Big Sunday helped to make our school look FANTASTIC for the start of our new school year! I am constantly amazed at how much the colorful walls/murals make a difference for our staff and children. I am so appreciative of all of the people who volunteered their precious time to come out and make a difference at our school. The murals were very student friendly and oh so colorful. I can't thank Big Sunday and their volunteers enough for brightening up the school. They are an awesome organization that certainly deserves the highest awards.
If there were 10 stars on the 5 star rating, Big Sunday would get 15 from me. Wow! What an organization! Big Sunday's staff was so organized and courteous with all of us at Normandie Elementary, a school in South Central Los Angeles that I could never get tired of saying thank you to them.
Big Sunday's team led by Mr. Levenson and Berenice with the rest of their team could move mountains. They brought in a team that transformed our dilapidated walls at our 110 year old school and made them look new and freshly painted with murals that are student friendly. I can imagine how hard they worked to transform our school and for that all I can say is THANK YOU!
I have worked with Big Sunday for more than 6 years through the schools where I have worked. Big Sunday has sponsored beautification days, providing materials, tools, volunteers, water, and many essential supplies. Recently Big Sunday brought over 100 volunteers and literally transformed our school campus, cleaning, planting, painting and repairing. We took part in the back-to-school project and received backpacks, school supplies and a huge amount of much needed materials that were donated for distribution. They are the greatest!
Big Sunday is truly the most spectacular non-profit organization that our FAMILY has ever encountered! There are thousands of wonderful organizations, but none that are this inviting, inspiring, organized and heart-lovingly-fulfilling for every member, of any and every age, of our family. Big Sunday has completely re-wired the word Community Service in all of our hearts and minds to Community Passion - Love, Support and One-ness. Through Big Sunday and because of Big Sunday, for the last 6 years (almost 6!), my children and I have had some of our most favorite and special times together, with leaving our electronics back at home or in the car and being fully together while working, creating, building, organizing, etc., for those who are in need ...and when our time in each day or activity is through, we all feel happier, hug each other a little longer and tighter and know that we have made a difference and will hopefully add a little love and happiness into the heart of someone whose day could really use a little glimmer of hope, love and kindness. These are the moments that you can't buy. Even though our time at Big Sunday or working with Big Sunday is for others, it is truly our favorite gift to ourselves.
To say that Big Sunday has changed my life -- and the lives of thousands of people -- is an understatement.
Over 10 years ago, I got my first glimpse of what Big Sunday was all about. I started volunteering on a small scale, making lunch and doing craft activities with Ability First, an apartment complex for adults with disabilities. After two years, I became Social Action Chair at my temple and had access to hundreds of volunteers. I got "promoted" within Big Sunday and was asked to create a carnival for foster children at Penny Lane in North Hills, while their foster parents participated in classes. With over 80 volunteers, we set up a homemade carnival, fed them hot dogs, hamburgers and ice cream, found a DJ who offered her time, set up donated bouncies, and gave out tons of prizes, including a trip to Disneyland! This was all free to the families, of course, thanks to Big Sunday and the many donations we snagged. The kids never could get over that they didn't have to pay for any of it. I ran that highly rewarding event for four years and I believe it continues on today.
Meanwhile, as Social Action Chair, I modeled our many temple activities after Big Sunday. I completely (with permission and blessing!) plagiarized their brochures and ideas and implemented them into our temple social action activities. Our participation EXPLODED. For example, over 400 people joined in for our annual community giving day (aka "Mitzvah Day"). Not bad for a congregation of 600+ families. I attribute much of this success to the Big Sunday format which simply WORKS.
For the next three years on Big Sunday, I co-led a food and clothing collection with a local school board member. We tapped into our suburban school district and collected truckloads of important items for local shelters and food banks, while our school kids sorted and delivered. They loved the hands-on feeling of helping out alongside our superintendent, and organizations were thrilled with the bonanza of donations.
For the last two years, I have been working with L.A. Family Housing. They house homeless families temporarily, and we volunteers serve them lunch and do many fun games with the kids like Perler Beads. We take family pictures for them and give them frames and albums ... something simple that they often don't have. They love it!
The biggest thing to say about Big Sunday is what happens outside of Big Sunday. Thanks to their Holiday Giving List, I have a decade-long relationship with Covenant House in which my family donates gift cards to their youth every Christmas. I won a Volunteer of the Year award from Penny Lane, and my family joins another family later in the year to volunteer for L.A. Family Housing's "Birthday Club," giving gifts to the kids in the shelter whose birthdays fall that month.
Big Sunday has changed my life, the lives of hundreds of volunteers I work with, and thousands of people whom I have been honored to meet.
