Support and/or volunteer!  Venice Paparazzi would like to thank Amy Dewhurst and the Beachhead for this great list of Venice non-profits. www.freevenice.org

Note:  If we missed your non-profit, please send your information to, [email protected]

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Abbot Kinney Memorial Library
501 S. Venice Blvd. (310) 821-1769

A Window Between Worlds (AWBW) – a nonprofit organization dedicated to using art to help end domestic violence.- Through creative expression, battered women and children gain a sense of renewal and power. (310) 396-0317 [email protected] www.awbw.org

Angels at Risk – a non-profit organization dedicated to helping teenagers and their families at risk for drug and alcohol abuse. Angels at Risk believes that when the issue of addiction is addressed very early on in life that the future of teenagers, kids and their families can be changed forever. We know that by embracing the teenager’s struggle that the entire family is given the gift to heal and grow together.
(310) 457-1421 www.angelsatrisk.com

Beyond Baroque Literary/Arts Center is is located in our old Venice City Hall, built 1906. The Center offers an extensive program of public readings, free workshops, a project room, bookstore, publications, and chapbook/small press archive. During our nearly forty years in Venice, we have nurtured and presented many of the best writers, artists, and poets from the West Coast, around the country, and world. The Center is unique for its combined range of activities, constantly moving back and forth between the underground and the literary and artistic establishments.
681 Venice Blvd. (310) 822-3006 [email protected] www.beyondbaroque.org

Boys & Girls Club of Venice
“Our mission is to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring responsible citizens” (310) 390-4477. www.bgcv.org

Electric Lodge – a laboratory for artists and environmentalists. We engage our community through the visual and performing arts, innovative classes, programs and seminars, providing experiential contexts and opportunities for dialogue. The Electric Lodge is a torch bearer in the effort to stimulate public understanding and support for the creation of a sustainable worldwide eco-system.
1416 Electric Avenue (310) 306-1854 www.electriclodge.org

Food Not Bombs
“We Protest War & Serve Healthy Vegetarian Food to the Hungry”
(310) 365-0985 [email protected] www.foodnotbombs.wetnostril.net

The Fruit Gallery’s “Venice Veteran’s Day Project”
Is an awesome event Honoring Our Troops here at home on Memorial Day May 25th. This is a critical time for our veterans here at home that need our help and support. Please spread the word of this project event. With the help and support of our community we can identify every veteran in this area and honor them for their service of this great country. (310) 452-3034 [email protected] www.frutigalleryvenice.com

Harvest Home – provides shelter and assistance to homeless pregnant women. As a full-programmed residential home, we equip our residents with the knowledge to make healthier life decisions; cultivate their parenting skills; and increase employability through education. Our ultimate goal is that each woman will leave the home spiritually strong, with a new-found sense of self-worth, and better prepared to support and care for herself and her child. Harvest Home is where new lives begin.
Inside Out Community Arts. (310) 452-1223 [email protected] www.theharvesthome.net

Heal The Bay
Heal the Bay is a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making Southern California coastal waters and watersheds, including Santa Monica Bay, safe, healthy and clean. We use research, education, community action and advocacy to pursue our mission.
1-800-HEAL-BAY www.healthebay.org

Inside/Out Community Arts
Through visual and performing arts workshops, performances and festivals, our missionis to give youth from all backgrounds the tools, confidence and inspiration to make a positive difference in their communities and the world…from the inside out.
(310) 397-8820 www.InsideOutCA.org

Israel Levin Center – Meals and other forms of help for Seniors. 201 Ocean Front Walk, 396-0205.

Jessie’s Place – a non-profit corporation committed to providing assistance, food, shelter and education to disenfranchised people while building a bridge from a life of survival to one of fulfillment and choices.
(310) 398-2594 [email protected] www.jessiesplace.org

Latino Resource Organization
Provides advocacy, family life, education, HIV/AIDS services, information and referral, substance abuse services and youth services. (310) 578-6069

Lincoln Place Tenants Association
The Lincoln Place Tenants Association is composed of tenants of Lincoln Place Apartments who recognize Lincoln Place to be a prime example of high-quality affordable housing whose presence contributes to the beauty and vitality of the Venice community. We have successfully protected our tenancies and prevented developers from demolishing Lincoln Place for nearly two decades.
While the LPTA is currently focused on saving Lincoln Place from its largest threat to date, we also recognize that our struggle is part of a much larger struggle to preserve quality affordable housing. Please join us in our efforts to stave off overreaching developers by joining our demonstrations and special events, writing letters, and donating to our legal defense fund.
[email protected] www.lincolnplace.net

