A new pop-up dining event is teaming up good work and good food and drink for where the 100% of the proceeds benefit a high-profile cause. "Food For Thought" kicks off tomorrow night with its inaugural event, pairing Echo Park's City Sip Wine Bar and Large Marge Sustainables with Medicines Global for a dinner at The Green Beacon Foundation in Elysian Heights, where each of the dinners will take place. more ›

Last year I traveled to Washington DC for the People's Garden Summit. Nothing odd in that: school bureaucrat on a trip to the nation's capitol to meet with federal bureaucrat and talk about "bureaucrat things." I was going on behalf of my school groups and the National Gardening Association, a great group that gets kids all across the country outside and in the garden. Great right? But what makes this unusual is that the second leg of my flight from Philly to DC - canceled. more ›

We caught up with TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie on a return trip to Argentina (where the idea was originally hatched) for TOMS One Millionth Pair Shoe Drop. more ›

Theatre West Writers’ Series presents rehearsed play readings of new and developing works by the company’s resident writers. On the program tonight are: “Favorable Company: A Trilogy” by Kent Hamilton. Tonight at 8 pm. Free and open to the public. more ›

If you've made helping out a priority in 2010, but don't know where to begin, grab a $5 bill and head over to Downtown today from 11-4 to check out dozens of great options at the CityLabs Community Fair event. more ›

Stoked Mentoring is a non-profit in Los Angeles and New York that uses sports to connect with disadvantaged teenagers, offering them life skills and mentors through surfing, skateboarding and snowboarding. May 2-3, the organization follows up last year's successful fundraiser with two "Stoked Sessions" art shows at Upper Playground downtown. Over 200 artists donated original art created around the theme "I Heart LA" for the show -- 100% of the proceeds will go to directly to Stoked. A gallery featuring selected works is available at the event's Flickr page. more ›

Charity Navigator released their list of the country's 10 Most Inefficient charitable groups, naming two Orange County groups as some of the best for being worst. The ranking looks at the percentage of money spent versus the amount of money actually put towards supporting the cause, and those listed "spend more than $0.50 to raise each dollar in support, making them four times less efficient than the average charity. This inefficiency forces them to devote more than 40% of their budgets to fundraising, limiting the difference they can make with your dollars." more ›

When MOCA found itself in financial trouble last year, Eli Broad was one of the first to offer up assistance. Now, the LA-based philanthropist has committed to contribute almost half a million dollars to help arts programs in public schools...in New York, according to the LA Times. more ›

Los Angeles' beleaguered Museum of Contemporary Art has been resuscitated by the generous purse-strings of a well-known benefactor. According to the LA Times, MOCA's board "has voted to accept a $30-million bailout offer from billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad, a founder and life trustee of the museum and the city's largest arts patron." This means that MOCA will not opt for a merger with LACMA and will instead to continue to operate independently. Broad has said that despite his philanthropic connection to LACMA, he feels there will be no damage to his relationship with them in light of his move to rescue MOCA. more ›

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is encouraging residents and businesses to help support the hundreds of displaced families due to the Sayre Fire by donating to the Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles, the organizations that is acting as the lead agency on shelter management and the current relief effort. more ›

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The Union Rescue Mission downtown accepts donations of new and used clothing; business clothing for men and women are especially appreciated. These items go directly to the homeless and desperately poor individuals and families of Los Angeles. Other needed goods include baby items (cribs, strollers, high chairs, etc.), furniture and housewares. Any used clothing or other items need to be in excellent condition. more ›

Since 1997, actor Kirk Douglas and his wife Anne have donated about one playground renovation per week to Los Angeles area schools. Yesterday at Lillian Elementary School in South LA marked their 401st and last. more ›

Since billionaire philanthropist Eli Broad has funded Los Angeles institutions such as LACMA's BCAM and UCLA's Stem Cell Institute, Curbed LA asked its readers what he should spend his money on next if it were to be a civic project. The "Subway to the Sea" won with overwhelming results. more ›

There is nothing like combining fashion and philanthropy. Tomorrow night, the Los Angeles flagship store for Martin & Osa is have a launch party for the opening of their store in Century City. The stylish fashion company has generously donated $5,000 to Step Up Women's Network and the event will feature shopping (optional), cocktails and bites, and time to mingle with friends and to meet new people. While Step Up Women's Network is for... more ›

Dr. Jane Goodall. Photo courtesy of Roots and Shoots. This Sunday, September 23rd, Dr. Jane Goodall (primatologist, ethologist, author, researcher, and United Nations Messenger of Peace extraordinaire) be speaking at Griffith Park as part of the Roots and Shoots Fifth Annual Peace Day. Dr. Goodall, who is most famous for her research on chimpanzees in Gombe, will be leading a parade of giant home-made dove puppets and speaking at this free all-ages event. Roots... more ›

