AHEAD with Horses is an organization that works with severely 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 suffer from 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. (www.aheadwithhorses.org)

 

Camp Max Straus: For many other 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 underprivileged children in Los Angeles County.  They participate in evening campfires, hands-on ranch and garden programs, archery, swimming, horseback riding, drama, music, crafts and so much more.  (www.jbbbsla.org/jbbbsla/?page=27)

 

 Childrens Hospital Los Angeles: The mission of Chidrens Hospital Los Angeles is 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. (www.childrenshospitalla.org)

 

The Painted Turtle is the only multi-disease medical camp of its kind on the West Coast.  The camp’s mission is to provide a year-round, life-changing environment and authentic camp experience for children with chronic and life-threatening medical conditions.  (www.thepaintedturtle.org)

 

The Hollenbeck Police Activities League (PAL) was founded in 1992 through the efforts of the Hollenbeck Division of the Los Angeles Police Department and community residents, to implement sports activities to high-risk youths in response to the juvenile crime increase in the Los Angeles area.  In addition to providing services to more than 900 individuals, Hollenbeck PAL is dedicated to helping support the most under-privileged families in the City of Los Angeles. (www.lapdhollenbeckpal.org)

 

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 more than 25 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. (www.starlight.org)

 

St. Jude’s 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. (www.stjude.org)