Who We Are
Heart of Los Angeles is an inner city youth center that seeks to enrich lives by providing Arts, Academics and Athletics programs of the highest quality for young people ages 6-19 who attend overburdened schools - children who are hindered by poverty, immigration status, and living in communities that are impacted by illegal drug trafficking and gang violence. Since 1989, HOLA’s comprehensive youth development programs have made a vital difference to students who lack access to quality enrichment programs and academic assistance. For nearly two decades, HOLA has inspired thousands of students and reignited their interest in learning. Each year, HOLA serves over 1,300 boys and girls, ages 6-19. HOLA’s goal is to help children successfully navigate their school years from kindergarten through the 12th grade. Please visit us on the web at www.heartofla.org or call us at (213) 389-1148.
Our Organization's Mission
HOLA’s Mission: Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) empowers inner city youth to advance their lives and revitalize their communities through enrichment, personal development and leadership programs.
Who We Serve
HOLA’s membership is 80% Latino, 7% African American, 10% Asian American, and 3% other. Approximately 57% are male and 43% female. HOLA’s students live in one of the most densely populated neighborhoods in the United States with 375,000 inhabitants in an eight square mile area. Approximately 66% of households in the Rampart District speak Spanish at home and almost 69% of adults are foreign born. In 2004, the City Attorney issued a gang injunction, creating “safety zones’ in gang-impacted urban areas, including Lafayette Park. Despite the gang injunction, our community is still heavily impacted by crime, indigent populations, and drug trafficking. Recently, the L.A.P.D. identified Rampart as a target area for its 2007 Gang Enforcement Initiative. According to the LAPD, HOLA resides in the middle of territory shared by ten different local gangs. Last year, gang-related violent crimes in Los Angeles increased by almost 16% over the previous year.
Our Programs
The academic and social needs of our youth are addressed through HOLA’s SmartStart elementary education program, Bridges middle school program and Rites of Passage Encounter (ROPE) high school program. These programs are supplemented with a wide variety of innovative and inspirational activities provided across all grade levels through HOLA’s Music, Arts and Culture, Science and Technology and Athletics and Outdoor Activities programs. HOLA’s facilities include three art studios and a fine arts library, music rooms, a state of the art field turf soccer field, outdoor recreational courts, a science and technology center, a digital media center and a wireless computer lab.
Upcoming Events
On Wednesday, November 12, HOLA will host our annual Holiday of the Heart gala at the Millenium Biltmore Hotel. This year's honorees are TBD.
Leadership Profile
Tony Brown, Executive Director: Prior to re-joining HOLA in 2003 as Director of Development, Tony’s experience included six years of classroom teaching and school administration, as well as five years working for the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks. Tony holds a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Tennessee. During his tenures at Brentwood School and subsequently at Webb School of Knoxville, he established educational enrichment programs, served as an academic advisor and helped establish two elementary schools. Tony became HOLA’s Executive Director in January of 2007.
Board of Directors
HOLA is governed by a 20 person Board of Directors. Our dedicated Board members have each pledged to raise or contribute $10,000 per year for the organization.
Major Supporters and Sponsors
Ameriquest Mortgage
Annenberg Foundation
Anonymous Foundation
Bank of America Foundation
Carol & James Collins Foundation
Children’s Institute, Inc.
Comcast Foundation
Crail Johnson Foundation
Dwight Stuart Youth Foundation
Eisner Foundation
Everychild Foundation
Frederick R. Weisman Foundation
James Irvine Foundation
JPMorganChase Foundation
Justice For Athletes
Kaiser Permanente Community Benefit
Kraft Foods Foundation
LA84 Foundation
Leo Buscaglia Foundation
Leonard Green Foundation
Liz Clairborne Foundation
Los Angeles Lakers Youth Foundation
Los Angeles Times Family Foundation
Mark Hughes Family Foundation
NBC/Universal Foundation
Nissan North America, Inc.
Norris Foundation
Norton Family Foundation
Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
RBC Dain Rauscher Foundation
RGK Foundation
Roth Family Foundation
Sosin – Stratton-Petit Foundation
Sterling Foundation
Target Foundation
The Ahmanson Foundation
The Everychild Foundation
The Fanny and Svante Knistrom
Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation
Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A.
United Way of Greater LA
W.M. Keck Foundation
Weingart Foundation
Whitecap Foundation
Wilmington Trust
| Year Founded : |
1989 |
| 501(c)(3) Ruling Year : |
1993 |
| Full-Time Employees : |
9 |
| Volunteers : |
150 |
| Annual Income : |
$1,500,000 |
| Amount Spent Fundraising : |
$110,000 |
What Sets Us Apart
During the past few years, HOLA has seen the need to significantly expand our academic program in order to meet the tremendous need that our young people have for in-depth and long-term educational support and mentoring. HOLA now offers students at every grade level more intensive academic/tutoring assistance as well as a wider range of personal development opportunities. We have established relationships with all of our major feeder schools so that our staff can provide support for students and their parents with teachers and administrators. We’ve expanded our college preparation program for middle school and high school students to include parents so that we can address potential cultural and socioeconomic barriers that might prevent students from being allowed to attend college. HOLA is unique in the quality of the programming that we provide.
Objectives for This Fiscal Year
As we prepare to provide significantly expanded programming through our Lafayette Park partnership, it has become clear that a sound future will require a strong fundraising program that builds a predictable base of support to meet current and growing operating needs year after year. This fall HOLA has launched a $5.0 million “Building for the Future” campaign. The goal of this initiative is to secure funds that will enable HOLA to invest in its fiscal and organizational infrastructure so that it can continue to successfully serve some of our city’s most at-risk youth.
Recent Accomplishments
The positive impact of our enhanced educational and enrichment programs is already evident in the improved academic standings of HOLA’s students. In 2006, all seven seniors went on to post-secondary schools. This year, we are especially proud to report that 18 seniors graduated in June and are now attending college. The schools they will be attending include: Arizona State University, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, Mount San Antonio College, Otis College of Art and Design, Santa Monica City College, University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Irvine, University of California, Santa Barbara, University of California, Santa Cruz, and the University of Southern California.
HOLA recently formalized a precedent-setting partnership with the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (LADRP). Through this collaboration, the Lafayette Park Community Center (across the street from HOLA) will be renovated and enlarged and HOLA will have the opportunity to provide an expanded array of educational and sports programs for the area’s at-risk youth. When the Community Center is completed, HOLA will expand the number of youth served from 1,300 to 2,300.
