In the spirit of giving this holiday season, we’ve highlighted local charities that continuously spread joy throughout the South Bay. The best gift is giving back to our communities that have supported us all year-round!
C4 Foundation
Dedicated to the memory and values of Charles Keating IV, the C4 Foundation provides a unique neuroscience-based program for managing the stressors that our most elite warriors and their families experience. When Navy SEAL families make the tough transition between combat and home, they need a new set of tools to stay strong. The C4 Foundation and fortitude-building programs at the C4 Ranch aim to significantly reduce stress, strengthen family connections and nurture feelings of optimism and gratitude. This is lifesaving for the men and women that put their lives on the line for our freedom. Learn more about the C4 Foundation here.
The Friendship Foundation
The Friendship Foundation, based in Redondo Beach, supports parents and families with special needs. They provide a safe, accepting and inclusive environment where kids and adults can enjoy sports, art, music, and other social programs with their peers. The Friendship Foundation supports local educational systems and professional therapies by creating a natural setting for individuals with special needs to practice their learned skills among peers. With programming for all ages, every individual with special needs can benefit from the connection and love The Friendship Foundation provides. Learn more about the Friendship Foundation here.
Sandpipers
Sandpipers was founded in 1931, at the height of the Great Depression. Seven South Bay women assembled baskets full of food and necessities for their neighbors in need during the holidays; alas, this fully female organization was born. Often the additional work of hard times falls on women’s shoulders, which is why Sandpipers is still going strong in this recovering world. They fundraise with their famous Holiday Homes Tour and Fashion Show, serve the community with thousands of service hours annually, and provide scholarships to deserving students. Learn more about Sandpipers here.
Kiwanis Club Hermosa Beach
Give back by buying a Christmas tree at the Kiwanis Club Tree Farm at the Hermosa Beach Community Community Center! Proceeds go to the 94-year-old Hermosa charter. The Kiwanis Club offers mentoring and leadership opportunities through community service projects and youth programs. In the last decade, they have raised and distributed over $1,000,000. Like many Kiwanis Clubs, the Hermosa Beach Kiwanis Club focuses on changing the world by serving children, one child, and one community at a time. To do this, they sponsor a range of student clubs, like Builders Club at Hermosa Valley school for Middle School students, Key Club for teens at Redondo Union High School, Circle K Club for college students at El Camino College, and Aktion Club for adults living with disabilities. By sponsoring these clubs, they can reach more people and have a greater service impact on our local South Bay community. Learn more about Kiwanis Club Hermosa here.