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August 2020
www.unitedcharitable.org
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In this issue, we highlight the awesome Los Angeles Bicycle Academy, a Fiscally Sponsored Program doing their part to foster an entrepreneurial spirit through the sport of cycling for youth in the Los Angeles community! Get ready to be inspired because next up you will learn about a Donor Advised Fund that has been building homes for the needy in countries around the world. We'll share how Buy One Build One, the charitable arm of the Brush Arbor Home Construction company, is doing their part to help families in need with the building of a home. Finally, join us in welcoming our newest United Charitable Board Member, Renuka Racha!
We are honored to support our #inspiredchangemakers!
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Charitable Doing through Fiscally Sponsored Programs
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Los Angeles Bicycle Academy
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The Los Angeles Bicycle Academy, has been a fiscally sponsored program of United Charitable for over 10 years. Founder and program manager, Damon Turner, started this program to help young people in his community build entrepreneurial skills while also discovering and enjoying the sport of cycling.
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This week we spoke to Damon, who shared some insights to his motivations and highlights from LABA's last fundraiser!
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Damon Turner fondly remembers the years of his youth. He and his brothers would travel miles from their neighborhood all thanks to their bicycles. Moments like these fostered a love of all things cycling for Mr. Turner, motivating him to start a program that gives this opportunity to others.
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For 2020, the LABA is running a program called the Earn-A-Bike Project, where students ranging in age from 8-18 participate by "putting the hours in" at the LABA bike shop to learn the mechanics of building a bicycle while also learning sales and service-oriented skills. At the end of their journey these kids have earned their own bike. As Damon put it,
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"A bike is a gateway to opportunity."
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Cycling provides a healthy outlet to work through stress and energy build up. It's also a vehicle to discover new things outside of your neighborhood. Often kids in the program come from challenging circumstances and might not have otherwise had access to cycling as a sport and the community it provides. This is a rewarding opportunity for them.
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Watch this video to see Pischon Joi's motivation to become a cyclist and part of the LABA team.
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This past July, LABA ran a fundraising campaign, OFF THE COUCH, ON THE BIKE, to help launch the Earn-A-Bike program. They successfully raised over $24,000!
Check it out:
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"It was an emotional and inspiring experience to hear and see donors really care about this mission." - Damon Turner
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After years working on the Los Angeles Bicycle Academy, its growth and reach have really had an effect on the community.
To learn more, visit them at
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A picture of Ryan Lastrab, a member of the LA Bicycle Academy, winning at UCI Tour of Abitibi!
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Buy One Build One, a United Charitable Donor Advised Fund, has a mission "to buy a home, build a home, change a life. In order to affect positive change and draw attention to the world around us, Buy One Build One will build a home in a third world country for every home we build stateside. "
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Buy One Build One is the charitable arm to Northern Virginia based Brush Arbor Home Construction c ompany. Over the years their foundation has built several homes for families in need living in underprivileged countries around the world. Their concept is simple yet so inspiring. "They partner with organizations and programs throughout the world to provide shelter, nurture, and services for families, children, and widows. For every home purchased Brush Arbor Homes contributes to the building of a home in a developing country."
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Jonathan Smith, owner of the Brush Arbor Home Construction company and founder of the Buy One Build One foundation shares his motivations:
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"I was motivated to start Buy One Build One from my time living in Africa and South America, where I collaborated on projects to help people in need. Seeing what people must do every day just to survive helped me understand just how much we have been blessed."
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An Example in Family Values
We spoke with Susie Smith, wife of Jonathan Smith and Joint Advisor of the Buy One Build One foundation, she shared how this experience is a family effort. Her children are able to learn firsthand the value in charitable work for those in need.
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Just recently, through Buy One Build One's efforts, homes were built for families in Uganda and Honduras.
To learn more about them click below:
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Buy One Build One
Driven to Serve and Help People From Guatemala to Southeast Asia, Buy One Build One is helping create safe, well-constructed homes and services that change lives. Founded by Jonathan Smith, owner of Brush Arbor Home Construction, the program...
Read more
buy1build1.org
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United Charitable Welcomes our
Newest Board Member!
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United Charitable is excited and honored to welcome the newest member to our board of directors, Renuka Racha.
Renuka joins us as a dynamic strategy and business leader with a strong technical background. She is eager to share with us her many years of product management & business development experience in mobile, wireless and telecom technologies.
Renuka came to the US in pursuit of a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, and became a naturalized US Citizen. She strongly believes in giving back to her community and works with a couple of non-profit organizations that provide K-12 education for children from economically challenged families in her home town in India.
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In case you missed it!
Check out our Perseverance & Positivity Campaign!
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The LA Bicycle Academy is a Fiscally Sponsored Program of United Charitable a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Buy One Build One is a Donor Advised Fund of United Charitable a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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