“Stronger together” nonprofits tell Los Al Chamber

Los Al Chamber of Commerce

The April Los Alamitos Chamber virtual meeting featured leaders from four local nonprofits and the American Cancer Society, speaking to the topic of, “Stronger Together: Business and Nonprofit Partnerships that Improve the Community.”

The speaker panel included: Kristyn Grime, American Cancer Society; Amy Lakin, Casa Youth Shelter; Blair Pietrini, Grateful Hearts; Theresa Murphy, Precious Life Shelter and Lina Lumme with The Youth Center.

“Our effort was to show business owners the benefit of supporting our local nonprofits,” said Chamber Chairperson Nesi Stewart. Each of the panelist were able to share how their organization made a difference in the local community by providing much-needed services, products and educational opportunities. They each also shared how they’ve coordinated and worked together.

Stewart said that many of the collaborative efforts have been made possible by the City of Los Alamitos through, “Serve Los Al.” “The committee, led by Emeline Noda with the Los Alamitos Recreation and Community Services Department, consists of numerous nonprofits, Los Alamitos Unified School District and service organizations. They meet monthly to discuss serving and service projects for Los Alamitos and surrounding communities.”

Ever wonder where your donated dollars go, and how they’re recycled back to the business community? Each of the presenters shared how donations support their programs to empower or aid their clients, which helps to feed, educate, heal, and/or be more effective in the community. The organizations are supported by employees or volunteers who shop and eat within the local community. Many times clients who receive assistance through the various programs are able to return to the community to work or volunteer. Also, the nonprofits use the services and products of local businesses. In addition, Blair Pietrini shared that her new restaurant, Pietrini Pizza Nepoletana, provides jobs in the city, and an opportunity for nonprofit fundraising. All of this recycles the dollars, that people donate, back to the local community.

Stewart said the panel was also asked to address what they have learned during the pandemic that’s useful to business owners. They each shared how resilience and being creative has led to successful events and fundraising and that having been forced to do things differently, just as business owners have, has lead to new and successful ideas.
The panel talked about how they see their nonprofit, the City, and business community working together for the good of all. “The City of Los Alamitos is very proud of its nonprofits, and continues to provide opportunities for the community, businesses and the City to collaborate. Los Alamitos is a great place to live, work, play and Volunteer,” Stewart concluded.

Let’s meet the panel members: Kristyn Grime is a Senior Development Manager at the American Cancer Society, Cancer.org. She serves as the primary relationship manager for targeted accounts and priority relationships in the Southern California area, being responsible for leveraging the relationships to achieve income and mission goals. She spent five-years fundraising in the non-profit industry and knows what truly drives relationships, successful events and reaching goals. Grime said she learned quickly that it’s not the event that makes success, it’s the relationship you build with people and the help you give them to be successful in their own goals. When she has time, she loves gardening in her backyard and going to Disneyland with her family.

Amy Lakin has served as executive director of Casa Youth Shelter, CasaYouthShelter.org, since 2016. She received a masters degree in education from Harvard in 2000, working with nonprofits for several years. After working in the private sector with an engineering company, she realized her true passion was with nonprofits, and said she enjoys working at Casa Youth Shelter where they are able to help one-youth-at-a-time. Lakin has a five-year-old son who just began playing Tee ball in Los Alamitos.

Grateful Hearts, GratefulHearts.org, was established as a community resource center by Blair Pietrini in December 1998 and was incorporated in 2000. While working in an accounting department of her local church for seven years, Pietrini said she was continuously receiving calls from people who were seeking assistance. As she heard the stories of single mothers who couldn’t provide food and other basic necessities for their children, she felt compelled to help the people. That’s how Grateful Hearts got started, through her desire to help the community, by hosting a canned food drive, which now serves up to 1,800 individuals per month through its Food Distribution Program.

Theresa Murphy began as a volunteer with the Precious Life Shelter, PreciousLifeShelter.org, in 1989; she became a member of the Board of Directors in 1990, followed by becoming Executive Director, President/CEO in 1994. In 1989 Precious Life had only six transitional beds; however, they have now expanded to having seven buildings, with a capacity to house 50-women and children, which includes permanent housing within Los Alamitos. Murphy is a Rossmoor resident; has four grown children, who all graduated from the Los Alamitos School District and she has seven grandchildren.

Lina Lumme was born and raised in Russia, where she received her Master’s Degree in Linguistics from Adyghe State University, in Maykop, Russia. Since immigrating to America in 2003, she has been involved with non-profit organizations, serving the local community. She not only speaks English, she is fluent in Russian and German as well. Lumme has served as the Executive Director/CEO of The Youth Center, TheYouthCenter.org, since January 2010. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Precious Life Shelter, Los Alamitos Education Foundation, P4S Family Resource Center and Rotary International of Los Alamitos/Seal Beach. When not at work, she enjoys spending time with her family.
The next monthly Los Alamitos Chamber meeting is set for Thursday, May 27, from 8 to 9 a.m. via Zoom; the speakers are Ashley Lopeztello who is a Human Resources Law Attorney with Carothers DiSante & Freudenberger, LLP and Chamber member Chuck Landon with Landon Human Resources Consulting. The topic will be: Changes in Labor Laws, Related to COVID-19. Please RSVP to info@losalchamber.org

Chamber members: The Chamber office has a “Wall Of Cards” where members can place their business cards and brochures for other Chamber members and people in-and-around the City to stop by and spend a few minutes looking at the wall and taking business cards and brochures that fit their business needs.