By Lyneisha Brooks, Chairperson, DEI-B Task Force, USC Institute for Creative Technologies
Lyneisha Brooks is a Financial Analyst at ICT, and the Chairperson for the institute’s DEI-B Task Force, working closely with the Office of Diversity and Strategic Initiatives at Viterbi School of Engineering. Here she explains how ICT supports Adopt a Family Program to reach out to those in need.
According to the latest count in Los Angeles County, almost 3,000 young people are experiencing homelessness each night. Those who do have somewhere to go, are often living in dire conditions, in overcrowded units surrounded by crime and poverty.
Since 1990 Adopt-A-Family programs have been helping Skid Row families get through the Christmas season, by offering dinner and toys donated by community members. This program quickly expanded beyond Skid Row and into our local communities, where many families are struggling, particularly at this time of year.
Adopt-A-Family is now a real force for good in Los Angeles, and ICT has been a proud supporter for over 12 years.
This is a way for us to feel connected to those less fortunate than us. To give back and make a positive impact on our surrounding community. To do this, we partner with our sponsor school Verbum Dei High School, working together to find families most in need of our help during the holiday season. Most of the students at Verbum Dei High School attend on scholarship or some form of supplementation, and the school’s staff are passionate about finding ways to support the families above and beyond their tuition needs.
At ICT, we are proud to continue to support disadvantaged families, many of whom are living not far from our beautiful building. The program has grown each year with more donors committing to “adopting” families, increasing the gifts and essentials provided.
Over the years, the families we have “adopted” have faced many hardships, including homelessness, terminal illness, as well as job loss among many other issues or areas of concern. What is heartbreaking is that the young people in these families are desperately trying to break the cycle, by pursuing their education, seeking a better future for themselves. They are always grateful to receive whatever we have to offer so they can continue to do so.
Over the past six years, ICT has raised over $25,00 in support of the families we “adopt” during the festive season. Our donations provide not only financial relief, and necessities, which is crucial, but also enable us to buy each family member at least one personalized gift, so they feel truly seen as individuals, helping bring a much-needed smile to their face during the holidays.
We are about to start fundraising for this year’s Adopt-A-Family, and I will follow up with more information on their needs and situation shortly. Whatever you can donate, will go to a very important cause – helping parents give their children something to look forward to this festive season.
If you’d like to know more, or find out how to donate, please Contact Us.