Emerge Strong
Centennial Campaign
"El Nido is celebrating 100 years of service, and we have a vision to celebrate this milestone and support the future of our work. Over the next 36-months, with a goal to raise $1M, El Nido's “Emerge Strong” Campaign will chart a new path forward - built on our legacy of service and support for families across Los Angeles, and inspired by the call do more and innovate in ways we never have before."
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Liz Herrera
Chief Executive Officer
From humble beginnings...
In 1925, the National Council of Jewish Women established a summer camp for undernourished girls in the rugged hills of Laurel Canyon. What began as a small sanctuary has grown into El Nido Family Centers—a cornerstone institution serving over 11,000 Angelenos annually across Los Angeles County through holistic, wraparound services that empower families at every stage of life.
...to lasting Impact
For a century, we've met Angelenos where they are—in homes, schools, community centers, and neighborhoods—delivering comprehensive, community-centered services that create pathways out of poverty and toward lasting stability and well-being.
From civil unrest and economic downturns to wildfires and a global pandemic, El Nido has stood with Angelenos through the crises that shape our city. When disaster strikes, we don't just respond—we step up, ensuring families have the resources, care, and support they need to rebuild.
A History of Firsts
El Nido has been the front of innovative solutions since our inception. From the early years of El Nido's camps, to our growth to serving entire families, we have been leaders. Among the longest continuously serving nonprofits in Los Angeles, we've achieved a notable history of firsts, and have been the front of innovative solutions since our inception.
Leaders in providing teen parenting supportive services
For decades, among California's leading nonprofit providers of services to teen parents.
Research-based Interventions and Techniques
Our work is grounded in evidence-based and data-driven social work practice, leading to lasting impact.
Vanguards in providing home-based services
Early adopters of home-based supportive services, meeting families where they are to ensure critical needs are met.
You’ll find us wherever we’re needed most
We work across Los Angeles County, with current programs focused on high-need communities in South LA and the San Fernando Valley.
As Los Angeles evolves, so do we, ensuring our services and programs meet the changing needs of the communities we serve.
12
Holistic, wraparound programs across LA
150+
Talented, passionate, credentialed staff serving across LA
11,000+
Thousands of Angelenos served every single year
88%
An industry leading amount of every dollar goes direct to services.
Meet Families' Basic Needs
Prevent Homelessness
Provide Educational Enrichment
Reduce Gang Violence
Support Teen and Young Parents
Mental Health Therapy
Prevent Child Abuse & Neglect
Campaign Pillar 1
Doubling Down
At El Nido, we believe resilience starts when basic needs—like food, housing, and safety—are met. Our core services provide a holistic approach to serving the entire family, through homelessness and violence prevention programs, education and career guidance and support, food security, early childhood education, and almost everything you can think of that a family needs to feel safe and able to support themselves and their loves ones.
Supporting Infants and Toddlers
Support new parents and preparing children and their families.
Preventing Abuse and Neglect
Provide mental health services, alleviate gang violence, protect children and create resilient young adults.
Meeting Families' Basic Needs
Prevent homelessness, providing food, clothing, and essential items.
Strengthening Community Ties
Foster intergenerational community bonds and create safer neighborhoods
Campaign Pillar 2
Forging Ahead
Build upon the transformational services offered at our wraparound family centers, remove barriers and help youth strive for success, expand our reach, deepening our impact, and ensure El Nido remains a pillar of stability.
When our city calls, El Nido answers
This year, as Los Angeles faced devastating wildfires, we expanded access to trauma counseling, distributed critical resources, and partnered with the City of Los Angeles to become a key co-location partner at the Impacted Worker & Family Recovery Center in Sylmar—a one-stop hub for recovery services. We are distributing more than $450,000 in wildfire relief funds to affected families and connecting them income support, food assistance, job training, small business aid, educational programs, mental health counseling, and more.
