Giving back to our community

ThursdayNights events benefit at risk youth in our community. With a quarter of a million dollars donated since our inception, we have made substantial impact in the lives of children of our future. Through the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Monica, we have funded 150 computers at 20 Technology Media Centers. Through City Year Los Angeles we have beautified two LAUSD campuses making the campuses a more engaging learning environment for students to learn and play. Through the Merfeld Family Foundation, we have supported a member of our community and provided scholarships for children who have a parent that has been diagnosed with ALS.

Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica

Over the last 67 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Monica has brought hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles kids off the streets and into a nurturing environment where they benefit from enrichment programs. These programs and activities address issues that affect today’s youth and give them the tools needed to face the daily challenges of growing up. ThursdayNights has helped fund 20 Technology Media Centers with over 150 computers for the children of our future.

Boys & Girls Club of Venice

Venice Boys and Girls Club: The Boys & Girls Club of Venice is a non-profit, youth development agency serving youth, ages 6-18. Our goal is to provide a safe and positive environment that gives youth the opportunity to develop self-esteem, positive values, skills, character and leadership, and good citizenship. The Club guides members in their personal development so they may grow up with healthy attitudes to become productive, responsible and caring citizens.  Our philosophy is that each child should have the opportunity to succeed. The Club exposes its members to a variety of education, recreational, cultural and social experiences to accomplish this goal.

city year los angeles

A nationally renowned non-profit working to ensure kids thrive in school. Here in greater Los Angeles, nearly 50% of students from impoverished communities drop out of high school. City Year LA currently works with 17 LAUSD schools and invites volunteers to participate in “days of service” creating a vibrant learning environments for our city’s students.

ThursdayNights’ support has allowed City Year to grow its program into 23 of LAUSD’s toughest schools this year, including four high schools. In the 2012-2013 academic year, City Year will serve 4,000 students directly and over 20,000 indirectly. Additionally, over 100 ThursdayNights volunteers beautified two high-needs schools with colorful murals and blacktop games, making the campuses a more engaging learning environment for students to learn and play.

FirstStar

First Star improves the lives of America’s abused and neglected children by strengthening their rights, illuminating systemic failures and igniting necessary reforms. We pursue our mission through research, public engagement, policy advocacy, education direct services and litigation.

First Star promotes success after foster care through residential Foster Youth Academies sponsored by First Star and run by and housed on college and university campuses. Initiated at UCLA in the summer of 2011. The First Star Academy Program, an immersive college prep program for high school youth in foster care has seen tremendous success and has expanded nationwide to include over 100 students total at the University of Rhode Island, University of Connecticut and the George Washington University in D.C.

After-School All-Stars

Founded in 2002 by Arnold Schwarzenegger, After-School All-Stars’ (ASAS-LA) mission is to educate, enlighten, and inspire young people by providing exciting and dynamic opportunities for their success, while cultivating students’ self-esteem, leadership and respect for one another to help build healthier communities. ASAS-LA serves 14,000 students in 39 schools (26 middle schools, 8 elementary and 5 high schools), 99% of whom are youth of color and 88% of whom qualify for the Federal Free and Reduced Meal Program. We are a part of a national network that operates 20 chapters in 48 cities and Washington, DC. For more information, please visit: www.la-allstars.org