Present Now

THE MISSION OF PRESENT NOW IS TO PROVIDE CHILDREN IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS WITH BOTH ESSENTIAL GOODS AND SPECIALTY ITEMS TO BRING THEM JOY, COMFORT, AND RELIEF DURING A TIME OF CRISIS. WE DO SO BY DELIVERING THREE HAND-CRAFTED PRESENTS PER YEAR TO EACH CHILD - ONE ON THEIR BIRTHDAY, ON VALENTINE'S DAY, AND ON BACK-TO-SCHOOL DAY. THESE GIFTS CONVEY TO THESE CHILDREN THAT THEY ARE APPRECIATED, CARED FOR, AND WORTHY OF LOVE. PRESENT NOW DELIVERS OUR GIFTS TO THE CHILDREN'S MOTHERS, SO THAT THEY CAN GIVE THEM TO THEIR OWN CHILDREN.

PRESENTS PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THREE PERSONALIZED GIFTS EACH YEAR FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN TRANSITIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS. THE GIFT IS GIVEN TO EACH CHILD ON THEIR BIRTHDAY, ON VALENTINE'S DAY, AND FOR BACK TO SCHOOL. THE PRESENTS PROGRAM SERVES 49 SHELTERS IN 14 STATES AND IS EXPANDING NATIONALLY, MOVING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PRESENTS DELIVERED EACH YEAR BY 2025.PRESENCE OF BEING - THE PERSONALIZED BIRTHDAY GIFT IS DESIGNED TO INCREASE THE CHILD'S CONFIDENCE, SELF-ESTEEM, AND WELL-BEING BY INCLUDING A BRAND-NEW OUTFIT, TOY, AND BOOK. THE PRESENT IS DELIVERED TO THE CHILD BY HIS OR HER SAFE PARENT, SO THEY CAN FURTHER REBUILD TRUST IN THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR CHILD. THE GIFT ALSO INCLUDES CAKE MIX, BIRTHDAY CANDLES, AND A RESTAURANT GIFT CARD SO THE FAMILY CAN CELEBRATE THE CHILD'S BIRTHDAY. MOST IF NOT ALL OF THE SAFE PARENTS COULD NOT AFFORD THESE GIFTS WITHOUT PRESENT NOW'S PROGRAM. WE ARE PROUD TO REMIND THESE DESERVING CHILDREN ON THEIR BIRTHDAYS THAT THEY ARE SEEN AND THEY ARE SPECIAL.PRESENCE OF LOVE - A PRESENT WITH A BRAND NEW S.T.E.A.M. EDUCATIONAL LEARNING DEVICE FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS. THE DEVICE ALWAYS PROMOTES A FLEXIBLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT, SO THE CHILDREN CAN PURSUE THEIR EDUCATION NO MATTER WHERE THEY LIVE. PAST GIFTS HAVE INCLUDED TABLETS, IPODS, AND CAMERAS. THE GIFT IS DELIVERED ON VALENTINE'S DAY BECAUSE THIS HOLIDAY CAN BE ESPECIALLY CHALLENGING FOR CHILDREN RECOVERING FROM DOMESTIC ABUSE. WE ARE PROUD TO ALLEVIATE THE STRESS OF THIS HOLIDAY BY REMINDING CHILDREN RECOVERING FROM THE TRAUMA OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE THAT THEY ARE WORTHY OF LOVE.PRESENCE OF MIND - A GIFT THAT PROVIDES A FRESH START FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL DAY FOR CHILDREN RESIDING IN TRANSITIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE SHELTERS. EVERY AUGUST, WE SEND STUDENTS A BRAND NEW BACKPACK FILLED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES TAILORED TO EACH CHILD'S AGE AND GRADE. THIS GIFT ASCERTAINS THAT OUR CHILDREN FEEL PREPARED AND CONFIDENT TO GO BACK TO SCHOOL AND PROVIDES THE NECESSARY TOOLS FOR THEM TO SUCCEED. WE ARE PROUD TO PROVIDE A FRESH START FOR BACK TO SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN LIVING IN TRANSITIONAL SHELTERS.

FOUNDERS CIRCLE IMPACT GRANT - THE PRESENT NOW FOUNDERS CIRCLE IS A GROUP OF SUPPORTERS DEDICATED TO THE GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PRESENTS PROGRAM. AS PART OF THEIR GIVING, THE FOUNDERS CIRCLE PROVIDES AN ANNUAL IMPACT GRANT TO A DESERVING SHELTER PARTNER TO PROVIDE A LASTING IMPACT THAT GOES BEYOND INDIVIDUAL GIFT-GIVING. IN 2023, INTERVAL HOUSE IN LOS ANGELES, CA WAS AWARDED THE FOUNDERS CIRCLE IMPACT GRANT TO HELP CREATE A NEW OUTDOOR PLAY AREA TO PROMOTE HEALTHY HEALING AND FAMILY BONDING.

PRESENCE OF JOY PROGRAM - PRESENCE OF JOY IS AN EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM FOR LOS ANGELES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DESIGNED TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (DV), SHELTER LIFE, AND TEEN DATING VIOLENCE (TDV). STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS SURROUNDING CAUSE AWARENESS EVENTS SUCH AS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, AND SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM ARE ALSO GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOLUNTEER AT PRESENT NOW TO HELP WITH PRESENT PACKING AND AT TWO SHELTERS (GOOD SHEPHERD AND ALEXANDRIA HOUSE) TO CONNECT WITH THE CHILDREN AFFECTED BY DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. THE INTENTION OF THIS PROGRAM IS TO EDUCATE TEENS WHILE ALSO SUPPORTING THE HEALING OF THE CHILDREN LIVING AT THE TWO SHELTERS WE WORK WITH.