The Neighborhood Youth Association
1016 Pleasant View Avenue, Venice 90291
Providing full day care and after school programs for at risk youth from 2-18 since 1906
310-664-8893 www.NYAyouth.org <http://www.NYAyouth.org>

New Start
A counseling center for people whose lives are affected by unimagineable circumstances
(310) 664-1415 www.newstart-aconversation.com

Oakwood Recreation Center – To learn about programs and facilities log on to;
http://www.laparks.org/dos/ereg/facility/oakwoodRC.html
767 California Ave. (310) 452-7479

Pacific Resident Theatre
Based in Venice, California, Pacific Resident Theatre is a company founded by actors and dedicated to producing the classics, rarely performed plays, and the works of new writers.
(310) 822-8392 [email protected] www.pacificresidenttheatre.com

Phoenix House
It is the mission of Phoenix House to:reclaim disordered lives. Encourage individual responsibility, positive behavior, and personal growth. Strengthen families and communities. Safeguard public health. Promote a drug-free society through prevention, treatment, education and training, research, and advocacy.
(310) 392-3070 www.phoenixhouse.org

SPARC-Social and Public Art Resource Center – an arts center that produces, preserves and conducts educational programs and community based public art works.SPARC espouses public art as an organizing tool for addressing contemporary issues, fostering cross-cultural understanding and promoting civic dialogue. Working within this philosophical framework, over the last 31 years SPARC has created murals and other forms of public art in communities throughout Los Angeles and increasingly in national and international venues. (310) 822-9560 www.sparcmurals.org

Surfrider Foundation – environmental organization dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches for all people, through conservation, activism, research and education. (949) 492-8170 [email protected]. [email protected] www.surfrider.org

St. Joseph Center – the agency provides a variety of emergency and ongoing programs to assist low-income and homeless individuals and families in the West Los Angeles area. Services include child care, emergency food, homeless support services, mental health services, personal
goods, services for older adults, services for veterans, and a thrift store.For more information please contact; Tiana Rideout, Volunteer Services Coordinator (310) 396-6468 x 326. [email protected] www.stjosephctr.org

St. Joseph Homeless Service Center – referrals to shelter, has pre-arranged beds with Samoshel. Services include child care, emergency food, homeless support services, mental health services, personal goods, services for older adults, services for veterans, and a thrift store.
Hampton at Rose. (310) 399-6878

St. Robert’s Center – provides emergency food, information and referral and motel vouchers for residents of Santa Monica, Venice, LAX Airport, West Los Angeles, Beverly Hills, and Culver City areas, including Malibu, Topanga, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood and Bel Air. People who are undocumented or homeless are also eligible for assistance. (310) 392-8701. [email protected]

VENICE 2000 / H.E.L.P.E.R organization and its various innovative programs, such as Gang Intervention, Safe Passage programs, Youth Impact sessions and the Amer-I-Can program, which teaches the responsibilities of self-determination to all people, empowering those exempted from power and participation in the mainstream. (310) 823-6100. www.venice2000.org

Venice Arts mission is to ignite youths’imagination, mentor their creativity, and expand their sense of possibility through high quality, accessible media–based arts education programs; and to serve as a catalyst for people of all ages, living in low–income or underrepresented communities, to create and share personal and community stories through photography, film, and multi–media.
(310) 578-1745. [email protected] www.venice-arts.org

Venice Arts Council
Venice is a vital hub for artistic activity in Los Angeles and the world. The Venice Arts Council celebrates and supports this tradition through preserving old roots and encouraging spirited new growth in the culture and community we cherish.
310-306-7372. [email protected]   http://www.veniceartscouncil.org

Venice Art Crawl.  

