Ahead with Horses is an organization that works with handicapped children by using equine-therapy to help them learn to adjust to their challenging lives and become more mobile. The stories of these children—some of whom struggle with autism and many of whom have such severe physical handicaps that they can’t even walk—will inspire you. Every day, Ahead With Horses works to maximize the potential of disabled, disadvantaged and special-needs children by providing the opportunity to experience the measurable improvement - physically, mentally, socially and emotionally - that can give them the chance to be a child.

Camp Max Straus: For many young children of all races and denominations, the struggle to have a safe and happy childhood is an overwhelming challenge. Camp Max Straus offers both a traditional summer camp program and High Sierra backpacking to under served children in Los Angeles County. They participate in evening astronomy experiences, hands-on ranch and garden programs, archery, swimming, horseback riding, drama, music, crafts and so much more. Almost 50,000 children have benefited since 1938, regardless of a family's ability to pay.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles: Children's Hospital Los Angeles is one of only eight children's hospitals in the U.S. good enough to be ranked 'Best' on the prestigious U.S. News & World Report 'Honor Roll'. Our Mission: To make a world of difference in the lives of children, adolescents, and their families by integrating medical care, education and research to provide the highest quality care and service to our diverse community.

The Painted Turtle: is the only multi-disease medical camp of its kind in California. Our mission is to create life-changing experiences for children with serious medical conditions. In addition to running a year-round camp, we also have a hospital outreach program. All children attend The Painted Turtle free of charge.

The Hollenbeck Police Activities League (PAL) was founded in 1992 to implement sports activities for high-risk youths in response to the juvenile crime increase in the area. PAL’s mission is to bring hope and opportunity to the communities of Los Angeles’ east and northeast areas by offering character-building, educational, and life-enhancing programs to its youth, and encouraging and nurturing young people to become responsible, productive, and law-abiding citizens.

Starlight Children’s Foundation: When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, the day-to-day joys of childhood take a back seat to the rigors of treatment and hospitalization. For nearly 30 years, Starlight Children’s Foundation has dedicated itself to improving the quality of life for children with chronic and life-threatening illnesses and life-altering injuries by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatments not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization.

4sight4children The mission of 4sight4children (formally known as the blind baby fund) is to aid families from all parts of the world that lack financial resources to undergo crucial eye surgery. 4sight4children assists these families by providing lodging and/or transportation during their lengthy stays in San Diego, as well as the urgently needed eye surgery. After surgeries, these children go on to lead productive lives with the ability to see.

Asian Pacific American Legal Center Founded in 1983, APALC is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for civil rights, providing legal services and education, and building coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. APALC is a member of Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, which also includes Asian American Institute (Chicago, IL), Asian American Justice Center (Washington, DC) and Asian Law Caucus (San Francisco, CA).

Camp Soaring Eagle provides a special place where children from all over the southwest United States who are living with fatal or life threatening diseases can forget about their illness and play like kids again in a medically safe environment.

Covenant House California (CHC) is a non-profit agency whose mission is to reach out to at-risk homeless youth living on the streets and offer them hope and opportunities to turn their lives around. We help abused or neglected youth who have nowhere else to go. A large number have been thrown out of their homes while others have aged out or left the foster care system with no family, no support, and no one to turn to. Since 1988, CHC has impacted the lives of more than 160,000 homeless youth out of our Los Angeles and Bay Area locations. More than 80% of our funding comes from private donations.

Friendly House LA, established in 1951, was the first treatment center for women recovering from drug addiction and alcoholism in the U.S. We have given thousands of women the resources to lead productive and meaningful lives by providing personalized care in a supportive environment.

The Friends and Helpers Foundation offers assistance to those affected by domestic violence, regardless of age, sex, religion, or ethnicity. We work with several specific abused women and children’s centers throughout Los Angeles and Orange County and focus on Christmas, Chanukah, Mother’s Day, Easter, back-to-school, and provide for general needs throughout the year.

Horses4Heroes, Inc. is the leading family horseback riding non-profit organization that enriches lives and empowers our youth and their families by offering able-bodied, affordable horseback riding programs that emphasize fun and safe activities with horses, mounted and un-mounted for all ages. Participants learn valuable leadership and teamwork skills, make new friends, and develop a lifelong love of horses! Our organization serves the families of all servicemen and women, First Responders and other heroes in communities across the country. Our programs include HorsePlay (a "Mommy and Me" activity for 2-6 year olds), Operation Free Ride, a weekly, hosted FREE horseback riding session, and StayStrong, a support program for families and individuals in crisis who can benefit from the magical, healing powers of horses. Annual communitywide events include: The Red White & Blue Jeans Walk-Trot Spectacular, Hero Appreciation Day and the Horse Show for Heroes (a 9/11 Tribute), and Veterans Day Open Houses at all our network facilities from coast-to-coast.

