The mission of the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles ( VCLA) is to mobilize people and resources to meet community needs. VCLA is one of eight services of Assistance League of Southern California (ALSC), a social service organization headquartered in Hollywood. Founded in 1919, ALSC helps fulfill critical needs for 100,000 children, families, seniors, and other individuals each year. In 1951, the Hill toppers Auxiliary of ALSC established the Volunteer Center of the San Fernando Valley, since renamed the Volunteer Center of Los Angeles.

VCLA is the premier agency promoting volunteerism in Los Angeles County, which has a geographical area four times that of Rhode Island and a population four times that of Utah. VCLA’s main office is in Panorama City, with satellite offices serving Burbank, Van Nuys, Glendale, San Fernando, Santa Clarita Valley, Antelope Valley, Hollywood, and parts of greater Los Angeles.

VCLA refers more than 60,000 volunteers annually to over 2,500 agencies in need of volunteer support. Traditional volunteers are referred through the Volunteer Involvement Program (VIP) and the Volunteers in Service to America Program (VISTA). Seniors, defined as individuals over 55 years old, have several avenues through which to volunteer such as Foster Grandparents, Retired and Senior Volunteers Program (RSVP), and Senior Companions. VCLA also refers volunteers through a number of restorative justice programs.

In addition to its volunteer referral programs, VCLA operates curriculum-based programs for middle and senior high schools, as well as other youth programs including Project Teen Reach , Points of Light Leadership Institute , School Police Partnership Mentoring Program (SCCP) , Juvenile Community Service Program (JCSP) , Madison Community Collaborative Mentoring (MCC) , West Athens AmeriCorps Tutoring Program , Social Responsibility training, and others. VCLA has a training Program for non-profit managers and other professionals, and also offers several job training programs, such as English as a Second Language (ESL), First and Second Careers, and the Job Readiness Program.

VCLA is one of the nation’s leading volunteer-referral organizations and works closely with the Points of Light Foundation (POLF), which acts as an umbrella organization for more than 400 of the nation’s volunteer centers. Based in Washington DC, POLF advocates community service through a partnership with the Volunteer Center National Network. This network reaches millions of people in thousands of communities to help mobilize people and resources to deliver solutions that address community needs.

For more information please contact:

Katharyn Muniz-Bandoni
.Executive Director
.818-908-5068