The Venice Art Crawl is a non-profit organization by and for the people. Our goal is to strengthen communication and collaboration within the Venice community through monthly art events. Our ultimate aim is to foster and reinvigorate the creativity that has historically made Venice such a vibrant and dynamic community.  Join our mission every third Thursday of the month. www.veniceartcrawl.com

Venice Boys and Girls Club of Venice

Boys and Girls Club of Venice’s mission is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The Club is able to accomplish their mission by providing a safe haven away from negative influences; an ongoing relationship with trained, caring adult role models; constructive, supervised programs that are sensitive to the needs of youth at-risk; guidance and encouragement in educaitonal and career endeavors; postive programs that encourage strong values, self-esteem and a healthy lifestyle; a solid gang prevention and intervention initiative; a vision of life beyond adolescence; facilitation and reinforcement of a postive peer group environment; family support; and measurable outcomes. Support the Boys and Girls Club of Venice.Boys and Girls Club of Venice | 2232 Lincoln Blvd. Venice, ca 90291 | 310.390.4477 |http://www.bgcv.org

Venice Chamber of Commerce
The Venice Chamber of Commerce is a vital organization of local business leaders. Our goals are to promote and protect the local business community, to enhance the image of Venice and to stimulate networking among members … resulting in growth opportunities for all. We believe that everyone in Venice should have a voice in making Venice a better place to work and live. www.venicechamber.net

Venice Community Housing Corporation (VCHC) works to preserve the economic, racial and social diversity of Venice and the surrounding area by maximizing affordable housing and economic development opportunities and providing needed social services to the area’s low-income population.
(310) 399-4100. [email protected]. www.vchcorp.org

Venice Community Service Center
The agency provides health services, mental health services and substance abuse services for people of all ages who live in the Los Angeles County area.
(310)399-9883

Venice Family Clinic – provides free, quality health care to people in need. Founded in 1970 in a borrowed storefront dental office, the Clinic has grown into the largest free clinic in the nation. Founder Phillip Rossman, MD, and co-founder Mayer B. Davidson, MD, called upon friends and colleagues to help. That spirit of volunteerism prevails today with more than 1,500 volunteers and $11.3 million in-kind contributions from hospitals, laboratories, specialty-care providers and pharmaceutical companies.
(310) 664-7532. [email protected] www.venicefamilyclinic.org

The Venice Garden & Home Tour. Saturday, May 1, 2010, 10 a.m-5 p.m.
A walking tour of 30 Venice homes- meet your neighbors
Tickets $60 in advance $70 day of benefiting the Neighborhood Youth Association’s Las Doradas Childrens Center in Venice for tickets and information: Barbara Baumann: 310-821-1857 online: www.venicegardentour.org <http://www.venicegardentour.org>

Venice Health Center – 905 Venice Blvd. – 392-8636

Venice High Alumni Association – www.venicehighalumni.com

Venice Historical Society – Strives to increase public awareness of Venice’s irreplaceable historical, cultural and architectural resources. To gather and disseminate information for the preservation of structures and neighborhoods in Venice. To engage in activities that will promote the preservation and enhancement of the unique historic features of Venice.
(310) 967-5170. [email protected] www.venicehistoricalsociety.org/

Venice Media District:

The brainchild of Ravenswork Studios’ owner, Robert Feist, the Venice Media District has been created “in response to the changing business landscape” in the beachside community. “The scope and quality of work coming from this area is exceptional and branding the area as the ‘Venice Media District’ is a long time coming,” commented Feist. “The history of filmmaking and media production goes back to the early 1900’s when Venice was called ‘Hollywood by the Sea,’ and now encompasses everything from hand crafted work of local artists to digital effects for major motion pictures. ”According to Feist, the Venice Media District has very specific goals:
• Create networking opportunities and business-to-business awareness.
• Raise awareness of the VMD through city designation and promotion
• Attract business & entrepreneurs to the area.
• Create a vehicle for non-profits to access the assets of the VMD
Member companies for the Venice Media District range from casting, directorial offices, production, editorial, music, sound design, animation, voice acting, special effects, graphic design and photography.
The “Venice Media District” is a standing committee of the “Venice Chamber of Commerce” and operates under it’s auspice and 501 non-profit status. Venice Media District: bringing the creative companies of Venice together. For more info visit http://www.venicemediadistrict.org.

