Vans to Be Honored by My Friend’s Place for Assisting Young People Experiencing Homelessness

My Friend’s Place is set to hold its annual Ending Youth Homelessness benefit on May 13 at The Hollywood Palladium. 
Published: April 28, 2023 Press Release

My Friend’s Place, a dynamic resource center dedicated to uplifting youth experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles since 1988, will host its annual Gala Ending Youth Homelessness: A Benefit for My Friend’s Place at the Hollywood Palladium on Saturday, May 13 th at 6:00 p.m. Celebrating this milestone anniversary, hundreds of leaders, community members, celebrities and advocates will come together in support of the vital services that My Friend’s Place provides. 

Chrishell Stause, star of the Netflix series “Selling Sunset,” and someone who has publicly spoken out about her own experiences with homelessness, is set to host the Gala which kicks off at 6 p.m. with red-carpet arrivals, followed by a cocktail reception, live auction, a gourmet plant-based dinner, and a special musical guest. At the event, My Friend’s Place will honor Vans, Isaiah Johnson and Michelle Storm, and Support + Feed, as the My Friend’s Place Champions of 2023 in recognition of their invaluable contributions to the shared cause of assisting young people experiencing homelessness. 

In addition, a special award will be presented to the founding leaders of My Friend’s Place, represented by Founders Steve LePore and Craig E. Scholz, PhD. 

“In the late 1980’s, when Craig and I started making and distributing meals to young people living on the streets, homelessness was exacerbated by economic conditions that increased the level of poverty and a recession that resulted in budget cuts to social services,” said My Friend’s Place co-founder Steve LePore. “Today, the number of unhoused individuals in Los Angeles has increased significantly and the on-going impact of social service and mental health budget cuts is still being felt. Now, more than ever, My Friend’s Place is a vital source of care, connection and community for young people experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.” 

Each year, more than 4,000 youth experience homelessness in Los Angeles on any given night. The annual gala, Ending Youth Homelessness: A Benefit for My Friend’s Place, raises crucial funds that support a variety of My Friend’s Place’s much needed services and programs including:Safe Haven (a day time shelter and drop-in program providing food, clothing, showers, communication and transportation); Transformative Education (providing youth with creative arts programming, education and employment readiness services); and Health & Well-Being (providing access to a range of clinically, developmentally and culturally appropriate services to support youth in moving toward and achieving stability, self-sufficiency and a permanent exit from homelessness). 

“As we look back on the past 35 years, I’m grateful for the impact our organization has had on the lives of young people experiencing homelessness in our community,” said Heather Carmichael, Executive Director of My Friend’s Place. “Our organization’s commitment to serve young people with compassion, dedication and innovation has been unwavering, and we remain dedicated to ensuring that young people can continue to turn to My Friend’s Place for safety and support. Together, we make a difference for these extraordinary young people and support their creation of new and brighter futures in which they leave homelessness behind for good.” 

Since its early beginnings as a volunteer-based group serving meals from the trunks of cars to its resource center in operation today, My Friend’s Place continues to assist and inspire homeless youth to build self-sufficient lives. 

For more information about My Friend’s Place and the 35th Anniversary Gala, please visit: www.myfriendsplace.org/gala 

2023 Champions Honored at Gala Include: 

About Vans 

Vans®, a VF Corporation (NYSE: VFC) brand, is the original action sports footwear, apparel and accessories brand. Vans® authentic collections are sold in more than 100 countries through a network of subsidiaries, distributors and international offices. Vans® has more than 2,000 retail locations globally including owned, concession and partnership doors. The Vans® brand supports the journey of creative exploration and self-discovery across action sports, music, art and design, delivering progressive platforms such as Vans Triple Crown of Surfing®, Vans Custom Culture, and Vans’ cultural hub and international music venue, House of Vans. 

About Isaiah Johnson 

Isaiah & Michelle met on February 15, 2020 and an unbreakable bond was forged, and the power couple was born. Isaiah Johnson spent most of his formative years in Scottsdale, AZ where he began skateboarding at the age of 15, after a successful childhood excelling in soccer. Isaiah took to skateboarding quickly and just a year later began making a name for himself at skateboarding contests. By the age of 18 he received his first sponsor, and since then has been sponsored by some of the largest brands in skateboarding. Isaiah’s first Pro Model Skateboard was released in October 2021, which in the skateboard industry is the moment you are officially a “professional skateboarder”. Isaiah’s love of skateboarding is shared with his students. He teaches today’s youth how to skateboard, and acts as a mentor to many. Isaiah also enjoys creating skateboarding videos and content. He directs and edits all of his skateboarding footage. 

About Michelle Storm 

Michelle Storm was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She grew up in a very charitable family, and volunteering was a regular part of life, and this became a lifelong passion. Michelle had a successful youth showing horses and in 1998 she became a World Champion. As a young adult Michelle attended film school in Seattle where she excelled in production. In 2017 the Lilac Fire ravaged through northern San Diego, displacing hundreds of horses. Michelle quickly jumped into action and was responsible for a large relief effort that helped hundreds affected by the fire. This devastation is what catapulted her photography career. Michelle is now a successful photographer in the equine industry. She has also had the pleasure of photographing from many brands, comedians, athletes, and influencers. Isaiah & Michelle make quite the team, and work together creating both photo and video content for others. Together their combined passion for helping others is evident. 

About Support + Feed 

Support + Feed is an intersectional nonprofit organization dedicated to creating an equitable, plant-based food system and combating food insecurity and the climate crisis. Founded in Los Angeles by Maggie Baird, Support+Feed has expanded to 11 US cities, worked with over 80 community organizations and supported local economies across the country. 

About My Friend’s Place 

On January 8, 1988, two friends working in Hollywood were compelled to help the homeless youth who populated the sidewalks just outside of their office door. Determined to effect change, no matter how small, the co-founders of My Friend’s Place, Steve LePore and Craig Scholz, began spending their break time making and distributing sack lunches to the young people living on the streets. Soon, this simple act became a grassroots movement and Steve and Craig had assembled a group of kind-hearted volunteers who traversed Hollywood delivering meals. After countless hours of interactions with these young people, the duo realized providing meals only addressed a small portion of the issue. Within a year, the idea was born for creating a judgment-free, “safe place” where intangible needs such as physical and mental health services, creative outlets and employment and education assistance could be met. Thirty years later, My Friend’s Place has grown into a dynamic resource center that offers a comprehensive continuum of services to more than 1,350 homeless youth between the ages of 12 and 25, and their children, each year. Through the expansive programming offered at its Hollywood location, My Friend’s Place provided more than 30,000 meals last year, in addition to engaging nearly 500 young people in more than 700 creative and living arts workshops across 21,000 individual visits. 

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Strategy & Planning Series
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