Meet our July Hero of the Month: Angelica Nwandu 💫
Angelica is not only the founder and CEO of The Shade Room, one of the most influential media platforms online, but also a former United Friends participant. Her journey from foster care to cultural icon is nothing short of inspiring.
This past June, Angelica brought three United …
Marisol’s story is one of resilience, focus, and forward momentum. 💪
Before joining United Friends in 2020, she faced housing instability and uncertainty about what came next. But with support from both our Scholars and Pathways programs, Marisol found her footing! Securing stable housing, enrolling in college, and building a future aligned with her goals.
Her journey …
This summer, three United Friends youth received an unforgettable opportunity: an invitation to attend the Cannes Lions Festival in France.
They were invited by alum and longtime supporter Angelica Nwandu, founder of The Shade Room, who continues to use her platform to open doors for the next generation.
Alongside Angelica and our Director of Development, Carla Palmer, …
This past June, we celebrated a powerful milestone in our Youth Leadership Program. A culmination of learning, growth, and community.
Over the past year, 36 youth joined us on this journey. They explored organizing vs. activism, connected with changemakers like Dr. David Turner and Dr. Victor Rios, dove into financial literacy, and visited cultural hubs like …
At United Friends of the Children, we get to witness powerful moments every day, but few are as inspiring as graduation day.
On May 31, we celebrated 30+ incredible foster youth as part of our Class of 2025. These young people have overcome enormous challenges, and thanks to the right support at the right time, they’re …
We’re excited to share a special highlight from our recent Vision Event held in honor of Foster Care Awareness Month!
Hosted by Board Member Susie Sheinberg, Next Gen Board Member Raquelle Stevens, and Sheroum Kim, this gathering brought together new and longtime supporters to raise awareness about the realities facing foster youth in LA County.
One of …
🌟 Hero of the Month: Joe Hollendoner 🌟
This June, we’re proud to recognize Joe Hollendoner as our Hero of the Month. A bold advocate and longtime leader in the nonprofit space, Joe has dedicated his career to advancing equity, supporting underserved communities, and building systems that create lasting change.
As CEO of the Los Angeles LGBT …
Trivia, teamwork, and true impact! 🧠✨
Our NextGen Board just hosted their 6th annual trivia event at Gravitas Beverly Hills, and it was an afternoon to remember. With over 16 teams competing in support of foster youth!
Huge thanks to our incredible NextGen Board and Oracle for bringing energy, purpose, and community together year after year. 💙
Kacy joined United Friends’ Scholars program in 2019. Intellectual and kind, she began her 11th-grade year during the height of the pandemic—a time that brought overwhelming change and uncertainty.
The transition to online learning was difficult. She struggled, failed several classes, and started to lose motivation. However, with consistent support from her counselor and her own …