Dearest friends,

These continue to be such challenging times for us all, and we hope you and your family are well, in good spirits and healthy...

This past year, our adopted families in Our Vita network have needed us more than ever. Your generosity and that of others, has enabled us to help them to remain in their homes or apartments with our financial assistance.

When Covid first began, I started calling each family in our program. The first family I called was C’s family , and he himself came to the phone, so depressed that both he and his wife had lost their jobs, and he did not think they would have enough money to pay rent or for food. I found myself saying C, if we send you $1000, will that help? There was a long silence, and then profound sobbing. I was so taken back, I did not know how to respond except to say C, you will have the check tomorrow.

The next family I called was a young mother of three we had recently adopted into our program, whose daughter we had met at our wilderness camp the previous summer from Telfair Elementary in Pacoima. She had also lost her job and had gone to donate blood the previous two Sundays to make some extra money to buy groceries for the family.

That one truly broke my heart. It was after I spoke to the last family that we knew we had to reach out to you and all our dear friends for help. YOU responded, and thanks to YOUR great generosity and that of other wonderful foundations and companies, we were able to raise and distribute $100,000 in direct financial stipends to 25 families and scholarships to 15 of our college students since April of 2020...

The Open Hearts Foundation was the very first to donate a $25,000 matching grant. Your generous donation and that of others not only helped us reach that goal, but we surpassed it.

The Open Heart Foundation has now once again generously offered CLF a $10,000 matching grant for our Step Forward Emergency Family Fund! Once CLF matches it, we will be able to give $500 to 25 families, and a $500 scholarship to 15 more college students.
Your donation in any amount will go towards reaching that goal!

Please know that your generosity, especially this past year and a half, has enabled all of these families to remain in their homes and apartments, and keep food on the table. Let's continue to help them, until this all is behind us...I thank you from my heart. And thank you to the amazing Jane Seymour, the wonderful Trena Pitchford, and the great board of the Open Hearts Foundation. You can read more about their terrific work on their website and in this press release.

All my love,
Maria D'Angelo
CLF Founder