On Sunday, November 17, UrbanPromise Los Angeles (UPLA) hosted their fifth annual Hope for the Future Annual Fundraising Event at the Henry J. and Gloria Caruso Auditorium at Pepperdine University. A wide variety of supporters, educators, community leaders, donors, sponsors, students, and family members attend the intimate yet powerful luncheon to celebrate their impact and explore their hopes for the future.
UPLA provides free after school and summer camp programs throughout the year for kindergarten-8th grade students, leadership development and college preparation to 9th-12th grade students, as well as mentorship and internship opportunities to college students. Husband-and-wife Dionté and Meg Grey shared their admiration and appreciation for their students and emphasized the impressions their street leaders and alumni have made on current participants of the program.
The agenda for the day consisted of a silent auction, warm welcomes and greetings, addresses from student and alumni ambassadors, and a street leader panel discussion. Their 2023-2024 impact directly reflects their dedication to uplifting and supporting the youth in Canoga Park; 204 youth served through the AfterSchool, Summer Cap, and StreetLeader programs, 90% of campers reported increased enjoyment of reading by the end of Summer Cap, 100% of street leaders were accepted to college, $25k in scholarships were awarded to street leaders and an investment in their leadership, 27 street leaders have been trained and served as camp counselors, and six street leader alumni returned to UPLA as interns.
Related Links:
UrbanPromise L.A. to Host Annual Fundraiser at Pepperdine University – Los Angeles Sentinel
UrbanPromise is Changing Lives in Canoga Park – Los Angeles Sentinel
During the event Dionté Grey shared, “hope is the engine of a dream. UPLA believes in people over programs, the people come first. Each dollar is being invested into the young people that you see here. We are living in our mission to reach a child, raise a leader, restore community.”
UPLA is working to expand their programs to other neighborhoods in L.A. to continue to address the issues of educational inequality, youth unemployment, and the lack of access to higher education for Black and Brown students. This holiday season UPLA will donate 100 gift cards as well as 100 turkeys to the community. They embody the spirit of giving.
UPLA consistently creates opportunities to empower urban youth to be leaders and change agents in their communities. Visit www.urbanpromiselosangeles.org/donate to help UPLA reach their fundraising goals for 2025, and to pledge a gift, please email [email protected]. Sponsorship opportunities are available online at Hope for the Future Sponsorships.
