by Teresa Norland
Josie Sirineo, alumna of RVLDP Class 19, has put the skills and knowledge she gained during RVLDP into action to benefit Los Angeles’ homeless women and children. For her internship with the board of a non-profit organization, a core requirement of RVLDP, Josie interned with the board of Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women. This program serves homeless women and children only a few blocks from the LAJCC.
Inspired by her desire to get more young professionals involved in volunteering and fundraising for non-profits, Josie set about to create an opportunity for men and women in their 20’s and 30’s to lend their time, talents and resources to benefit the work of Good Shepherd Center for Homeless Women. Once only a vision on paper, Josie used her RVLDP internship to develop and implement what is now known as the Young Professionals Group (YPG), an organization 35 members strong who represent such diverse L.A. industries as law, entertainment, finance, real estate, education, business, technology and the non-profit sector.
Class 21 RVLDP alumni Gregory Ortman, Carol Fukasawa, Ginny Kim, Pooja Goel and Teresa Norland have joined Josie in her pursuit to make the YPG a successful and permanent addition to the work of Good Shepherd’s board of directors. These alumni from Class 19 and 21, along with Class 23 RVLDP participant Colby Fisher have made the YPG a dynamic organization in just over a year. The YPG has hosted a charity event at Formosa Café and a new member dinner at a Hollywood Hills home. There have also been a variety of meaningful and creative volunteer events at Good Shepherd. Through the YPG’s efforts, more than $15,000 has been raised to benefit Good Shepherd.
Josie and her team haven’t stopped there! The success of the YPG’s first year has inspired an even greater second year. May 18, 2002 will mark the YPG’s first ever Formal Funk event, which will raise $10,000 to help outfit Good Shepherd’s new childcare center for homeless children. The event planning committee are dedicated to making Formal Funk a night of incredible fun and great charity. It will be held at the Inshallah Gallery in downtown Los Angeles where over 200 guests will enjoy live music, dinner and drinks, a raffle, silent auction and photo exhibit of homelessness in Los Angeles.
It is the skills learned during RVLDP that led to creating this innovative new program in which young professional men and women can actively participate in helping Los Angeles’ homeless achieve self-sufficiency and well-being. Josie and her fellow RVLDP alumni thank the LAJCC and RVLDP for empowering them with the knowledge and motivation to make a difference in the Los Angeles community.