Quote of the week: 'Who are YOU?" said the Caterpillar. This was not an encouraging opening for a conversation. Alice replied, rather shyly, 'I - I hardly know sir, just at present - at least I know who I WAS when I got up this morning, but I think I must have been changed several times since then.' – from Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll Good Benefits The Players Toast Awards at the... more ›

Up for a little do gooding and want to meet some good people along the way? Check out Philanthro Productions event at the Cabana Club tonight. Called "STRUT: A PARTY AND FASHION SHOW BENEFIT FOR CAMP HEARTLAND," it's $15 donation at the door. more ›

Quotes of the week: “There are two kinds of people in this world, the givers and the takers. The takers eat better, but the givers sleep better.” – Danny Thomas "A man wrapped up in himself makes a very small bundle." - Benjamin Franklin “The time is always right to do what is right.” – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Good Art California Design Biennial 2007 August 19 – September 30, 2007 Pasadena Museum of... more ›

According to the Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Fund (DSRTF) website, about one in every 800 American babies is born with Down syndrome and approximately 350,000 people in the U.S. have this condition today. Down syndrome is caused when a child is born with an extra chromosome, more specifically an extra copy of chromosome 21. The genes are all normal, but having an extra throws the delicate balance of the body off, which leads... more ›

This exhibition features household products and services made from renewable, recycled, and repurposed sources by individuals and companies who are manufacturing and distributing with environmental integrity. It celebrates today’s evolving consciousness and innovation in green technology. more ›

GOOD Magazine launched 6 issues ago on September 12, 2006, raising $383,760 through subscriptions for non-profit Choose GOOD partners. Here's the good in Los Angeles from their first anniversary issue released this week: more ›

Worthy Sounds is an event company dedicated to bringing people together through music and tonight are hosting an event tonight called "Green Spirits." It is their intention raise awareness about sustainable opportunities and help people get involved. Held at The Gibson Showroom, five diverse music acts will be performing, there is a silent auction and an eco-spa suite sponsored by Jurlique. Net proceeds will benefit Tree People. To RSVP, email: worthysounds@gmail.com. more ›

Here on LAist, we've written before about how to make your party socially conscious and in particular how to throw a shoe party. It is in that same vein that Tom's Shoes is planning a night of shoe parties across the country. The date is set for Saturday, July 28th, 2007 and here's the deal. more ›

Last night I attended a screening of the 2006 Sundance Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award winning documentary God Grew Tired of Us, directed by Christopher Quinn. Fine, maybe I went because Brad Pitt was listed as one of the producers and I thought he and Angie might show, which they didn’t, but it was still worth the trafficky drive up the 405 freeway to where the screening and a panel discussion were scheduled at American Jewish University. more ›

The Red Hot Chili Pepper’s legendary bassist Flea, walks through the front door of the Silverlake Music Conservatory’s sun-filled lobby. He’s in the process of putting a shirt on over his tattooed torso and he looks like he’s still recovering from headlining Saturday's show at Coachella. Flea is back at the music school that he established in 2001 to talk about the upcoming fundraiser May 5 at the Henry Fonda Theater. Called the Hullabaloo, the... more ›

City Year is coming to Los Angeles this fall and is hosting their first annual "Alumni and Friends Fundraiser" Tuesday night in the Foundation Room at the House of Blues on the Sunset Strip. So what exactly is City Year? more ›

The BR!CK Awards celebrate young people making our world better and is the first award show if its kind to be televised on national television. Tune in to The CW tonight at 9pm or set your Tivo to see for yourself! The show is only one-hour long and is claiming limited-commercial interruption. Hey man, whatever floats your boat. more ›

Paolo Davanzo is an enthusiastic, avuncular man whose passion for filmmaking and education has resonated for half a decade from a brick building on the corner of Sunset and Alvarado. He’s like an Eastside Willy Wonka minus the creepiness. His factory isn’t churning out chocolates, but instead for the past five years, he’s been helping people from all walks of life make cinematic confections at the Echo Park Film Center (EPFC). more ›

I attended The Good Shepherd Center's Gala this past Saturday night at the Beverly Regent Wilshire as the guest of my mentor whose company had sponsored a table. I am lucky enough to attend quite a few galas but this particular evening knew nothing about the organization before I got there. I was so impressed with both the presentation, the attendees and the experience overall. Their video really hit home to the problem of homelessness in Los Angeles - especially considering women and children. more ›