"Getting to where I am today wasn’t easy. But I was able to do it with the guidance, encouragement, financial support, and friendship from El Nido"
Alexandro, Bachelors in Civil & Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley
Emerge Strong: Centennial Campaign
Shoring up what we do best and building stronger pathways for the future
With our city and nation facing compounding challenges, El Nido’s role serving vulnerable youth and families has never been more critical. We aim to reduce reliance on government funds and ensure every family has the tools and support to heal, rebuild, and thrive.
Overview
$1.5M
3 Year Campaign Goal
We will raise $1.5M to support Angelenos in need
$500K
Core Comprehensive Safety Net Services
Reduce reliance on government support and protect the most vulnerable youth and families
$500K
Pathways for Young Leaders
Ensure youth complete their education and join the workforce
$500K
Cost-Effective Mental Health
Alleviate the growing mental health crisis so that people can excel
Why Now
At 100 years old, our expertise, longevity, and role as a dependable resource for our City and her residents is unmatched.
With our city and nation facing compounding challenges, El Nido’s role serving vulnerable youth and families has never been more critical. Now is the time to invest in LA’s future, to ensure every family has the tools and support to heal, rebuild, and thrive.
What Your Support Will Do
El Nido's Emerge Strong: Centennial Campaign is a 3-year $1.5M initiative.
Your investment will help create new pathways to lasting stability, well-being, and economic mobility for thousands of LA's most vulnerable youth, continuing El Nido's century-long legacy of breaking cycles of poverty through economic empowerment.
We aim to reduce our reliance on government funding and ensure our comprehensive family centres are well-resourced to meet the growing needs of vulnerable families. This will allow us to continue providing essential wraparound services, such as parenting support, homelessness prevention, financial assistance, and gang prevention for youth, while remaining a trusted resource the city turns to in times of crisis.
Through innovation and transformational care, we are committed to supporting young people and families with the supplies, guidance, and stability they need.
Learn More
Supporting youth in transition is an investment that impacts every Angeleno. Our work intercedes at a critical time to help youth change their trajectory and transform generations to come.
We will help transition youth to college and career through scholarships, mentorship, exposure to career opportunities and removing barriers to economic mobility.
Learn More
In the face of a documented crisis that disproportionately affects our communities—especially young people—we are expanding our efforts with more therapists, reaching more youth, and providing therapy for both children and parents.
By meeting clients where they are and focusing on safety, healing, and resilience, we aim to serve 100 additional youth over the next three years and help them thrive.
Learn More
Make Your Mark on the Next Century
Our $1.5M Campaign will propel hundreds of young lives forward over the next 3 years.
Join our community of supporters in lifting up LA leaders, one family at a time.
Century Circle
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Guide the vision that drives our next 100 years of service.
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Transform dozens of lives for young Angelenos.
$50,000
Legacy Builder
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Your name prominently displayed on our Centennial LA Mural.
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VIP access to all Centennial events, including our Gala on September 6, 2025
$25,000
Community Roots
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Recognition in our annual impact report
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Special recognition at our Centennial Gala
$2,500
Just $70 per month for 36 months
Centennial Friend
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Invitation to the exclusive Centennial celebration event
$1,000
Just $28 per month for 36 months
We don’t just provide services—we build resilience, ensuring that El Nido and the families we serve continue to thrive for generations to come.
Daniela
El Nido has given me the skills, confidence, and support to embrace every opportunity. They’ve prepared me to be a leader both in my community at home and in my academic life in Boston. With their guidance, I’m ready to make a difference—not just for myself, but for others who need someone to believe in them, too.
With immense gratitude to Centennial Supporters
Howard Banchik
John and Linda Coleman
The De Miranda Foundation
Kristen Donovan
Loraine and Carl Eastlake
Merrill and Bonnie Goldenberg
Hank and Dolores Guerrero
Mitchell and Julieanne Harmatz
Anne Marie Herrera
Judith Kleinman
Kathy Kubota and Stephen Fox
Rita Ledesma
Felicia Lopez
Trish S. Lopez
Scott Matula-Beltch
Navid and Erinn Moshtaghi
Michael and Susan Norman
Mary Ross
Jesse Shapiro and Danielle Samulon
Diane Sherman
Juliana and Quentin Soic