Upward Bound House, a community-based, social services agency headquartered in Santa Monica, will officially open Family Shelter at 12841 West Washington Blvd., in Culver City on Friday, Jan. 29. The grand opening celebration will start at 1 p.m.
“There is a vital need for an emergency shelter for homeless children and their families in crisis in Los Angeles. We are grateful for the broad-based regional community support we’ve received for this project,” said David Snow, Executive Director of Upward Bound House.
Confirmed speakers for the opening event include State Senator Curren Price, County Supervisors Mark Ridley-Thomas and Zev Yaroslavsky, Culver City Mayor Andrew Wiessman, Beverly Hills Mayor Nancy Krasne; Los Angeles City Councilmember Bill Rosendahl, and Santa Monica City Councilmember Richard Bloom.
In addition to public funding, the project enjoyed the support of the region’s major private foundations, including the Ahmanson Foundation, Annenberg Foundation, Hoag Family Foundation, Lennar Charitable Housing Foundation, Parsons Foundation, S. Mark Taper Foundation and the Weingart Foundation. Notably, the Community Center at Family Shelter has been named in honor of the S. Mark Taper Foundation’s generous gift.
The Young Professionals Board of Upward Bound House raised money and donations of toys for the on-site playground.
Many of the local businesses in the community have also contributed to the new shelter. Sony Pictures Entertainment donated ‘Spider-Man’ linens for all of the children’s beds, a television for the community room, and a colorful mural for the playground.
Vanessa De Vargas an interior designer with Turquoise (located nearby in Venice) led a group of professional interior designers who donated their services 
to decorate each of the 18 units at the new facility.
Family Shelter will serve approximately 210 children and their parents each year, becoming a significant resource in the region’s effort to place vulnerable children in safe, dignified housing. Families stay in the units for three months, during which time they work with case managers to get back on their feet through employment services and permanent housing placement assistance.
The mission of Upward Bound House is to eliminate homelessness among families with children in Los Angeles by providing housing, supportive services and advocacy. Since 1997, more than 1,100 individuals – including over 650 children – have graduated from Upward Bound House and are no longer homeless. For more information about Upward Bound House, please visit www.upwardboundhouse.org.
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