Wilshire Rotary Members Leading Fundraiser to Aid Homeless Youth

Wilshire Rotarians Amy Worthington Cuomo and Leon Nixon are co-chairing “Soul of Rotary,” the first-ever benefit concert to raise funds for the Rotary Transitional Aged Foster Youth Program.  The “Soul of Rotary District 5280” is at The Novo at LA Live on November 20. The concert will raise funds for programs to serve unaccompanied youth, one of the fastest-growing homeless populations in LA.

“The need is great,” said Wilshire Rotarian Amy Cuomo. “We are honored to do our part to raise funds to assist the estimated 4,775 unhoused youth on the streets of LA County, ranging from 18-25 years old, and many of which are former foster care kids.”

Upon turning 18, many foster care youth exit the system without the skills, resources, or mentors needed to maintain their newfound independence, and they end up living on the street and/or without a job or path to higher education. Rotary District 5280’s Transitional Aged Foster Youth Program seeks to bridge that gap and provide programming and services to enable these youth to enter society as empowered, self-sustained young adults.  Rotary District 5280, a consortium of local Rotary clubs in the region, hopes to raise $1 million to support Rotary District 5280’s Transitional Aged Foster Youth Progra,m which which provides vocational training and support services for former foster youth ages 18-25 in LA County.

In case you think the Rotary only sells pumpkins and Christmas Trees, think again. The “Soul of Rotary” concert is a new concept for a fundraiser that could be much more fun for everyone than a traditional sit down dinner, explained Cuomo. The afternoon will be filled with a VIP pre-party, drinks, food, raffles, auctions, and live jazz and reggae performances featuring the Go with The Flow Band (comprising musicians who performed with the late, great Barbara Morrison), former Ray Charles band saxophonist Rickey Woodard, recording artist and writer Elaine Gibbs, Juan Carlos Quintero and his Latin jazz quintet, and One Drop Redemption (a premier Bob Marley tribute band).

“We are offering VIP Table of 4 located stage-level for $1,000.00 each. Each table comes with two bottles of wine. Only 6 VIP tables are available, so act fast!,” said Cuomo. “We also have individual concert tickets at all price tiers starting at $75.00.”  Click here to on buy tickets.

The Soul of Rotary District 5280 benefit concert is in partnership with South Bay Work Force Board, Safe Place for Youth, Goodwill Industries Job Training, and local community colleges and social service agencies.

“Rotary brings together an expansive network of volunteers to tackle Los Angeles’ most pressing challenges and support the various needs of our students, teachers, seniors, veterans, homeless, first responders and much more,” said Rotary District 5280 Governor Olivia Patterson Ryans. “We are a diverse group of business and professional leaders working towards advancing goodwill in our communities, and our main focus for 2023 is to prevent homelessness within transitional aged foster care youth.”

To purchase concert tickets or learn more about Rotary District 5280, please visit www.thesoulofrotary.org

About Rotary District 5280

For more than 100 years, Rotary District 5280 has served greater Los Angeles County and its diverse communities. With its more than 2,200 volunteer members and 63 clubs spanning from Malibu to Long Beach and from the Santa Clarita Valley to the San Gabriel Valley to Downtown Los Angeles, Rotary District 5280’s programs support the various needs of students, teachers, seniors, veterans, the homeless, local law enforcement, first responders and more. Rotary club members are people of all ages, races, religions and professional backgrounds who use their talents, skills and energy to improve the lives of others in communities at home and around the world.

About Rotary International

Rotary International brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. It connects 1.4 million members from more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in almost every country in the world. The service of Rotarians improves lives both locally and internationally, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. Visit Rotary.org for more about Rotary and its efforts.