Dear Friends of Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA),

 

HOLA’s new website, nearly complete, is online now at www.heartofla.org. We are proud of the technology that supports our new website and its ability to aid our staff in keeping everyone up to date with all of the exciting things happening weekly at HOLA.

Kids all around the city return to school this fall, and many of HOLA’s students will not have the vital school supplies and SAT College Prep fees necessary to be prepared for academic achievement.

Through a longstanding relationship with the Princeton Review and the support of foundation funders, HOLA is able to offer SAT Prep classes to high school students who lack the financial resources. We've been successful in raising funds to cover a large portion of the costs, but we still need additional funds. A donation of $60.00 will send an HOLA student through the college preparation class and provide our younger students with a backpack full of school supplies.  Please help this upcoming generation of kids who really want to succeed and give back to the community.

As always, many thanks,

Tony M. Brown
Executive Director

 

 

 

 

HOLA Youth Argue Case in U.S Court
On August 28th eleven HOLA youth argued a mock case before the Hon. Consuelo Marshall at the U.S. Courthouse in downtown Los Angeles. The mock trial was the culmination of a nine-week program in which HOLA students learned about the court system and trial advocacy from attorneys at the law firm Bingham McCutchen, LLP in Los Angeles. The students argued the fictitious trial of Jesse Sunderson, who was accused of exploding firecrackers in a locker at school but contends he was framed. The jury agreed with the defense’s version of events, finding that Sunderson was not guilty of the charges against him. The jury included consultant to Bingham McCutchen LLP firm Richard Riordan and other community leaders.

 

 

 

 

HOLA College Tour Heads to Boston
It’s been an exciting summer for HOLA high school juniors and seniors who recently returned from HOLA’s annual Summer College Campus Tour. The youth spent a week in Boston touring colleges and universities and seeing the sights. Just of the few of the campuses they visited included Harvard, Northeastern and Boston University. A big thank you to Southwest Airlines and Mellon Bank for making this amazing opportunity possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HOLA Welcomes Jessica Biel
Jessica Biel is highlighting HOLA in the launch of her new giving website called Make the Difference Network (MTDN). Biel and her family spent several hours at HOLA, filming clips to air on MTDN to encourage donors to support HOLA. Modeled after popular social networking sites, MTDN will work to connect celebrities and concerned citizens with causes from across the globe. We want to send a heart felt thank you to Jessica and her family for highlighting HOLA in this exciting website launch! Check out HOLA’s MTDN page!

 

 

 

 

Staples Center Foundation Hosts College Send-Off
HOLA is proud to announce that all thirty of our high school seniors have graduated and almost all have headed off to college this week! HOLA’s college bound seniors were treated to a special send-off dinner by the Staples Center Foundation, who invited the seniors and their families to celebrate their achievement with a special dinner at the Staples Center Lexus Club room. Thank you Staples Center Foundation for hosting such a great evening!

 

 

Thanks to United Talent Agency
Roselyn Sanchez, Without a Trace star and accomplished actress, has chosen HOLA’s performing arts students to work on an upcoming project. HOLA students were excited to sing, dance, act and take tips from the talented star. Stay tuned for pictures and future developments on this project!

 

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

 

 

 

Save the date!

HOLA’s annual holiday gala, Holiday of the Heart, has been set for November 12th, 2008. We are currently collecting auction items. If you would like to donate, please contact HOLA’s Director of Development, Gita Wenaweser at gwenaweser@heartofla.org or 213-389-1148 ext 241.

 

 

 

 

A Conversation with Javier Carrillo

Please join us for a conversation with HOLA alumnus, Javier Carrillo, and the closing of his show “Paintings and Drawings” Saturday, September 13, 2008 at 4:00 p.m. A reception will follow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michelangelo Expert from Italy Speaks to HOLA Artists
As part of HOLA’s Guest Artist Speaker Series, HOLA recently welcomed Pina Regionieri, art historian, author and Director of the Casa Buonarroti Foundation in Florence, Italy (Michelangelo’s home). Pina is an expert on Michelangelo and her talk focused on how influential Michelangelo and his work were for his time and how his legacy is living on.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Girls Basketball Championship Game(CCGBA)
The Central City Girls Basketball Association league came to a climactic end with a close fought Championship game between Air Tight and Venice Boys & Girls Club. HOLA’s very own Grace Castaneda was voted the league’s most improved player at season end. Thank you to the LA Lakers and LA84 Foundation for making the season possible!

 

 

We encourage you to check our website for updates www.heartofla.org. Thank you for your continued support!