Big Sunday is on the move; ‘Wild and Woolly’ events this month
Big Sunday — the 20-plus-year volunteer group based just north of Hancock Park and west of Larchmont Village — is looking for a new home.
“Our lease is up at the end of the year,” David Levinson, Big Sunday founder and executive director, told us.
Levinson is looking for a new site for the group’s headquarters with equal capacity of about 4,000 square feet for office, event and warehouse spaces. “We’re excited about the many possibilities and opportunities — which might, this go-round, even include parking space!”
Many of the group’s 2,000-annual ways for people to help others take place at schools, homeless shelters and at its Melrose headquarters.
Developer Bardas Investment Group purchased the property at 6111 Melrose Ave. last year. (See story on page 3 of Section 2.)
Since its founding in 1999, Big Sunday has grown from humble beginnings to become one of the largest community service groups in the country.
After a brief time in an office on Beverly Blvd. across from El Coyote, Big Sunday moved to the Melrose location 12 years ago, where it offers events several times a week in addition to around the city and county.
Programming went virtual during the pandemic, but free food is distributed every Friday to schools and nonprofits, and a “Foot the Bill Fund” program made available to residents in 200 cities helped keep their lights on or get through other hardships right now, Levinson said.
“Wild and Woolly”
Big Sunday is going to the dogs — and the cats and horses — this month, when it debuts a new animal-friendly program, “Wild and Woolly.”
Participants can sign up to help with spay and neuter programs, pet food drives, horse therapy and more. “With so much that people have been going through, we thought it would be nice to do something for animals,” Levinson said. “It’s a new thing for us, and it should be fun.” The volunteer group is also planning to soon offer some outdoor in-person events, with masks and social distancing, for the first time since Covid-19 cases resurged last fall.
By Suzan Filipek
No-frills, no-Zoom barbecue served up much-needed funds
In 2021, after a year of too many hours connecting online for work, cultural events, fundraisers and even to visit friends and family, the new pandemic problem is “Zoom burnout.” David Levinson, Big Sunday’s executive director, decided to give people a break.
“I think people are Zoomed out,” stated the Hancock Park resident. The sixth annual Big Sunday Fundraiser, held March 20 and 21, involved e-mailed invitations that offered a delivered meal and nothing else. Participants purchased a $250 meal ticket, and ribs magically appeared on the designated day.
“The response was fantastic!” according to Levinson. “We had a goal of what we were hoping to raise, and we got more than double that.”
Over 400 meals were delivered, and many of the paid drivers were artists and others affected by loss of jobs and income during the coronavirus restrictions.
As with all charity campaigns, the bulk of the funds raised came from sponsorships. Roughly 60 individuals, foundations and corporations gave sponsor-level financial support, including the Original Farmers Market, NBC-Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Temple Israel of Hollywood, where Big Sunday began.
Levinson concludes, “We were truly touched and humbled by the outpouring of support.” Big Sunday works year-round with volunteers to make a difference in our community. To join the effort, go to bigsunday.org.
By Helene Seifer
Category: Entertainment
