On September 19, hundreds of Angelenos gathered for one reason: to support kids and families in their own neighborhoods. They were packing care kits filled with essential supplies for local children and young people, laughing at live comedy, meeting local nonprofits, and sharing a meal together. This is how change happens — neighbors connecting and pitching in, side by side. 

It was our inaugural Neighborhood Festival, and it was just the first of many. Here's a look inside, and why we're building it into an ongoing series.

Connecting with Community

Our work is grounded in a clear conviction. When people feel connected to each other, and their neighborhood, they're more willing to act.

We use comedy to bring people together, build meaningful connections, and get more people into the fight to end childhood poverty. Neighborhood Festivals put this idea into practice, one community at a time. They’re designed to be fully open and accessible — spaces where local families, youth, community leaders, and supporters can get together and do some good.

The goal of every festival is simple: Turn one great afternoon into a year-round commitment to support kids in our neighborhoods.

What It Felt Like

Picture a neighborhood gathering for hundreds of people, packed with smiles, curiosity, and shared sense of purpose. Here's what went down in LA:

Non-Stop Comedy: The main stage got everyone laughing, with improv performances from The Groundlings, Upright Citizens Brigade, Story Pirates, and YADA.

Family & Youth Activities: Festivalgoers packed 500 care kits that included books donated by Scholastic. These will be distributed in the community by our partners Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Covenant House. 

• Creativity was on display at the LEGO^® Replay Community Build Station & Donation Drop. 
• Young adults got free professional profile pics, some career advice, and a place to recharge and chill courtesy of LinkedIn.
• People got to know Children's Health Fund, City Year and City Year LA, Echoing Green, Helen Keller International, and the Student Conservation Association and signed up to volunteer and stay connected. 

The energy was palpable. Families played games, new friends bonded over great food, and teachers, parents, and daycare providers got free goodies for their classrooms, kids, and themselves.

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Made Possible by Our Partners

An event like this requires a dedicated coalition of partners. Each one shares our conviction that investing in neighborhoods should be visible and authentic, and they showed it by bringing their teams, running hands-on activities, and engaging with attendees throughout the day.

What's Ahead: Stay Connected

The festival may be packed up, but the partnerships and momentum built in LA this weekend continue year-round.

• Want to attend an upcoming festival? Our footprint is growing. Philadelphia is up next, and we'll be getting people out in more cities after that. Join our mailing list to receive early announcements about future locations, dates, and volunteer opportunities.
• Interested in partnering or sponsoring? We're building a network of companies, nonprofits and foundations who want to help bring festivals like this to more neighborhoods. Reach out to our team at [email protected] to start the conversation.

To everyone who spent their day with us, brought their families, or helped behind the scenes: thank you.

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