🌟 Hero of the Month: Assemblymember Tina McKinnor 🌟
A lifelong Angeleno and dedicated public servant, @asmtinamckinnorhas built her career around creating opportunity, advancing equity, and strengthening communities across Los Angeles County.
What makes her support of United Friends especially meaningful is how hands-on she has been. From meeting one-on-one with our youth, to visiting housing sites, …
🌟 Hero of the Month: Ebony Wilson
This month, we’re honored to recognize Ebony Wilson, founder of Ebony’s Safe Space LLC, for her deep commitment to the Antelope Valley community and the youth she serves, including young people at United Friends of the Children. Raised in the Antelope Valley herself, Ebony brings both lived experience and …
🌟 Hero of the Month: Danyell Wells 🌟
This month, we’re honored to highlight Danyell Wells, Executive Director at the La La Land Foundation. She is a powerful advocate whose life’s work sits at the intersection of equity, mental health, and opportunity for young people.
With advanced degrees in social work and criminology, Danyell has built a …
🌟 Hero of the Month: Mark Daley 🌟
This October, during LGBTQ+ History Month, we are proud to honor Mark — a social activist, entrepreneur, author, and foster-turned-adoptive father whose life and work embody compassion, courage, and change. From founding @One Iowa, building @TheFosterParent.com, and serving on the leadership team of @FosterMore, Mark has dedicated his …
🌟 Hero of the Month: Senator María Elena Durazo 🌟
In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are proud to celebrate Senator María Elena Durazo. Born to migrant worker parents, she rose from humble beginnings to become a nationally recognized labor organizer, civil rights advocate, and California State Senator.
Beyond her leadership in the labor and political …
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 …
🌟 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 …
🌟 Meet our Heroes of the Month: @Dan Schimpke and @Christi Schimpke 🌟
For nearly four decades, Dan and his wife, Christi, have been active members of the West Los Angeles community through their family-owned business, @Beverly Coachcraft and @CRASH Jewelry. As longtime neighbors, they’ve witnessed both the growth and the challenges faced by youth in …
Meet our Hero of the Month: Rita Soronen! 💙💫
For more than 30 years, Rita has worked tirelessly on behalf of vulnerable youth. As the president and CEO of the @dtfa, her leadership has helped more than 14,000 children in foster care find permanent, loving homes through Wendy’s Wonderful Kids®.
But Rita’s impact goes even further. She …