Authentic Member Melinda Haroutuian has been volunteering at Giving Spirit with her 11 year old daughter for the past 5 years. The stats are frightening over 50,000 homeless and growing in Los Angeles. The Giving Spirit provides immediate aid and a human connection to homeless lives–men, women, children and families in Greater Los Angeles. They educate volunteers and communities about the human face of homelessness with the goal of recognizing that homelessness does not mean hopelessness and lives can be improved and housing challenges resolved through community awareness and action.
Derek Theler is a successful actor, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at just three years old. In 2009, he began his career and since then has appeared in several TV series, including starring in the long-running Freeform comedy Baby Daddy, Marvel’s New Warriors and recent turns on American Gods on Starz and the Youtube Red hit, Wayne. Derek wears his Dexcom CGM on set with pride, using any opportunity to help raise awareness for T1D. With no memory of life without diabetes, Derek has made the best of it and is dedicated to living the life he’s always wanted. You can often find him going on outdoor adventures in Colorado and California with his trusty sidekick Neptune (his yellow Labrador) or spreading the word about diabetes research and new technology to children through his work with JDRF.
Co-Chair of the Looking Ahead Program
Quote: “Having grown up in the industry myself starting from the age of 2, I know the challenges and pitfalls that the youth in our industry face. I am so happy that today the opportunity exists for them to have access to a program as dynamic and effective as looking Looking Ahead. And I’m grateful to sit as Co-Chair to such a caring organization of people. My wish is for every kid in this business along with their families to know that Looking Ahead is there for them!”
Willow Shields
Willow Shields shares a special connection with her young fan base and consciously tries to inspire them to be positive role models in their communities. Leading by example, she is a vocal advocate for Operation Smile, a charitable organization that provides free surgeries to repair facial deformities for children around the globe. She also donates time to serving food at various homeless shelters including the Manna Foodbank, and participates in the STOMP Out Bullying Campaign.
Susan currently serves on the board of Drama Club, an organization that uses theater to mentor incarcerated youths in NYC. Started in 2013, Drama Club’s mission is to provide theater and positive mentor relationships to youth throughout each step of their journey through the criminal justice system.
Peace First is a national nonprofit organization that exists to create the next generation of peacemakers. They view children as natural problem solvers and creative thinkers, and invest in their ability to see themselves as leaders. Today, what began as a one-day festival is a now a national movement that Peace First is catalyzing to celebrate young people and their potential to create positive change around them. Peace First work is grounded in teaching young people the skills of peacemaking; empowering educators and parents to teach and model these skills and values; and creating social messages that raise expectations for young people to demonstrate compassion and empathy.
Cancer Schmancer’s mission is to shift the nation’s focus from just searching for a cure to prevention and early detection of cancer in order to save lives. Founded by client Fran Drescher, The Cancer Schmancer Movement is a three-prong organization dedicated to Early Detection, Prevention, and Policy Change.
ROAD RECOVERY is dedicated to helping young people battle addiction and other adversities by harnessing the influence of entertainment industry professionals who have confronted similar crises and now wish to share their experience, knowledge, and resources.
