. With a broad smile and friendly demeanor, he greets the last of the walkers who join the last few miles to keep him company. Behind the light-hearted banter, his eyes belie the determination that helped him maintain the blistering pace all the way from San Onofre to Long Beach.

Read the rest of Long Beach Doctor Walks 50 Miles to Raise Funds For Long Beach Boys & Girls Club

Read the rest of Local Nonprofit, The Heart of Ida, Collects Supplies For Seniors

Heather Nelson and Zach Woodlee choreographer and co-producer of the TV series Glee

Brianne’s Basics , a local charity craft business, was featured at The IndiExhibit booth at the 2011 American Music Awards Gifting Suite, hosted by GBK Productions,on November 18 and 19 at the SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills. And now everyone has a chance to own the display piece, a one of a kind Rachel Berry (Glee) amigurumi doll!

Read the rest of Local Charity Crafter Raffles 2011 American Music Awards Gifting Suite Display Piece for Charity

Read the rest of Long Beach Police Foundation Names New Members to Advisory Board

Casino Night is organized through the SAHS Parents and Educator in Partnership (PEP) group. All proceeds will benefit St. Anthony High School’s Academic and Athletic programs.

Tickets cost $35 per person. Ticket includes: $100 in playing chips, raffle ticket, drink ticket and light dinner buffet.

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“We are excited to continue to provide support and hope to Long Beach families during these tough times,” said Kym Livesay, co-founder of the Long Beach Basket Brigade. “Through our Annual Thanksgiving Event, we hope to produce and deliver more than 1,000 baskets again this Thanksgiving. We are able to do this by partnering with the generous individuals and business donors from our community.”

The Long Beach Basket Brigade was founded in 2005 by a small group of individuals driven to make a difference in their local community. Starting out in the living room of local Long Beach residents, their efforts have grown from providing 50 Thanksgiving holiday baskets that first year to 826 baskets in 2010. 

Read the rest of Help the Long Beach Basket Brigade Build and Deliver Hope to 1,000 Local Families

Read the rest of Jeff Williams Selected as Executive Director of Leadership Long Beach

Contributions support the Aquarium of the Pacific build on its mission to instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems.

Since its founding in 1998 the Aquarium of the Pacific has been developing plans for increasing its offerings through new programs, new galleries, and an expanded footprint. Accordingly, the Aquarium’s leadership, in partnership with its trustees, board of directors, and other supporters, has implemented a ten-year master plan outlining the institution’s goals for the future. 

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Photo by Jerry W. Lewis

Rose Hills Memorial Park & Mortuary has issued a call for participation for its Veterans Resource Fair, to be held March 24, 2012. The one-day event is designed to provide information, support, and services to veterans in a single, convenient location. The Veterans Resource Fair will be held in conjunction with the return of the Dignity Memorial Vietnam Wall, a traveling ¾ scale replica of the original Wall in Washington, D.C.

Read the rest of Rose Hills Seeking Organizations to Participate in Veterans Resource Fair March 2012

The Over the Edge Fundraiser for Special Olympics will send 100 people rappelling down a 16-story hotel in Long Beach.

Do you have the courage to go Over the Edge? Adventure seekers will rappel 158 feet down the Hyatt Regency Long Beach on October 29 to raise money for Special Olympics athletes. Participants — including Courtney Prather, Hotel Maya Director of Rooms — will descend the entire length of the hotel, to a cheering crowd below.

“I’m naturally competitive so when the opportunity to rappel the 16-story hotel was presented on behalf of Hotel Maya, I was immediately committed to meeting the challenge to support Special Olympics Southern California,” says Prather.

“Over The Edge” is sponsored by the Hyatt Regency Long Beach for Special Olympics Southern California as a unique, higher challenge to individuals to raise or commit to $1,000 in support of the organization’s athletes.

Read the rest of LB Goes Over the Edge! Daring Fundraisers Rappel Down 16-Story Hotel Downtown