This was my third time to volunteer with Big Sunday. Like my first two experiences it was a well planned event that was to benefit underprivileged children and families in the greater Los Angeles area. The staff from Big Sunday were professional and friendly. I would volunteer for this organization again.
My family has been involved in Big Sunday for over eight years in many different roles. We have all volunteered at different events, I have organized many events as a Captain during Big Sunday Weekend and my kids have planted many flowers and painted many walls. The one stand out emotion for us is gratitude. We are so fortunate in this large metropolis to work with a nonprofit organization that truly gets the meaning of community service and that it is a bridge to forming ongoing relationships with other individuals and groups. Its about making connections, breaking down barriers and creating a future that holds a place for all of our children. When you are doing things with Big Sunday all the cliques that are so common (for whatever reason) are non-existent and volunteers work side-by-side towards common good. They operate year round now and there is always something to participate in - for an hour or for a whole day - but there is no doubt that you will leave knowing that what you have done has had a powerful impact on a child, a senior, a veteran, a family, a school... the list is endless.
We have also chosen Big Sunday as an organization that we donate to. Having been involved for so long we are convinced that the dollars we invest goes directly to the programs that change lives and make a diffrence.
Hello, My name is Maya Nichole and I'm a 12 year old Philanthropist in training! "Big Sunday" gives me the opportunity to give back to lots of kids while feeling good inside. The events are so fun, I don't even realize I'm volunteering!
~Maya~
@LILMayaNichole on twitter
In May we held our annual Big Sunday hosted by Sinai Akiba Academy. Children had the opportunity to work alongside their family and community volunteers to clean and beautify our center. This was a very successful event, as it reflects our willingness to come together as a community to provide a welcoming environment here at BPCDC.
Big Sunday is an absolutely amazing organization! They provide help to so many other charitable organizations, schools, etc. In my experience, it is rare to come across an organization that touches the lives of so many people through so many different charitable causes! They never fail to be friendly and enthusiastic, and continually plan new, fun activities to involve volunteers and other charities which they serve.
Our organization (Hope Mill, Inc.) serves the homeless. This year Big Sunday provided not only volunteers for our Big Sunday Weekend, but more recently provided pull-top canned goods and bottled water to include in our CarePacks for the homeless! Many lives will be touched, thanks to Big Sunday!
October 29, 2013
To whom it may concern
I would like to let everyone know how wonderful Big Sunday has been to the Jeffrey Foundation. Since 2007 Big Sunday has been involved with the Jeffrey Foundation and they have done more than I expected an organization to do!
I thought it would be a onetime thing but, no they continue to do more and more. Non-stop like the energizer bunny they keep doing and doing and doing. Here are just a few of the wonderful things they have done for us with the help of their wonderful volunteers.
They painted some beautiful murals on our walls, cleaned our facility and put us in contact with others who have donated Items for the children and families; they also painted a bicycle track, trimmed trees donated items we needed and much more. We are so grateful to have been introduced to Big Sunday and all the wonderful people who help out they are truly blessing.
We are a non- profit serving children and families with special needs, their help meant so much in this difficult economy. Recently they put us in touch with an organization that will host a major Holiday Luncheon to raise funds and toys for our children this year! Everything has been so helpful that they have done. May their effort and especially their founder and President David Levinson be appreciated and honored for starting such a great organization, and keeping it going in difficult times.
Thanks Big Sunday !
Alyce Morris Winston
The Jeffrey Foundation
Staff & Volunteers.
Big Sunday makes community involvement and volunteering rewarding and easy. I have been a volunteer project leader with Big Sunday for about 4 years. Through their support, we planted trees and shrubs and continue to beautify a local elementary school campus. They provide a terrific online system to attract and register volunteers for specific projects, support materials, and a bit of funding. Most of all, Big Sunday is focused on fun ways to connect people with meaningful opportunities. One sign of success for our project: Many people don't want to leave after a few hours of digging, planting and sharing lunch together.
Big Sunday is a great non-profit because not only do they help those on need, but also empower them by encouraging their ability to give back. Their philosophy that everyone has something to contribute truly helps build community.
Big Sunday is an incredible nonprofit. I loved working with them, they make you feel like family and we have so much fun. I went for the first time and they were awesome. I'm definitely going back for more events in the future.
I am so very impressed by Big Sunday, they truly reach out to the community in all areas and most
of all make the volunteers feel welcome, acknowledged. You leave feeling you really want to come back and help more. I volunteer a lot and feel Big Sunday is one of the better organizations to be involved with.,
Big Sunday is truly the greatest of the great non-profits-I have been a volunteer for many years and the more I get involved the more I know people here just want to do good, touch people's lives and make them better. They are unstoppable and don't have "can't be done" in their vocabulary. It brings people together in a common bond of helping our fellow man and nobody does it better.
