Leon Abravanel has been playing soccer since he could hold a ball, including a stint as a club player. Now, Abravanel, who is the soccer coach at Calabasas High School, is trying to turn inner city kids into footballers through Juggle The World, his Camarillo non-profit. During the past several months, he and about 10 supporters have volunteered at youth soccer programs in Watts and Compton. In addition to coaching, Abravanel has focused on finding used equipment for donation and fundraising for the local programs. Founded in the last month, Juggle the World has higher aims. It held a Nov. 16 fundraiser at Cal Lutheran University, where Abravanel is currently studying for an MBA, as part of a campaign to raise $15,000. The money will be used to buy 1,000 soccer balls branded with the organization’s name. Abravanel wants to sell the balls for $50 each. For every ball purchased, the non-profit will give one ball away for free to an inner city youth. “The game of soccer really has the power to change people’s lives,” said Abravanel, 28, who played for Lapaz Futbol club in Bolivia and the Los Angeles Blues soccer club as an adult. “And our mission is to use soccer to promote positive change.” At the Nov. 16 event, people purchased $1 tacos and donated gently used soccer gear to the organization. It raised about $1,000. The non-profit also has tapped social media and has until Dec. 15 to reach its $15,000 goal through the crowdsourcing site Gofundme.com. So far, the non-profit startup has reached 33 percent of that goal. Budget Cuts Have you ever come home from a long day of work and felt that you’ve earned your keep? AbilityFirst offers that same self-satisfaction to adults and children with disabilities. The non-profit organization was founded in 1926 and focuses on helping individuals with developmental disabilities find jobs. “The job training program is essential,” said Lori Gangemi, chief executive of AbilityFirst. “Because of their disabilities, they need training on the soft skills to begin working in the community.” The non-profit has three work centers in Woodland Hills, Pasadena and downtown Los Angeles where it provides on-the-job training. Program participants learn how to work as a team, keep a schedule, build a resume and interview for a job, among other skills. AbilityFirst partnered with Union Bank to host the Gourmet Festival of Fall fundraiser this October. The annual event, hosted at AbilityFirst’s headquarters in Pasadena, raised $160,000 and was sponsored by El Cholos Mexican Restaurant in Los Angeles and Ruth’s Chris Steak House. “State budget cuts have impacted programs like ours and it’s hard to make ends meet,” said Gangemi. “So fundraising is important.” AbilityFirst in Woodland Hills provides workers to more than 25 companies, including Union Bank, Lawry’s Restaurants Inc. and Quick & Easy Publications. “This is the donating season, so we’re gearing up,” Gangemi said. The non-profit has 25 locations throughout Southern California and services more than 81 adults. Tots for Tatas While drinking some of the best craft beer in Burbank and chowing down on vegan sausage, many patrons helped support a cause by ordering “Tots for Tatas” at Tony’s Darts Away in Burbank. Owners Amy and Tony Yanow partnered with the Keep A Breast Foundation and raised nearly $400 to put toward breast cancer research during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Throughout the entire month of October, for every order of custom tater tots that was purchased, $1 went to the Keep A Breast Foundation. “We have done a lot of programs with the Keep A Breast Foundation,” said Amy Yanow, 36. “They have such a fresh, great and fun (way of making) the message of breast cancer awareness enticing to the younger generation.” Each week the menu featured a different gourmet tater tot option, such as tots tossed with sweet Thai chili sauce and tots topped with porcini gravy, frizzled onions and cheese. “We are so grateful for the continued support from Tony and Amy Yanow and all of their restaurants,” said Melanie Pierce, fundraising and outreach coordinator of the Keep a Breast Foundation. “I think it’s so cool that they come up with such creative ways to get their community engaged to support Keep A Breast.” Staff Reporter Champaign Williams can be reached at (818) 316-3121 or [email protected].
