“This will be the rule on the side of my door: Everyone is able to learn. This is my adventure.”
Student quote
Untitled By Chris M.T. from Doors to Our Future written by the students of 74th Street Elementary School
As we come together to celebrate the success of Write Your Own Adventure, I am filled with immense gratitude for your generous support. Your dedication to our mission at 826LA is truly commendable, and it is because of partners like you that we can empower young minds to find their voice and tell their stories.
When students understand that their voices are valued, they gain the confidence to speak up. 826LA helps students from L.A.'s under-resourced communities develop the writing and critical thinking skills to share their stories in the most powerful ways possible.
Over the next three years, 826LA will expand our reach, advance our brand, and ensure the long-term health and viability of our organization by implementing our strategic plan. In 2025, midway through this strategic plan, 826LA will celebrate our 20th anniversary. During the first twenty years of our organizational life, we will have served over 110,000 students and engaged almost 20,000 volunteers. We opened writing labs in Echo Park and Mar Vista and school-based writing programs in Roosevelt, Manual Arts, and Venice High.
With your support, 826LA can empower Los Angeles’ next generation of storytellers, activists, and changemakers. We hope you are as inspired as we are to give the gift of opportunity as we enter the celebration of our 20th anniversary.
Thank you for joining me in supporting students as they write their own adventures.
In gratitude,
Jaime Balboa Executive Director 826LA
As co-chairs of 826LA’s Write Your Own Adventure gala, we would like to thank you for joining us as we celebrate the many adventures writing can take us on. Whether you’re a comedian like Joe Dombrowski, an actress like Jerrika Hinton memorizing lines for the next hit TV show, or an emerging student author at 826LA, writing gives us all a voice.
826LA understands just how essential it is to cultivate young people’s confidence in their words. With one-on-one individualized support from volunteers, 826LA has the road map to help students achieve their goals.
With your support, 826LA can spark the imaginations of Los Angeles’ next generation of storytellers, adventurers, and changemakers. We hope you are as inspired as we are to give the gift of opportunity. Thank you.
Thank you!
Iman Farrior Cisca Brouwer Jeff Boos Co-Chairs
supportingstudents ages6to18 withtheircreative& expositorywriting skills.
Our classes and workshops offer a fun, safe, collaborative experience for students to express their imaginations and practice their writing skills—all supported by one-on-one attention.
A free program for students in grades 3- 6 that focuses on creative writing with added time for homework help. To enroll, students must qualify for free or reduced lunch, or attend a Title I school, and participate in all aspects of the program.
A free program for students in Grades 7 - 12 that focuses on creative writing with added time for homework help. To enroll, students must qualify for free or reduced lunch, or attend a Title I school and participate in all aspects of the program.
Our two-week summer camp for students ages 7-12 focuses on Playwriting.
Calling all teachers! Sign your school up for free, writing-based field trips. We can also come to you as part of our new Traveling Field Trips initiative. Students brainstorm and write original stories, memoir pieces, or college essays. Students’ work is published online or in a bound book.
Students receive writing support on campus as they work on personal statements for college and creative projects that accompany the course curriculum. Located at Manual Arts, Roosevelt and Venice High Schools.
Art + writing = a feast for the imagination. All students are welcome to sign up for our free, in-person workshops at the Hammer Museum.
Thank You, Sponsors!
Kira Snyder & Allen Blue
Robert McElhenney in honor of Jimmy Kimmel
Susan Ko
Matt Conway
Joe Ferencz
Karen Van Kirk & Andy Anagnos
Mindel Family Foundation
PJ Shapiro
Christine Ko
Glickman-Whittemore Family Charitable Fund
Lauren Humphrey
Iman & James Farrior
Scott Boxenbaum
David & Alison Ullendorff
Jennifer Chen
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Ferencz
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Scott Boxenbaum
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GINO’S CATERING
J.J. Abrams
Judd Apatow
Miguel Arteta
Mac Barnett
Steve Barr
Joshuah Bearman
Amy Brooks
Father Greg Boyle, SJ
Stefan G. Bucher
Mark Flanagan
Ben Goldhirsh
Rebeccas Goldman
Ellen Goldsmith-Vein
DeAnna Gravillis
Spike Jonze
Miranda July
Catherine Keener
Keith Knight
Al Madrigal
Krystyn Madrigal
Tara Roth
Kathie McGrath
R. Scott Mitchell
Lani Monos
B.J. Novak
Miwa Okumura
Jane Patterson
Keri Putnam
Sylvie Rabineau
Sonja Rasula
Luis J. Rodriguez
Terri Hernandez Rosales
Brad Simpson
J. Ryan Stradal
Natalie Tran
Sarah Vowell
Sally Willcox
Adriana Centeno
Susan Ko
President
Sarah Rosenwald Varet
Vice President
Karen Van Kirk
Secretary
David Ullendorff
Treasurer
Ben Au
Iman Farrior
Scott A. Ginsburg
Hon. Holly A. Thomas
Chad DePue
Cisca Brouwer
Jeff Boos
Scott Boxenbaum
Joe Ferencz
Dave Eggers, Emeritus
Jodie Evans, Emeritus
Jaime Balboa
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Diego Quevedo
CHIEF OF STAFF
Shani Foster
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION
Christie Thomas
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
Mateo Acosta
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Pedro Estrada
PROGRAMS & OPERATIONS
MANAGER, ECHO PARK
Mike Dunbar
PROGRAM & OPERATIONS
MANAGER, MAR VISTA
Carinne Mangold
STORE & GENERAL OPERATIONS
MANAGER
Alma Carrillo
DEVELOPMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
MANAGER
Maddie Silva
SPECIAL INITIATIVES MANAGER
Trevor Crown
SENIOR MANAGER OF VOLUNTEER
ASSESSMENT AND INNOVATION
Katie Fiege
INSTITUTIONAL GIVING MANAGER
Ariadne Makridakis
SENIOR VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Ariana Ponce
SENIOR CIVIC ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR
Cole Montgomery
DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
Arisdeysi Cruz
TUTORING PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Wendy Beltran
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, ROOSEVELT HIGH SCHOOL
Marco Beltran
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, MANUAL ARTS HIGH SCHOOL
Julia Malinow
IN-SCHOOLS AND TUTORING
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
Wilson Swain
CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT SPECIALIST
