Digital Program - Gala 2025

A Place Called Home THURSDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2025 FAIRMONT CENTURY PLAZ A HOTEL

5:30 pm: Cocktails 7:00 pm: Program & Dinner

A Place Called Home Agency Film Host Stuart K Robinson Remarks and Acknowledgements Norayma Cabot, APCH CEO Dinner & Conversation Special Guest Performance NEZZA, APCH Youth Band 29LIVE, and Brett Winn Special Youth Performance APCH Members, APCH Dance Company Meet the APCH Youth and Alumni Kindness in Action Award Brett Winn Debrah Constance Founder’s Award Bank of America Final Performance All Together Now…

Dear Friends, It is with great enthusiasm that I welcome you to APCH’s 2025 Celebration of Home. This year has presented our community with some unique and heavy challenges; fear and disruption, a common narrative among the people we serve. And yet, amidst the uncertainty, the hope, resilience, and enduring joy of our members, families, and staff burn brighter than ever. That’s certainly something to celebrate!

A Place Called Home was founded on nimble action in response to the needs of the youth in South Los Angeles. Its formation, an act of tenderness toward those affected by LA’s 1993 Civil Unrest, and our commitment to meeting the moment has not wavered since then; creating a safe haven for each person who has walked through our doors over the past 32 years. That is why we decided to update the name of our annual gala to a “Celebration of Home.” A Celebration Of Home frames our gala as a family reunion with purpose; it recognizes that home is something we build together from scratch, from care, and from courage.

This year, we have made an immense effort to foster deeper conversation with our members about their experiences, their dreams, and their struggles, inside and outside of our campuses. Today, our youth face anxieties surrounding immigration and mixedstatus families, reading and math scores being down in LAUSD, college and housing getting less affordable every day; all of these things weigh on them. But their commitment to becoming future leaders, creators, and agents of change is one we share, and it is our responsibility to protect, nurture, and champion their right to the tools they need to thrive.

We can’t do it alone. You are part of this critical work, and I can’t thank you enough for your support. As you hear from our youth and staff tonight, I hope you will see that when you give your time, your effort, and your heart to the youth we serve, you are not just supporting A Place Called Home, you are becoming a part of A Place Called Home.

Thank you for being here and for being a vital part of this journey. The future may be uncertain, but I know that together we can make it bright!

With deep gratitude,

Norayma Cabot, CEO

Our Mission A Place Called Home provides a safe, nurturing environment with proven programs in the arts, education, and wellness for the young people in South Central to help them improve their economic conditions and develop healthy, fulfilling, and purposeful lives.

About the Celebration of Home This special evening highlights the tremendous young people we serve and showcases the collective efforts that continue to drive our mission forward. The event includes a cocktail hour and silent auction, followed by a program featuring a seated dinner to be served, along with a live auction and appeal, and dynamic entertainment. Why the new name? A Celebration Of Home reframes our gala, not as a fundraiser, but as a family reunion with purpose! It recognizes that home is something we build together—from scratch, from care, and from courage. You are not just supporting APCH, you belong with APCH.

@apch2830 | apch.org

@apch2830 | apch.org

Event Producers Gilbert Radillo Amy Shomer & Associates Guest Management Amy Shomer & Associates PR Consultant Dana Green Music Direction Joaquin Pacheco

APCH Teen Ambassaors David Valle Tiffany Serrano Belinda Aviles Iris Vazquez Amaya Kevin Lorato Daniel Echegaray Yosgar Mariano Jayleen Arzate Jade Cordon

Choreography Michael Vallejos Program and Event Photography Gary Nellis Charmaine Cruz Centerpieces Carin Wong

APCH Dancers Jessica Vasquez Mariana Velazquez Andrea Argueta Melina Salado Irlanda Mejia Darelyn Rodriguez Johanna Escobedo Julissa Torres Mariel Zenteno Jazmin Lezo

