There is a common thread shared by Authority employees throughout the year. This “spirit of giving” is a part of the Authority’s commitment to community service.
This year the Authority’s employees chose to donate food to the Orangewood Foundation and also help create a special holiday for struggling families through the Los Angeles County Department of Public and Social Services (DPSS) Adopt-A-Family Program.
The Authority’s winter service project was led by Management Analyst Abraham Han, Maintenance Worker Chris Yanonis, and Administrative Assistant Edith Avina, “Helping out the community is one of our deepest passions,” said Han. “We organized the food drive and the family “adoptions” to pay it forward to our community and help out those in need.”
Han and his coworkers delivered non-perishable food and personal care items to the Orangewood Foundation in Santa Ana. Orangewood distributes the food and hygiene items throughout the year for youth who are struggling with basic needs. The Orangewood Foundation helps almost 2,000 foster and community youth annually prepare for independent adulthood. Orangewood focuses on meeting a wide array of needs providing groceries and hot meals, transitional housing, life skills workshops and employment leads, as well as the innovative Samueli Academy charter high school and scholarships for college and graduate school. For additional information about the foundation and the services they provide, visit the Orangewood Foundation website.
Authority employees also shared their spirit of giving as a sponsor of the Los Angeles County Department of Public and Social Services Adopt-A-Family Program. The Authority was matched with four families (19 individuals) in need. Recipient families gave the DPSS a “wish list” of clothing and toys for each child family member and groceries and gift cards for adult family members. Authority employees fulfilled each family’s wish list and included gift cards to local grocery stores for holiday meals for each family. The gifts were wrapped and labeled and personally delivered to each family. For additional information about the Adopt-A-Family Program, visit the Department of Public and Social Services website.
“As an organization, we consider community service a key part of who we are, and we are proud to be part of efforts to positively impact our local communities,” said Chief Executive Officer Jon Shull. “We will look forward to continuing to give back and supporting our community in the years to come.”