Project Hope Alliance, Second Harvest, Think Together, Uci Launch New Vodcast Series

3 Nonprofit Leaders Bringing National Issues Facing "Our Kids" To The Local Level. End Quote

(1888PressRelease) September 27, 2016 - ORANGE COUNTY, CA - Three local nonprofit organizations-Project Hope Alliance, Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, and THINK Together-have launched "Our Kids," a groundbreaking monthly vodcast series featuring smart conversations that bring national issues facing our children to the local level.

National experts Jennifer Friend, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Project Hope Alliance; Nicole Suydam, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Second Harvest Food Bank; and Tracy Carmichael, Ph.D., Chief Engagement Officer of THINK Together, will discuss a critical topic each month, such as homeless students in America's public schools, child hunger, and more. Vodcasts will be available on the UCI Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation website (blumcenter.uci.edu/connect/media/) every second week of the month.

"We hope that bringing national issues facing children to the local level will not only raise awareness, but activate our community to ensure that all of our kids in America have what they need to thrive," says Friend. "Without UCI, this platform would never have been possible."

The series is sponsored by three departments at University of California, Irvine (UCI): Office of the Chancellor, Blum Center for Poverty Alleviation, and Division of Undergraduate Education.

"Each day, UCI faculty and students work to solve the world's most pressing problems," says Ramona Agrela, UCI Associate Chancellor. "Sometimes, the first step toward any solution is to build and grow awareness at a local level. UCI enthusiastically sponsors the 'Our Kids' vodcast series as an important step toward educating Orange County on issues facing America's youth."

UCI's support and funding for the series is driven by their unyielding commitment to serving as a bridge to the community and utilizing the university's resources to help meet community needs. UCI encourages students to transform society by cultivating relationships with stakeholders and policymakers, and by developing innovative solutions to challenges such as homelessness and hunger. The school's mission directly aligns with that of "Our Kids."

"'Our Kids' originated from a conversation among friends over lunch about how we can activate awareness and partnerships within our local community," says Carmichael. "It is such an honor to see our idea come to fruition, and also to have such esteemed co-hosts alongside me. I am hopeful that we will inspire new partnerships within local communities that will come together to start addressing solutions which will allow all kids to realize their full potential."

National thought leaders, such as Erin Ingram, Policy Advisor for Civic Enterprises, and Lisa Davis, Senior Vice President of Government Relations for Feeding America, will also lend their voices to the series.

"I'm excited about co-hosting 'Our Kids' with Tracy and Jennifer to not only raise awareness of national issues that are facing children today, but to share solutions that are working at the local level," says Suydam. "Our hope is that this show will mobilize people to take action and solve problems so that all children in our country will have the opportunity to thrive and achieve their dreams."

About Project Hope Alliance
Founded in 1989, Project Hope Alliance is ending the cycle of homelessness in Orange County, one child at a time. The nonprofit organization supports homeless students and their families, meeting the unique academic and psychosocial needs of these children via a two-generational approach targeting innovative rapid rehousing and education programs. Since 2012, Project Hope Alliance's Family Stability Program has worked with over 150 families to end homelessness by moving more than 700 parents and children into permanent housing with financial independence. Project Hope Alliance is located at 1954 Placentia Avenue, Suite 202, Costa Mesa, CA 92627. For more information, contact Suzy Gardner at suzy ( @ ) projecthopealliance dot org or 949-791-2714, or visit www dot projecthopealliance dot org dot

About Second Harvest Food Bank
With the help of supporters and volunteers, Second Harvest works through a network of 180 non-profit partner agencies and programs to provide wholesome food and fresh produce to more than 200,000 hungry children, seniors, and families in Orange County every month. Since its founding in 1983, Second Harvest has provided more than 350 million pounds of donated and surplus food to local charities, or the equivalent of 291 million meals. Second Harvest is located at 8014 Marine Way, Irvine, CA 92618. For more information, contact Barbara Wartman at barbara ( @ ) feedoc dot org or visit feedoc dot org dot

About THINK Together
THINK Together's mission is to create opportunities for all kids to discover their passions and reach their full potential. Since 1994, the organization has been improving academic outcomes for children and youth living in under-resourced communities, serving 100,000 students a year through 400-plus program sites. The group's efforts are making a positive and measurable difference for students. THINK Together is located at 2101 East Fourth Street, Building B, Second Floor, Santa Ana, CA 92705. For more information, contact Erin Hales at erin.hales ( @ ) thinktogether dot org or 714-308-2836, or visit thinktogether.org

About University of California, Irvine (UCI)
Since 1965, the University of California, Irvine has combined the strengths of a major research university with the bounty of an incomparable Southern California location. UCI's unyielding commitment to rigorous academics, cutting-edge research, and leadership and character development makes the campus a driving force for innovation and discovery that serves our local, national and global communities in many ways. For more information, contact Katherine Hills at hillsk ( @ ) uci dot edu or 949-824-2761, or visit www.uci.edu.

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