This holiday season, Champions in Service (CIS) was proud to host our 2025 Annual Toy Giveaway, a joyful community celebration focused on generosity, dignity, and togetherness. Thanks to the collective efforts of our staff, volunteers, and supporters, we were able to create a memorable experience for hundreds of families.

This year, CIS distributed 539 toys to children ages 3–18 and provided meals to 450 community members, ensuring that families could celebrate the season with both joy and nourishment.

Day Designed for Joy and Choice

One of the most meaningful parts of the event was our toy room experience. Each child was invited to enter the toy room with a CIS staff member or volunteer and choose any toy they wanted. This approach was intentionally centered on autonomy, excitement, and allowing each child to feel seen and celebrated.

Beyond toys, the event was filled with festive activities that brought smiles to all ages, including a photo booth for families to capture holiday memories, a snow machine, creating a magical winter experience right in our community, a hot chocolate and coffee station to keep everyone warm, and an ornament decorating station, where children and families could create keepsakes together.

Giving Beyond Toys

In addition to toys and activities, CIS hosted raffles throughout the event, giving away bicycles, skateboards, and household appliances, resources that bring continued joy and support to families well beyond the holiday season.

Community at the Center

The Annual Toy Giveaway is more than an event; it reflects CIS’s commitment to creating spaces of safety, joy, and connection for the communities we serve. For many families, the holidays can be a time of stress and uncertainty. Our goal is to ease that burden while creating moments of celebration, belonging, and hope.

We are deeply grateful to our volunteers, partners, and supporters who made this event possible. Your generosity helped turn a simple idea into a powerful day of impact.

On behalf of all of us at Champions in Service, thank you for helping us spread joy this holiday season.

Serving Families Across the Northeast San Fernando Valley

This Thanksgiving season, our team came together with partners, volunteers, and community members to bring holiday warmth to families across the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Thanks to the generosity and collaboration of many, we successfully distributed 1,200 turkeys and full meal bags to households in need, each containing potatoes, fresh vegetables, and a pie.

Distribution Across the Valley

We hosted pop-up tables and staffed community sites throughout the region, making sure families had convenient access to holiday meals. Distribution took place at:

• North Valley Caring Services
• VO Van Nuys
• Our Lady of Holy Rosary – Sun Valley
• VO Arleta
• La Trinidad – San Fernando
• Lakeview Terrace Senior Center
• CIS Office – Turkey Distribution for Clients
• Pacoima Projects
• VO North Hollywood
• Local 300

At each location, our CIS team hosted a pop-up table to connect directly with residents and share additional resources and support.

Strong Partnerships Made It Possible

Our annual Thanksgiving outreach would not be possible without the commitment of our community partners. We proudly collaborate each year with Gamma Zeta Alpha Delta Chapter at CSUN, whose contributions this year helped us purchase the grocery bags used for distribution.

We also extend our heartfelt appreciation to each of our host sites, churches, community centers, service organizations, and local partners, who opened their doors and supported us in getting meals to families who needed them most.

Community Impact

This event reflects our mission in action: standing with our community, uplifting families, and ensuring that no one feels alone during the holidays. Together, we reached thousands of individuals across multiple neighborhoods with nourishment, connection, and care.

Thank You

To every volunteer, partner, and community member who supported our Thanksgiving distribution, thank you. Your generosity brings hope to our neighborhoods and strengthens the bonds that keep our community thriving.

Supporting Students Across the Northeast San Fernando Valley

Every year from late July through early August, our organization hosts our Annual Back-to-School Backpack Giveaway, bringing excitement, confidence, and support to students throughout the Northeast San Fernando Valley. This year, we distributed 100 backpacks at each site across six communities:

• Sun Valley
• North Hollywood
• Arleta
• Pacoima
• Sylmar
• North Hills

Community-Based Distribution

At each location, children had the opportunity to choose their own backpack, allowing them to start the new school year with a sense of pride and ownership. Our CIS staff members, many of whom live in and deeply understand these neighborhoods, were on-site, ensuring families felt welcomed, supported, and connected to resources.

Rooted in Community, Year After Year

This backpack giveaway has become a beloved annual tradition, grounded in our commitment to making sure every child feels prepared for the school year ahead. Because our staff come from the same communities we serve, the event is more than a distribution, it’s a moment of connection, celebration, and care.

Our Impact

Across the six cities, hundreds of students walked away with a brand-new backpack and big smiles. They provided families with meaningful support during a financially challenging season and helped students begin the school year on a positive note.

Thank You

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the families who joined us, the staff who made each site welcoming, and the communities that continue to trust us each year. Your support helps us uplift young people and strengthen neighborhoods across the Northeast San Fernando Valley.

In April 2025, Champions in Service proudly hosted our first annual Wellness Fair, bringing together local vendors, families, and community members at our office to share resources, information, and support. This event was designed to promote physical, mental, and financial wellness while creating a space for connection and community engagement.

Participants enjoyed free food, raffle prizes, and opportunities to learn from a variety of vendors providing services that support health, safety, and personal growth. Some of our most recognizable vendors included:

Magicland Dental / West Coast Dental – offering dental care and oral health resources.

Tarzana Treatment Centers – providing substance use and mental health support. New Economics for Women – empowering women with financial literacy and resources.

Mother’s Nutritional Center – supporting family nutrition and healthy eating.

Planned Parenthood Los Angeles – offering reproductive health education and services.

GRYD El Nido – providing gang prevention and youth development programs.

Victim Compensation – connecting community members to support services after trauma.

Titan Gym – promoting fitness and physical well-being.

In addition to these vendors, attendees had the chance to interact with other local organizations, receive valuable information, and participate in fun activities designed to engage the whole family. The fair reinforced our commitment to holistic wellness, offering resources that address both immediate needs and long-term health and development.

The success of this inaugural event has set the stage for future wellness fairs, and we look forward to continuing to connect residents with vital community resources, support, and opportunities for growth and empowerment.