As a teacher and a mom of school age children, summertime usually means long days to fill. This past summer, I was looking for a way to spend part of our days, that was meaningful and fun for myself and, my children that range in age from 8 - 21. Big Sundays Mornings on Melrose was one of the best things that happened to us this summer! Big Sunday is a fantastic, kid/family friendly way to share with and serve others. We met great people, my kids loved the activities, and they got to learn the importance of giving back. The kids loved it so much, they started inviting friends to come with us, and everyone was able to participate and contribute. LOVE Big Sundays!
Big Sunday is the most wonderful, warm, friendly, helpful, generous organization! They have helped the Sherman Oaks community year after year with beautification projects that benefit and bring together our whole community. They have helped us with organizing, funding and donating supplies, marketing and promoting our events and contacting our volunteers. We couldn't ask for a better non-profit with which to be involved!
Gratefully,
Leslie Elkan
Big Sunday Captain
BIG SUNDAY is our favorite family non-profit in Los Angeles. We enjoy their Thursdays on Melrose activities. The best thing about BIG SUNDAY is the spirit with which every activity or event takes place. People gather together like one big family and join in an effort to help many of the organizations in need in Los Angeles. We participated as a family in the clothing drive for the Nation Wide Day of Service during Martin Luther King Jr's weekend. It was a fabulous day of working with others! People serve with a sense of community, and as a way to do good. David Levenson, Berenice & Lindsay, as well as the entire BIG SUNDAY team are always welcoming. We may not be able to always give as much as we would like, be know that BIG SUNDAY is always appreciative of the time we can give. They really make us feel like we are part of the family. In a big city like Los Angeles, that is a really special thing! It makes you feel like you are 'home'.
Also, for 2 years in a row, I have applied for BIG SUNDAY projects for my elementary school in West Hills. BIG SUNDAY has enabled us to bring that sense of community to our school to do improvement projects on BIG SUNDAY WEEKEND. They have helped us to paint murals, add habitat gardens, and build a chicken coop in our school garden. Without their support, we wouldn't have the great campus we have. We would have parents joining together and asking when the next BIG SUNDAY event will be. They've given us something that is priceless, a sense of giving back at our own school. We had 120 parent volunteer last year, a remarkable increase from the prior year where we had about 60. Our parents love these events because it is them giving of their time and energy, not necessarily of their money. BIG SUNDAY is part of our school too!
I've been volunteering with Big Sunday for about 10 years and loving it! I first heard about them via my church and have since organized many Big Sunday projects via my company for large groups of employees. Every volunteer I have brought on board or have worked with just loves the folks at Big Idea and we all truly enjoy the variety of volunteer opportunities they provide. The staff is helpful, organized and best of all, they have a real passion for helping those in need throughout CA. Big Sunday in May is still one of the largest, most fun and well organized community days of service in the country. Just as impressive is the tireless work they do throughout the year for hundreds of non-profits. Their annual Holiday Volunteering and Giving Opportunities List is one of the most extensive around and it's so nice to have this resource during the holidays. There are so many wonderful ways to give back and help out in my community thanks to Big Sunday! They definitely deserve to be recognized by Great Nonprofits.
Our organization "Amity Foundation" is a non-profit organization that plays an important role for folks coming out of prison or jails at Amistad de Los Angeles a residential treatment center. We also provide education and transitional housing services to our "students" .
It has been an absolutely wonderful experience finding out about Big Sunday. Big Sunday is one of the most organized and friendly organizations we have had the pleasure to work with. They on so many occasions have gone beyond generous to make sure our students at Amistad have been provided with wonderful teaching tools and supplies. Recently we received a large donation of fantastic books. This stocked our library and education center. I can say with out hesitation that the books we received from Big Sunday changed many of our students lives and outlook on life for the better. Thank you so much Big Sunday.
I found Big Sunday through Volunteermatch.com this past summer and I have been coming to their Thursday activities ever since. All the employees are extremely warm, welcoming and have some much to give that it is contagious and so admirable! I love volunteering for all the arts and crafts activities and I always look forward to going. Today we decorated Halloween frames and it was so much fun! Thank you Big Sunday for all you do for our community and know that when I leave your offices on Melrose Blvd, I am full of energy and extremely happy to have contributed to make someone's life a bit better. Thank you David, Bernice, Ashannti, Nick and Rob! my heart if full!
Gloria T.