Celebrating 20 Years of Lifting People Out of Homelessness!

Greetings!

 

As many of you know, this week marks one year since the Palisades and Eaton fires devastated so many of our friends’ and neighbors’ lives. All of us remember the fear and worry that plagued us and our loved ones, watching vibrant communities lose everything. I am grateful to still have my home, and I’m sure many of you feel a similar sense of gratitude. But even more, I’m grateful for the nonprofits, and the thousands of people who stepped in and helped the people who lost everything.


Let us not forget what our region went through and continue to not take for granted the security of having a place to call home.


Reflecting on the past year, we are reminded of the power of community. As reductions in government funds threaten our essential programs, the importance of private support continues to grow. It is your belief in our mission at Ascencia that allows us to move forward, even when the path seems challenging.

This year also marks a significant anniversary for Ascencia: 20 years since our organization began lifting people out of homelessness. In the past two decades, Ascencia has achieved remarkable accomplishments, including serving approximately 24,000 people—and counting—across the communities we serve, since our inception.


We invite you to celebrate this milestone with us! Stay tuned for updates and opportunities to engage with us as we honor the past and look forward to the future.


Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, for standing with us. Together, we are making a difference, and for that, we are eternally grateful.




With sincere appreciation,

Michael is Home After Three Years!

Michael lost his art studio that he was living in during the pandemic, and suddenly became homeless. Feeling hopeless and without support, he ended up on the streets for an exhausting three years, sleeping in parks and at gas stations in West Hollywood.


Street outreach services eventually connected Michael to our dedicated WeHo General Case Manager, Joseph, and the two began working closely together to rebuild his life.


Michael stayed in our interim shelter for two months and took advantage of many of the services Ascencia has to offer, including trauma therapy sessions, occupational therapy, and benefits advocacy.


With Joseph's support, Michael found a permanent place to live, and is excited to focus on his future. He shared, "Thank you Joseph for supporting me every day and keeping me on track. Ascencia gave me a sense of hope, and now I sleep better at night knowing I'm safe in my own home."


Holiday Giving Campaign GOAL EXCEEDED!

At a time when government funds have become so uncertain, we expressed our need to support, and the urgency at hand. We are proud to share that not only did we make our goal, but we exceeded it, all thanks to you, our amazing community of supporters!


Your donations will help provide a safe space and essential resources for those in need, offering them a chance for a brighter future. We are blown away by your generosity, and ready to get to work to save more lives. Together, we will lift more people out of homelessness in 2026.


Special thanks to our matching gift donors: David L. Ho Jr. and Bruce & Debbie Hinckley!

Guest Chef Volunteers Needed

Need a New Year’s resolution? Commit to serving a meal or two at Ascencia and help our mission thrive in 2026!


Our schedule is live, and we have plenty of dates open for January and February. Please sign up to serve breakfast, lunch, or dinner for our Glendale shelter residents.


Guest Chef Volunteers are an essential part of our program, so please consider getting a group together and committing to a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly schedule! To schedule recurring dates and times, please email volunteer@ascenciaca.org.


Fill out our volunteer application if you haven't yet at: AscenciaCA.org/Volunteer. Thank you so much, and we can't wait to see you soon!


If you have any questions, please contact Makena Goodwin at MGoodwin@AscenciaCA.org or (818) 246-7900 ext. 113.

Ascencia's 2026 Gala: GET TICKETS NOW!

Ascencia's 18th Annual Gala: Creating a Lasting Change will take place on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 6:00pm at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale.


Sponsorships, underwriting opportunities, and tickets are available now at Give.Ascencia.org/Gala2026.


EARLY BIRD TICKETS ARE ON SALE UNTIL FEBRUARY 11, 2026!


If you have any questions about our event, please reach out to Camille Guerrero at cguerrero@ascenciaca.org.

Thank you for supporting our mission to lift people out of homelessness, one person, one family at a time!

Social Spotlights


Homeless Persons' Memorial Service


Montrose Christmas Parade Reel


Michelle's Client Story

Volunteering


Guest Chef Openings


Volunteer Opportunities


Volunteer Application

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Visit our Website: www.ascenciaca.org