Junior Blind Originally established as the Foundation for the Junior Blind in 1953, Junior Blind’s mission is helping children who are blind, visually impaired or multi-disabled achieve independence. Junior Blind offers specialized services to thousands of children and youth in Southern California through programs that offer early intervention, education, recreation and rehabilitation services—all at no cost to families.

Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center - For more than 40 years, the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center has been building the health, advocating for the rights and enriching the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Our wide array of services and programs includes: free HIV/AIDS care and medications for those most in need; housing, food, clothing and support for homeless LGBT youth; low-cost counseling and addiction-recovery services; essential services for LGBT-parented families and seniors; legal services; health education and HIV prevention programs; transgender services; cultural arts and much more. ( www.lagaycenter.org)

Lewis Center for Educational Research operates two charter schools grades K-12 in Apple Valley and San Bernardino. Given control of its own nine-story tall radio telescope and working in partnership with NASA and JPL, the Lewis Center brings the strongest, hands-on science and math education to its own 1700 students and to the more than 32,000 students who participate in its programs across the nation and in 14 different countries and 3 US Territories.

Maranatha High School Equestrian Team is in a grass roots phase for the 46 year old Pasadena school. Like each of Maranatha’s athletics programs, the equestrian team provides an opportunity for students of all skill levels to participate, to train, develop their talents, and to compete interscholastically with schools throughout the Southern California area. In addition, the team’s mission is to enable more Maranatha students to pursue their equestrian dreams, passions, and knowledge of horsemanship without the limitations of financial resources.

Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach provides specialized pediatric care for children and young adults, with conditions ranging from common to complex—as well as maternity care for expectant mothers—all under one roof. Only five percent of all hospitals are children’s hospitals, making them unique not only to children’s health care needs in the community, but across the region. Miller Children’s is one of only eight free-standing children’s hospitals in California - treating more than 8,000 children each year - and has become a regional pediatric destination for more than 84,000 children, who need specialized care in the outpatient specialty and satellite centers. Miller Children’s is currently undertaking a major expansion project to expand the pediatric cancer center, neonatal intensive care unit and the MemorialCare Center for Women.

PAWS/LA is dedicated to preserving the loving bond between people and their companion animals. To that end, we provide services to assist low-income seniors and people disabled by a life-threatening illness keep and care for their pets.

Reins Therapeutic Horsemanship Program provides physical and emotional therapy to a wide range of disabled children and adults through the use of carefully supervised horseback riding with mental, physical and emotional benefits.

The TELACU Education Foundation prepares first-generation Latino students in underserved communities to reach their full potential in the classroom and in life. The Foundation combines vital financial assistance with a support system and highly effective programs that ensure college completion—from college preparation and leadership development to academic/career guidance and mentoring. The Foundation annually supports about 500 college students and serves an additional 1,500 middle and high school students, nursing school students and veterans. A full 100% of the Foundation’s high school students graduate and go on to pursue postsecondary education; and 100% of our college Scholars attain a Bachelor’s degree.

The Wright Foundation for Pediatric Ophthalmology is located in Los Angeles and its mission is to reduce blindness and suffering from eye disorders in infants and children, through research, medical education, and delivering quality eye care to all children without regard to insurance, status, or family income.

Bilingual Foundation of The Arts is a non profit professional theater company founded 38 years ago with a mission to promote and preserve the rich latino cultural diversity through the theater. Through all these years BFA has served over 2 million students in Southern California. BFA's programs are 3 mainstage plays per year, touring schools with educational plays, New works Festival to provide opportunities for new writers and a Christmas show called Too Many Tamales which features family values, and generational and cultural diversity with fun and music.

Mindfulness Without Borders seeds conversations on social and emotional competencies that are vital for coping with the stresses of an increasingly complex world. They support students, parents and educators to build inner resources that allow them to bring self-awareness, nonviolence, collaboration and compassion into their daily lives.

Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. We desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence. We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse. We do not condone the use of violence or physical force in any manner, however, if circumstances arise such that we are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle. www.bacausa.com / 818.448.3163 for Los Angeles Chapter

The Children's Wall of Tears - National Association Against Child Cruelty's mission is to educate the Public about the ultimate price paid by some abused children and to inspire them to become active in changing the system that perpetuates returning children to dysfunctional families only to suffer further abuse or death.  We are constructing a traveling Memorial to these children.  The Children's Wall of Tears will visit every State to motivate, empower, and inspire people to change these systems.  We will honor, not forget these children.  www.thechildrenswalloftears.org

Dream Catcher of Los Angeles Therapeutic Riding Centers' mission is to improve the lives of children, adults, and veterans with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities & therapies, while serving the therapeutic riding profession through training and education. Our riders transcend such special needs as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury, PTSD, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Visual & Hearing Impairments.We also serve children at risk through the Police Activities League. Our Horses for Forces Program serve Veterans from the VA Hospital in Westwood. Contact us at: 310 350-1311, www.dreamcatcherla.com, or   http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dream-Catcher-of-LA-Therapeutic-Riding-Centers/122863914395927

