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What We Do

We provide education, mentorship, and life-skills support through a range of programs designed to empower individuals and strengthen communities.

ACFC South Africa

A Chance for Children South Africa became official in October of 2013.  Our mission is serving children in the townships bordering Cape Town with many of the same programs as we do in the U.S. focusing on education.

We are committed to providing access to free books to children who may not otherwise have books available to them.

The A Chance for Children Free Libraries  goal is to bring communities together through books, reading, and provide a safe place to gather.  To date, our libraries are in police station lobbies including: LAPD, Torrance PD, and Pasadena PD as well as many Los Angeles area Sheriff Stations.  We also have libraries in homeless shelters and community centers around Los Angeles, Palm Beach, and Ohio.

We support and encourage young people towards developing literacy skills that will enable them to become lifelong learners and support them in further developing their academic skills.

Literacy is the first step towards acquiring a strong education and without the resources available to teach students how to read, there is little hope of them receiving a quality education or escaping the heart breaking cycle of poverty many of them are born into.

Special thanks to The LAPD, Pay it Forward for a Better LA, The Water Buffalo Club, California Edison, and First Books for helping make the Little Free Libraries possible.  Also a special thanks to Little Free Libraries and its founder Todd Bohl for your support and for not only acknowledging our libraries as one of you “Distinguished libraries” but also for including us in your book.


Library Locations To Date:

  • 77th Area LAPD Station
  • Pacific Area LAPD Station
  • Olympic Area LAPD Station — assisted by community
  • Foothill Area LAPD Station
  • Topanga Area LAPD Station
  • Newton Area LAPD Station
  • Newton Area PAALS LAPD Station
  • Rampart Area LAPD Station — assisted by Girl Scout Troop 525 from Palos Verdes
  • Van Nuys Area LAPD Station
  • North Hollywood Area LAPD Station
  • Hollywood Area LAPD Station
  • Southeast LAPD Station
  • Devonshire LAPD Station
  • North Eastern Family Pride Center, Geneva, Ohio
  • Mission Area LAPD Station
  • Pacific Division Community Center LAPD Station
  • Valley Traffic LAPD Station
  • Hollenbeck Area LAPD Station
  • West Valley LAPD Station
  • LA Family Homeless Shelter
  • West Los Angeles LAPD Station – assists by Torrance Brownie Troop 17095
  • Harbor LAPD Station
  • Northeast LAPD Station
  • Southwest LAPD Station
  • Wilshire LAPD Station
  • Central Traffic LAPD Station
  • USC University Gardens
  • Hoover Park
  • Watts Coffee House
  • Geauga County Sheriff Station, Chardon, Ohio
  • Torrance Police Department
  • Operation Progress/HACLA Office
  • Sunburst Youth Challenge Academy
  • 22  LA Area with HACLC and LA Mayor Garcetti’s Summer Night Lights Program
  • LA Family Housing
  • Huntington Beach PD
  • Carson Sheriff Station
  • Century Sheriff Station
  • East Los Angeles Sheriff Station
  • South Los Angeles Sheriff Station
  • LAPD West LA Community Center
  • Village Family Services
  • USC University Gardens
  • USC Hoover Park
  • Pueblo Del Rio Housing Community Center

  • Dance Classes – Ballet, Ball Room, Scarf Movement, Jazz, Creative Movement
  • Boys & Girls Etiquette Classes
  • Acting Classes
  • Reading Lessons
  • Tutoring
  • Connections
  • Computers for Schools & Shelter
  • Drill Team
  • Creative Writing Classes
  • Quilt Making
  • Yoga & Nutrition
  • Drums

While ACFC currently serves Los Angles youth, in the past children have participated in our camps from all over the world.  We have also sent kids to other states to attend camps. Children have come from: Washington, Arizona, Virginia, Texas, Hawaii, New York, Michigan, Illinois, South Dakota, Maryland, North Carolina

A Chance for Children Summer Overnight & Day Camps:

  • Life Skills Sports Academy
  • Summer Camp
  • Community Harvest Foundation
  • Summer Day Camps
  • Swim Camp
  • Forest Home Camp
  • Malibu Makos Surf Camp
  • Canyon Creek Sports Summer Overnight
  • Camp Harold Robinson Weekend Sport Camp Retreats
  • Sportscasters Camp
  • NBA Summer Basketball Camp
  • UCLA Summer Basketball Camp
  • USC Summer Football Camp
  • Summer Baseball Camp

  • University Little League
  • Life Skills Sports Academy
  • Tai Collins Summer and Winter Baseball Leagues
  • Ballet Classes
  • Scarf Movement Modern Dance
  • Ballroom Dancing Water Polo
  • Swim Lesson Surf Lessons
  • Scuba Lesson Ice Hockey Lesson/Games
  • Sports Camps
  • Beach Volleyball
  • Markham Middle School Swim Program
  • Watts Drill Team
  • Victory Swimming Pool
  • Yoga Classes
  • Track Team
  • Crenshaw Cougars Football League
  • South LA
  • Little League Basketball Leagues
  • Pro Basketball Clinics

We Believe Exposure Creates Reality
“There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in.” – Graham Greene

Special Out-of-Town Trips:

New York City, Hawaii, Cleveland, Washington, D.C., Annapolis, Baltimore, Virginia, Grand Canyon, Cape Cod, San Diego, Laguna Beach, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Barbara


Field Trips/Programs/Events:

Movie Premiers, Movies, High Tea, Fillmore Train Ride & Pumpkin Patch, California Missions, Griffith Park & Observatory, LA Zoo, Santa Barbara Zoo, San Diego Zoo, Neverland Ranch, Pacific Park, UCLA Ocean Discovery Center, Whale Watching, Deep Sea Fishing, Restaurants for Dinners, Cooking Classes, Bike Rides at Beach, Nail Salon for Mani-Pedis, Quilt-Making, Participation in Hollywood Parade, Participation on Marina Del Rey Boat Parade, Visit Behind the Scenes film production, Beach Days, American Heart Association Walk, Special Olympics Events, Heal the Bay Beach Clean-Ups, Day of Service Clean-Ups, SwissAir Tour, United Christmas Flight, Cabrillo Museum, Paul Mitchell Cut-athon, Prom Dress Distribution, Surf Lessons, Hiking, Shaqtacular Basketball Event, Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, Nickelodeon Big Help, Guests on set & series Baywatch, Guests & Tour MTV, Guests & Tour Nickelodeon, Guests & Tour US Coastguard Air Station LA, Beach Volleyball with Sinjin Smith, Sea World, Wild Animal Park, Long Beach Aquarium, Worked alongside Eco-artist Wyland painting murals with the world renowned Eco-artist Wyland in South and East LA, co-sponsor “Year of the Ocean” 50 State Bus Tour, and a Wyland Clean Water Mobile Learning Center visiting the schools bringing the ocean to them, Wyland painting murals in LA schools, sponsorship and placement in Fireman and Lifeguard programs, Basketball Clinic with Houston Rockets, Inspirational Movie Nights. Art Classes & Exhibits, McCharles House Tea House, Hikes, Bike Rides by the Beach, David Copperfield Magic Shows, Partnerships with college sports programs – Pepperdine University/UCLA/USC

The Arts:

Pageant of the Masters Show & behind scenes tour, Art Galleries, Wyland Galleries & Murals Paintings, Museums, Ballets, Plays, LA Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl, Various Stage & Ice Shows & Performances, Art Classes & Exhibit

Sports Events/Games:

LA Dodgers, USC Football, USC Baseball, UCLA Baseball, UCLA Football, Clippers Basketball, Lakers Basketball, Galaxy, Chivas, LA Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Water Polo & Big Brother Program with Pepperdine University, Pepperdine University Baseball, AVP, Ice Hockey & Ice Skating with LA Chill, Basketball Games & Big Sister Program with Pepperdine University Women’s Basketball Team/Men’s Volleyball Team/Men’s Water Polo Team, UCLA Partnership with Track & Field, USC Partnership with Track & Field and Football

