Message from the President

Welcome to the December issue of ECF IMPACT!



This has been a bustling season of activities and celebrations across all our ECF service sites! We’ve enjoyed lots of fun field trips and holiday celebrations—the smells of homemade cookies baking and lots of amazing art making—excitement is in the air at ECF!



I love seeing our little ones at Early Start growing leaps and bounds in their development milestones; our students at Kayne Eras School working hard, achieving success and learning to love learning; and our adult program participants expressing their creativity and gaining new skills to help them meet personal goals.

Every day across our programs, our clients of all ages are forging meaningful friendships and critical connections that inspire and empower pathways to greater independence, fulfillment and joy.

It’s striking and heartwarming that for 78 years, ECF has continued to transform thousands of lives every year— providing not only the highest quality programs and services for our clients— but also an extended family of steadfast supporters, advocates, cheerleaders . . . and friends.

These are the gifts you help us make possible for the children and adults with special needs we serve each year, and for the families who love them.



With deepest gratitude on their behalf, I wish you and your loved ones all the joys of this special season; and peace, health, and happiness in the New Year!

Warmly,

Make an Investment in Hope

We are looking to 2025 with Hope and Gratitude. Gratitude for your unwavering support and Hope for creating new opportunities to empower children and adults challenged with

special needs.

Your year-end gift is an investment in Hope for the futures of the thousands we serve and the families who love them.



Let’s make a difference together this year. Can we count on you to make a one-time gift or enroll in monthly giving today?

Thank you for making a difference for children and adults with special needs!

Kayne Eras School Students Have a Field Day

with UCLA Bruins Football Team

Students from our ECF Kayne Eras School recently had a very special VIP visit to the UCLA Bruins football field to watch the team practice, meet and work out with the players. The visit was one they will remember forever!

Special thanks to our UCLA football liaison and ECF Board member, John Jarjoura, and to the UCLA Bruins football team, for inspiring dreams and hosting such an exceptional day for our students with special needs and unique abilities! 

2024 Holiday Toy Drive

Create a Joyful Holiday for Kids with Special Needs!

It’s not too late to help us ensure that all of our children at ECF – and their siblings in families who are especially in need – receive holiday gifts. Here’s how you can help make the holidays brighter for hundreds of kids:



Click here to shop our Amazon Wish List with the option of having gifts delivered directly to ECF (our address appears as a Shipping Address option on the Checkout page.)

We know that wrapping gifts is half the fun. However, our Kayne Eras students get to choose their own gifts, so gifts for them should remain unwrapped. 

Questions? Contact Laurel at lthompson@ecf.net.

Community Partners Provide Thanksgiving Meals for ECF Families

ECF community partners, International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ICWU) Local 13, once again stepped up to make sure our client families had turkeys and groceries for Thanksgiving, bringing relief and smiles as bags were distributed by ECF staff.

The ICWU Local 13 have been providing Thanksgiving meals for ECF’s Early Start program families for several years. ECF is grateful to these generous partners for their ongoing commitment and care for our community.

YOU’RE INVITED!

Holiday Shop Offers Great Gifts

Supporting ECF Artists

ECF Art Centers Annual Holiday Shop is now open! Visit artECF.org and use code WINTER2024 for 25% off your purchase. Every sale directly supports our talented artists, who receive a 50% commission. Celebrate the season with art that makes a difference!

SAVE THE DATE!

2025 ECF Golf Benefit

Mark your calendars in the new year for Monday, March 17th and join us for a day of golf, games, fun and food benefiting ECF at Oakmont Country Club in Glendale. Multiple sponsorship opportunities are available – reserve yours now! Individual golfer tickets are also on sale. Not a golfer? Join us for cocktails and dinner after the tournament—we’ve got something for everyone!

 Visit www.ecf.net/oakmont for full details and registration.

2024 Art Sale Series Creates Community Connections

Sales Raise More Than $40,000 for ECF

Art Centers and Artists

This year’s Fall Art Sale series brought our communities together across Los Angeles at our ECF Art Centers studios in Whittier, South Los Angeles, San Pedro and West Los Angeles. Hundreds of new and old friends, families, and art lovers attended each of the sales.

WAYS TO GIVE

Donate Appreciated Stock

Making a gift of appreciated stock has great benefits – for you and ECF! You can deduct the stock’s full market value and there are no capital gains taxes. For more information contact Maxine Moshay at 310-773-9435 / mmoshay@ecf.net