The Good News Foundation is dedicated to making a positive and meaningful difference in the lives of people in need and at-risk in greater Los Angeles. Our Foundation’s charitable coverage includes: funding academic scholarships and mentoring programs for aspiring journalists, recognizing and encouraging community service among those affiliated with Los Angeles TV news, and granting assistance to individuals and organizations that are making a dedicated difference in the communities we cover on a daily news basis. www.thegoodnewsfoundation.org

Hillsides, a Pasadena charity founded in 1913, is the premier provider of education and behavioral health care services for vulnerable children and families living in Southern California. Creating safe places, Hillsides provides community-based services preventing the cycle of abuse for children at risk and their families as well as residential treatment services for children in foster care or who have behavioral challenges. Four programs are at the core of Hillsides' mission: Residential Treatment, Family and Community-based Services, Education Center, and Youth Moving On.  Through intensive and personalized therapeutic care children begin to heal from their traumatic childhood experiences. Families begin to recover together through counseling and support groups. Special education students achieve academic successes through individualized education plans designed to meet their academic and behavioral goals.  Former foster youth, who leave foster care upon turning 18, have a safe, affordable place they can transition to while receiving mentoring, mental health, and other support services.  To learn more about Hillsides, visit http://www.Hillsides.org,  http://www.HillsidesEducationCenter.org and http://www.YouthMovingOn.org.

Koreatown Youth and Community Center serves the evolving needs of the Korean American population in the greater Los Angeles area as well as the multi-ethnic Koreatown community. KYCC's programs and services are directed toward recently immigrated, economically disadvantaged youth and families, and promote community socioeconomic empowerment. The organization was founded in 1975 as a small storefront program by a group of highly committed community members wanting to provide after-school and summer programs for recently immigrated at-risk youth, struggling with poverty and the language barrier. Over the last 36 years, KYCC has gone through a remarkable evolution, not only in size, but also regarding the diversification of services and target population. After the Los Angeles civil uprising in 1992, we expanded from being an exclusively ethnically focused agency to including the surrounding community. Today, we serve more than 11,000 people each year at four locations throughout Koreatown, most of whom are first generation immigrants from Asia and Latin America. Some of our programs, most notably our Clinical Unit, provide services throughout L.A. County. Committed to serving the diverse population of Koreatown, we offer all programs in English, Korean and Spanish. Phone: 213-365-7400 www.kyccla.org

Lu Parker Project is dedicated to improving the lives of homeless animals and at-risk youth in the Los Angeles area through education, the arts, and community projects. www.luparkerproject.org

Queen of Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center is dedicated to improve the bodies, minds and spirits of persons with physical and/or developmental disabilities and/or mental illnesses through equine facilitated activities. Our vision is to afford its participants opportunities for mainstream integration, normalization, and socialization as they are challenged by professional instructors, therapists and/or trained volunteers as they improve their physical and mental health, social skills, and gain a sense of accomplishment, control and acceptance. We are committed to being an inspiration and educational resource to the therapeutic riding profession. We also advocate the healing and humane relationship between horses and humans. https://queenofheartsranch.com

Southern California Foster Family & Adoption Agency, a licensed, private, non profit corporation, has provided for the well being of abused, abandonned and neglected children, and helped them become independent and successful adults since 1994.  The agency provides foster homes for 70-75 children each month, and has found permanent, adoptive homes for over 250 foster children in the last ten years.  A support system based on a co-mentorship approach, for youth transitioning out of foster care, is proving to be highly successful. Phone: 213-365-2900 http://scffaa.org/

Summer Night Lights is a violence reduction strategy which provides extended programming between the hours of 7 p.m. to midnight, 4 days a week throughout the summer months at 32 sites throughout the City of Los Angeles. The program engages all community stakeholders along the family life cycle (i.e., infant to elderly residents). Summer Night Lights will be entering its fifth consecutive summer in 2012, having served over 1.8 million youth, families and community members over the past four years. The purpose of SNL is to create safe environments during the peak times for gang related violence as well as provide meaningful activities and important job opportunities to youth and adults residing in communities most in need.

The Trevor Project is determined to end suicide among LGBTQ youth by providing life-saving and life-affirming resources including our nationwide, 24/7 crisis intervention lifeline, digital community and advocacy/educational programs that create a safe, supportive and positive environment for everyone. www.thetrevorproject.org

The Weingart Center Association empowers and transforms lives by delivering innovative solutions to combat poverty and break the cycle of homelessness. We committed to establishing a world in which all people have and maintain a high-quality productive life. www.weingart.org