  • Summer Camps
  • Annual Trip to Washington DC for Elementary School 5th Graders
  • Christmas Party and Toy Distribution (Multiple Locations)
  • Halloween Party Pumpkin Patch
  • Whale Watching
  • Easter Egg Hunt and Party
  • Thanksgiving Baskets
  • Christmas Baskets
  • Perfect Attendance Parties for Elementary Schools
  • Summer Camps
  • Back to School Supply Handouts
  • John R. Wooden Awards
  • Prom Dresses

  • Back-to-School Backpacks & Supplies
  • Holiday Food Baskets
  • Adopt-A-Family Program
  • College Scholarships
  • Dance Scholarships
  • Camp Scholarships
  • Teen Summer Job Program
  • Prom Dresses
  • Big Brother/Sister Program
    • To be a part of this program a volunteer must be fingerprinted as well as get a TB test. We ask that you reach out to your sponsored youth at least once a week and see them two times a month. We ask for at least a one year commitment for this though we would love if you could commit to two years.

 

Personal Needs: Clothing, paint, food, grocery store gift certificates, games, furniture, eye exams and glasses for children

  • Wyland Mobile Learning Center
  • Swim Lessons
  • Dance Class
  • Etiquette Lessons
  • Acting Class
  • After School Tutoring
  • Little League
  • Field Trips & Outings
  • Food Basket Distributions
  • Holiday Parties
  • Programs with LAPD, Fire Department, and Coast Guards
  • After School Programs
  • Perfect Attendance Parties
  • Inspirational Movie Nights
  • Summer Job Placement Program
  • Scholarships
  • Prom Dresses

Who We Serve

We serve communities and organizations of all kinds by partnering to deliver education, mentorship, and life-skills programs that create lasting impact.

Communities

South Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Watts, Pico Union, MLK Park, Exposition Park

Foundations

Community Harvest Foundation, University Little League, Lifeskills Sports Academy, Tai Collins Summer and Winter Baseball Leagues, Unity One, Brent Shapiro Foundation, A Place Called Home, Westminster House, L.U.C.A.P., Sojourners, Make-A-Wish, Special Olympics, Kona Care, Heal the World, Heal the Bay, UMOJA, AFMLA/Aquatic Foundation of Metropolitan Los Angeles, Wyland Foundation, YES America, Run for Youth, and Earth Events.

Schools

Tom Bradley Elementary, 109th Street Elementary, 99th Street Elementary, 112th Street Elementary, 92nd Street Elementary, Normandie Avenue Elementary, 77th Street Elementary, Delores Huerta Elementary, Robert F. Kennedy Community New Open World Academy, Florence Griffith Joyner Elementary, South Region Elementary School #7, Sunrise Elementary, Community Harvest Charter School, West Adams High School, Audubon Middle School, Horace Mann Middle School, Markham Middle School, John Burroughs Middle School, Foshay Middle School, YET (Youth Educational Training) Center, Jordan High School, Dorsey High School, Crenshaw High School, LAPD PAL Program, LAPD Cadet Program, and LAPD Jeopardy Program.

Government Agencies

LAPD Southeast, LAPD Southwest, LAPD Olympic, Mayor Villaraigosa’s Office, LA Partnership Schools, McClarin House, Los Angeles Recreation and Park, and LA Family Housing.

Shelters

Need data

States & Countries

A Chance for Children has touched the lives of youth from elementary school though college in all 50 states. We have sponsored numerous education tours on the environment, CPR, art, as well as educational material for schools. While under the name Camp Baywatch, and while the television series was filmed in Hawaii, the foundation worked with many underprivileged schools on the island of Oahu. We have also worked in many states with children from Indian reservations. ACFC has brought children from all over the country to participate in summer camp and other events. Children have come from: Northern & Southern California, Hawaii, Arizona, South Dakota, Maryland, Virginia, Washington, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Illinois, Michigan, Florida, Utah, Texas We have also included children from other countries including: New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Mexico, & the UK

Why It Matters

Access to education, mentorship, and life-skills support can change the course of a life. These resources help individuals build confidence, make informed decisions, and create opportunities—not just for themselves, but for the communities around them.

Our Impact

10,000+

Children Supported

300+

Volunteers

30+

Years Serving Families