On June 5, 826LA’s fifth annual TELL ME A STORY event raised crucial funds for our free writing and tutoring programs. This year’s theme was Raise A Voice, in celebration of all that can happen when students receive one-on-one attention from dedicated volunteers.

More than 45 sponsors and 300+ guests showed what can happen when communities come together to RAISE A VOICE. Their generosity helps us sustain programming and expand our volunteer force. Here are a few highlights from a powerful and joyous evening:

• • 826LA students Ashla and Tania read pieces that showcased their resilience. 
  • Writer Cristina Henriquez joined us by video and spoke eloquently about Tania’s fierce writing process, which Cristina encountered as volunteer with the Young Authors’ Book Project.
  • Event co-host and 826LA student Tito won every heart in the room.
  • Dave Eggers, co-founder of 826 Valencia, spoke about the power and importance of volunteering as a way to bring a divided country closer together.
  • Special guests actor Kelly McCreary and comic Danielle Perez joined co-host and 826LA volunteer Monica Lawson in underscoring the power of volunteering to help young people attain the future they deserve.
  • Jackson Browne showed us what great writing sounds like when set to music.

Check out photos of Tell Me Story: Raise A Voice here! 

“I believe deeply that the written word is vital to nurturing a democracy and fostering civic life.”

–Dave Eggers, author and founder of the 826 network

Tell Me A Story: Raise A Voice began with an outdoor courtyard reception at Vibiana, where supporters mingled with 826 co-founder Dave Eggers, actor Kelly McCreary, our fabulous 826LA volunteers, 826LA Youth Advisory Board members, and student authors.

The program opened with a powerful video starring 826LA volunteers describing what “Raise A Voice” means to them. Volunteer and event co-chair Eileen Shields said: “We live in a world where everyone wants to raise their voice higher than the other, but I believe in this case, ‘Raise A Voice’ means helping others find their voice.”

Executive Director Joel Arquillos said: “When we feel supported, we speak up with kindness. When those around us share what they have, we are inspired to share.”

Co-hosts Monica Lawson and Santiago (Tito), a volunteer and After-School Tutoring student respectively, took charge of the mic and talked about their experience working together the past year. Tito’s energy and enthusiasm about 826LA, writing, video games, cartoons, and just about everything won over the room.

Eileen Shields and Susan Ko shared personal stories and invited guests to pause and think about someone who had inspired and believed in them.

Student readers Ashla and Tania captivated the audience, reading excerpts of their recent work. Ashla shared a story about the Los Angeles music scene and how she discovered her true, multifaceted self. “It was through finding this community that I assigned a meaning to my past and present that continues to speak to me,” she said. 

Tania read a piece inspired by the Lauryn Hill song “Mystery of Iniquity”: “Freedom is the relieving feeling of the heavy chains being removed from my wrists and waist, but not just me, not just the people I know, but the children I have yet to meet. I have nothing to lose but my chains.” The crowd applauded her powerful story, later in the program, Dave Eggers invited Tania to join two other 826LA students to Puerto Rico to be part of the International Congress of Youth Voices project this summer! 

Dave Eggers shared his vision when starting the 826 network and its current goal to recruit, train, and retain 1,000 new diverse volunteers every year because he “believe[s] deeply that the written word is vital to nurturing a democracy and fostering civic life.”

During the Fund-a-Need portion of the evening, 826LA challenged attendees to make on-site donations specifically for the volunteer program. The room rose to the occasion, raising more than $100,000! Thanks to the support of generous sponsors and donors, we’ll be able to expand and strengthen our volunteer force—serving more students, more deeply, in years to come.

Actor Kelly McCreary talked about the feeling daunted by the responsibility of mentorship, but warmed up to it when she thought about those who mentored her.

Comedian Danielle Perez shared a powerful, and hilarious, tribute to the strong women in her life. The first was, “of course,” Mariah Carey, and the other was her mom, who inspired Danielle to be heard and helped make the world accessible to her needs, just like 826LA makes their writing programs accessible to under-resourced Los Angeles students.

The night ended with the talented Jackson Browne performing an intimate and moving set. In between songs, Browne spoke of the special people in his life growing up. The crowd requested two encores!

826LA is sincerely grateful to everyone who made this year’s Tell Me A Story possible. Thank you to each and every one of you for your continued support of our students and our mission.

826LA would like to thank the following sponsors for their generous support of TELL ME A STORY:  

[ezcol_1third]Peninsula Pacific
Goldhirsh Foundation
Carolyn & Louis Lucido
Eastdil
Inell & Henry V. Chase
Stacy & Chad DePue
Terena & Anders Eisner
Griffin Capital
Arthur J. Gallagher
Benjamin Au
Bad Robot ProductionsBoulevard Wealth-Insurance
Boulevard Partners
Matthew Cherniss
Jodie Evans
Susan Ko[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third]
Knowledge Society
PwC
Sarah Rosenwald Varet & Jesse Coleman
Kira Snyder & Allen Blue
Alta Magazine
Carrie Clifford & Paul Boese
DreamWorks Animation/NBC Universal
Gotham Group
Winston Howes
Kerstin & Ron Kripalani
HBO
Munster Freeman Group,
Merrill Lynch, Private Wealth Management
Newmark Knight Frank
Nickelodeon[/ezcol_1third] [ezcol_1third_end]Louise Nutt
Paramount Pictures
Rim of Heaven Foundation
Katie & Brian Sumers
Vista Investment Group
Arrow Benefits Group
Brookfield Property Partners
Adriana Centeno
Alison & Sean Cotter
Emily Davis
Lesley & Vincent Fiorillo
Lisa & Evan Goldberg
Monica Lawson
Rebecca McTavish & Jason Woliner
Naomi & Bob Odenkirk
Keri & Marvin Putnam
Meredith Westgate Russo
Nora & Peter Wendel
Liesl Wilke
Union Bank
US Bank
John Zanetos[/ezcol_1third_end]