Venice Neighborhood Council – We are governed by state and local laws and assisted by the City of Los Angeles Department of Neighborhood Empowerment.
(310) 606-2015. [email protected]. www.grvnc.org

Venice Peace & Freedom Party – Founded in Venice, the P&F spread across the state in 1967. It is an official ballot-status political party. We are committed to socialism, democracy, ecology, feminism and racial equality. We represent the working class, those without capital in a capitalist society. We organize toward a world where cooperation replaces competition, a world where all people are well fed, clothed and housed; where all women and men have equal status; where all individuals may freely endeavor to fulfill their own talents and desires; a world of freedom and peace where every community retains its cultural integrity and lives with all others in harmony.
(310) 399-2215 [email protected] www.freevenice.org

Venice Public Art Walls-In Creative Unity (The Grafitti Walls)
ICU Art is a Venice based art organization that has been curating the Venice Art Walls since the year 2000. ICU Art is a protector of the walls and helped to save the walls from destruction in 1999 when the Venice Pavilion structure was torn down as part of the Oceanfront Walk refurbishment. As an advocate for graffiti artist and public art in general, ICU Art has developed a broad-based network of artists and support personnel to work on issues and projects related to various forms of public art.
(310) 309-7756. [email protected] http://veniceartwalls.com

Venice Rotary Club:

Rotary is an organization of business, professional, and community leaders united worldwide who provide humanitarian service, encourage high ethical standards in all vocations, and help build goodwill and peace in the world. http://www.clubrunner.ca/CPrg/Home/homeD.asp?cid=2545

Venice Skills Center – classes are designed for participants who seek to acquire a vocational skill, upgrade their current skills or master minimum competencies which will increase their marketability. We welcome adult students who can benefit from the programs offered as well as minors (students 16-18 years of age) who have been accepted into the Alternative Education and Work Center.
(310)664-5820. www.lausd.net/Venice_Skills_Center

Venice Surf and Skateboard Assocation
The VSA’s main focus is to bring a world class skatepark to Venice,Ca. The preservation and historical recognition of the indigineous sport/art of skateboarding and the Venice skateboard/surfing community’s contribution to the world of skateboarding and surfing. In addition, the VSA has focused on providing job training and jobs forthe community. Furthermore the VSA has provided surfing and skateboarding contest and demonstrations throughout the Los Angeles and greater Southern California region. Membership is open to all persons regardless of race,creed, religion, sex and or nationality.
[email protected]. venicesurfandskateboardassociation.blogspot.com

Venice Town Council – a grassroots organization that was dormant for the past 15 years, until revived in 2008. It is a grassroots, town hall style governing body of the City of Venice. All Venetians are eligible to speak and vote. It meets every second Friday. For more information: [email protected] – www.cityofvenice.wordpress.com

Venice Unchained
Is a non profit organization dedicated to passing a city ordinance that will ban formula retail stores from Abbot Kinney and Ocean Front Walk.
Venice has largely been spared the blight of cookie-cutter stores that is homogenizing Main Streets across America. But now that Venice is thriving and real estate has skyrocketed, the corporations are circling, and Pinkberry has already landed. www.veniceunchained.org

Vera Davis Mc Clendon/Oakwood Youth and Family Center – Services at the center include adult/child mentoring, case/care management for at risk families, clothing, computer classes, family and individual counseling, health screening, job search/placement, occasional emergency food assistance, parenting skills development, recreational activities for youth, specialized information and referral for off-site social services and tutorial services. Agencies supported by CDD funds provide counseling programs, case management programs, child care and early childhood programs, day labor programs, dental treatment, domestic violence programs, medical services, mental health treatment, shelters, traffic safety programs.
(310)305-1865

Women in Recovery, Inc. – provides a twelve-step oriented sober living program for chemically dependent. (310)821-6401

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Note:  If we missed your non-profit, please send your information to, [email protected].

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THIS PHOTO BELOW IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE VENICE PICS.

01.11.09 Remembering Sponto. Beach Memorial. Sponto Gallery 7 Dudley Avenue

An insert taken from our local newspaper the Beachhead. Insert was written by Suzy Williams
“On December 28, our beloved Mark “Sponto” Kornfeld, died in the gallery that he had created – Sponto’s – at 7 Dudley Avenue. This hadbeen a space in which every Venetian felt at home during the last 24 years. Sponto died of an apparent heart attack. He had come in the afternoon, left his keys in the outside door, and had begun to run a shower, which was still running six hours later when his body was found. He had complained to friends of having chest pain the previous week. Born Mark Kornfeld in Glen Cove, New York, on August 29, 1949, he was only 59 years old.” – Suzy Williams

January 11th For more on Sponto, check out a copy of the January 2009 Beachhead http://freevenice.org/Beachhead/Jan2009/Beachhead-color.pdf

CLICK HERE TO VIEW “REMEMBERING SPONTO” PHOTO GALLERY

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