APCH Musicians Carmen Zaragoza Ryan Mendez Mario Rosales King Cortez King Immanuel (Frankie) Cortez Angel Ponce Vera Angel Cervantes Zytlali Barrios Brayan Banda Samuel Torres

APCH Spoke Word Performers Melvin Azurdia Ezequiel Meza Mathew Felix Brian Medina Marilyn Iturbide Anahi Gomez Lopez Ashley Ramirez Oliver Ramirez Samuel Torres

Board of Directors APCH Leadership NORAYMA CABOT CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER KATIE LEE ALHEIM CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER OFELIA MANCERA CHIEF FINANCE & ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

SUSAN NAPIER BOARD CHAIR GARETH SCHWEITZER VICE CHAIR ADAM ROSENBLATT VICE CHAIR BARBARA GLAZER TREASURER MARYELLEN ZARAKAS SECRETARY DAWN CAMPBELL MICHAEL CONVERSE KATHRYN FRAZIER SHARON HAUPTMAN

TOM MCCABE EDGAR MORALES ALUMNUS HOWARD SHERWOOD STEPHANIE SHERWOOD VERA STEWART ZACK STIEFLER HAMED TAVAJOHI MARSHALL WAX SUSAN WOLF ADAM ROSENBLATT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL CHAIR

Thank you to our sponsors!

BUILDER’S CIRCLE Bank of America Charitable Foundation Herbalife Nutrition CHAMPION OF APCH DBS Bank ADVOCATE FOR THE FUTURE Howard & Stephanie Sherwood The Will & Kristin Price Foundation COMMUNITY AMBASSADOR Bel Air Investment Advisors, LLC US Bank Foundation Maryellen Zarakas Brett Winn & Pam Levin, The Rave Collective Susan Napier & Alex Berger Michael & Kathryn Converse Gareth & Jen Schweitzer YOUTH EMPOWERMENT LEAGUE Academy Securities American Business Bank CH Media Religious Of The Sacred Heart Of Mary Barbara Glazer & Philip Morton Tom Weissenborn Marshall and Kathy Wax

Susan Wolf and Marcus Ryle Tom McCabe The Lockridge Charitable Foundation Linda & David Shaheen Zachary & Jessica Stiefler MENTOR’S CIRCLE MOCEAN BRIGHT BEGINNINGS BENEFACTORS Marymount High School The Refinery AV The LA5 Rotary RVW Wealth LLC Special Thanks: The Office of Holly Mitchell Will and Kristin Price Foundation Oren and Katie Aviv Hamed Tavajohi Streamland Media Morgan Stanley Elizabeth Pell The Sax Agency Adam Rosenblatt Edgar Morales Cynthia and Richard Troop

Get Involved with A Place Called Home!

Make a donation Start a fundraiser Volunteer Visit apch.org/getinvolved to get started!

Click here to sign up for a tour of A Place Called Home!

Check out A Place Called Home’s 2025 Newsletter!

Click the cover image to view!

Being a part of the APCH Board has been among our most rewarding and fulfilling experiences of our lives.

Join us?

- Stephanie and Howard Sherwood To get involved email us at volunteer@apch.org

Jack Suzar & Kevin Philip are honored to support A Place Called Home and all the honorees this evening.

Hightower Advisors, LLC is an SEC registered investment adviser. Registration as an investment advisor does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Securities are offered through Hightower Securities, LLC, Member FINRA/SIP

is a proud supporter of A Place Called Home and honored to be part of this community.

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At A Place Called Home, our mission is to inspire, encourage and support the young people in South Los Angeles to achieve social, emotional and economic success.

With your support, APCH provides…

50,000+ hours

1,800 hours

of programming and support year round

of free mental health support and counseling

17,000+ meals

$500,000+

for our youth from our kitchen

in scholarship funding to first generation college students

@apch2830 | apch.org

As you embark on this new chapter, we want to express our heartfelt gratitude for your leadership and support. Your dedication and vision have been a guiding force, and you have been an inspiring mentor. We wish you joy and fulfillment in your future endeavors!

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