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 on a bright open lawn. This is how change happens — neighbors showing up for each other, in person, 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, they're more willing to act.

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

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

What It Felt Like

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

• Non-Stop Entertainment: The main stage was lively all day, 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 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 headshots and some career advice 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.

Made Possible by Our Partners & Sponsors

An event this vibrant requires a dedicated coalition of collaborators who believe that investing in neighborhoods should be dynamic, visible, and authentic. These organizations didn't just provide support. They brought their teams, ran hands-on activities, and talked with attendees one-on-one 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 coalition of companies 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. Together, we showed what's possible when a neighborhood comes together.