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Thank you for making our
Empowerment Awards a huge success!
To our incredible community,
What an unforgettable evening! Thank you for making South Central LAMP’s 2026 Empowerment Awards such a joyful and inspiring celebration. Whether you joined us in person, supported the event as a sponsor, or helped share our story, your presence and generosity made the night truly special.
Together, we celebrated the heart of South Central LAMP’s mission—uplifting women, children, and families in South Central Los Angeles. We were honored to recognize the Society of the Holy Child Jesus and Mayfield Senior School, whose partnership and dedication reflect the power of community working together for good.
One of the most exciting moments of the evening was our first ever paddle raise for educational field trips. Thanks to the incredible generosity of our community—and a $10,000 matching gift from an anonymous donor—we raised over $23,000 to give the children and families of South Central LAMP an opportunity to explore places like Kidspace Children’s Museum and other inspiring educational spaces. These experiences open doors to curiosity, discovery, and memories that will last a lifetime for our families.
Your support does more than make evenings like this possible—it fuels our mission every single day. Because of you, mothers are gaining confidence and new opportunities, children are thriving in early education, and families are building brighter futures.
If this evening inspired you, we would love to welcome you even further into the South Central LAMP community. There are many ways to get involved—whether that may be volunteering, joining one of our committees, or even exploring a role on our Board of Trustees. To learn more, please contact our Development Director, Nicole Burcham, to schedule a visit to our campus and meet with our Executive Director this spring. She can be reached at 323-234-1471 ext. 101.
From all of us at South Central LAMP—thank you for believing in our mission and for standing with the families we serve.
With gratitude,
Dan Bir
Chair, Board of Trustees
South Central LAMP
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Congratulations to our
Empowerment Awards Honorees!
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Distinguished Service Awardee the Society of the Holy Child Jesus
We were so honored to present the Distinguished Service Award to the Society of the Holy Child Jesus—one of our founding congregations whose mission and spirit are deeply aligned with the heart of South Central LAMP. Founded 180 years ago and serving in Los Angeles for the past 95 years, the Society of the Holy Child Jesus has long believed in the power of education to transform lives. Their commitment to “educate the whole child”—nurturing intellect, faith, compassion, and action—beautifully mirrors our own two-generation approach of supporting both mothers and their children together.
Since our founding in 1993, in response to the civil unrest in South Los Angeles, South Central LAMP the Sisters of the Holy Child Jesus have stood alongside us because they understand that real and lasting change begins with access and opportunity. Their support has strengthened our ability to provide high-quality early childhood education, ESL classes for mothers, parenting education, afterschool enrichment, and essential wraparound services for families working toward stability and self-sufficiency.
The SHCJ’s partnership is so meaningful because of their presence, their prayer, their advocacy, and their unwavering belief in women and children—especially those who have historically been overlooked. The Sisters model what it truly means to put faith into action. They remind us that education is not simply about academics, but about empowering individuals to recognize their worth, find their voice, and realize their full potential.
Through their generosity and leadership, we have created spaces where mothers gain confidence in learning English, children discover a love of reading, and families begin to see new possibilities for their futures. Their mission calls for justice, compassion, and courage, all values reflected in the way they invest in community-based organizations like South Central LAMP. We celebrated not only their distinguished service, but their enduring commitment to walking alongside communities with humility and hope.
| | Former SHCJ Representative Jan Clifford was unable to attend the event but kindly recorded this video message for the Empowerment Awards. Due to technical difficulties, we were not able to show it during the program, so we are pleased to share it with you here. | | |
Outstanding Community
Partner Awardee
Mayfield Senior School
We were delighted to present the Outstanding Community Partner Award to Mayfield Senior School, whose mission and spirit so closely reflect the heart of South Central LAMP. For the past decade, Mayfield Senior School has stood alongside South Central LAMP in supporting our Holiday Toy Drive. Students, families, faculty, and staff come together to collect, organize, and deliver gifts in partnership with the women and children in our community—creating moments of joy, connection, and celebration during the holidays.
Their collaboration extends to our Thanksgiving Food Drive, helping families access the ingredients for a warm, meaningful meal. With guidance from Kristina Ortega, Mayfield’s Director of Justice & Service Learning, and through strong student leadership, Mayfield has helped hundreds of families share the holiday together. Students also lead initiatives for baby clothes, hygiene products, and books through the Social Justice and Page Turners Clubs, responding to real community needs with care and thoughtfulness.
Mayfield’s alum community contributes too—hosting winter coat drives, providing gift cards during COVID, creating auction baskets for our Person of the Year event, participating in our annual Toy Wrapping Party and Beautifying Days. Together, students and alums demonstrate that service is a shared journey, grounded in compassion, learning, and community.
Year after year, Mayfield shows up with consistency, energy, and heart, creating a network of support that uplifts families and strengthens community. We are deeply grateful for their partnership, generosity, and dedication to walking alongside South Central LAMP and the families we serve.
Their commitment reflects a deep understanding that service is not an occasional act, but a way of living out their mission and values.
| | The following video of South Central LAMP Development Committee member and Mayfield Senior School alumna, Indira Persad, reflects on the spirit of service at MSS, and the meaningful ways students and the school community partner with organizations like South Central LAMP. Her words beautifully capture the commitment to compassion, leadership, and community engagement that make Mayfield Senior such an extraordinary partner. | | Building Brighter Futures Together | | |
We hope you will continue to stay connected with South Central LAMP and the families we serve. Your partnership makes it possible for mothers and children in our community to access education, resources, and opportunities that help them build brighter futures. Whether through volunteering, attending future events, spreading the word about our mission, or making a gift, your continued support helps us expand our impact and ensure that the women and families we serve have the tools they need to thrive.
- South Central LAMP Board of Trustees and Staff
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Our Mailing Address
When mailing to South Central LAMP,
please address your letter to:
South Central LAMP
P.O. Box 11336
Los Angeles, CA 90011
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Stay Connected with South Central LAMP!
For more information on ways to support South Central LAMP, please contact our
Development Director, Nicole Burcham, at nburcham@southcentrallamp.org,
visit our website, and follow us on social media to learn more about our programs.
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