Lend Lease employees help brighten Cardinal Manning Center

Eight employees from Lend Lease in downtown Los Angeles recently spent four hours painting the women/children's section of the Society's Cardinal Manning Center in the toy district of Skid Row.

According to Mike Concannon, senior vice president of Lend Lease in L.A., St. Vincent de Paul's shelter was chosen because "it is within our local community, our office is walking distance from Cardinal Manning and we wanted to make sure our efforts were felt locally."

Concannon indicated the employees enjoyed volunteering their time and helping others in need.

"We (at Lend Lease) know we are all very fortunate. To take time to get involved and give back is extremely important and gratifying."

The employee's participation was part of the company's 16th Annual Community Day in which more than 15,000 employees globally spent time giving back to charities and organizations in their local communities.

When asked about next year's Community Day, Concannon said, "We fully expect to be working with Cardinal Manning again next year."

Thank you, Lend Lease, for your time, support and caring hearts!

Photos (l-r): Justin Mammen, deputy director of the Society's Cardinal Manning Center, talks about the work Lend Lease is providing in an interview with KABC TV News; Khemi Hapangama of Lend Lease volunteers her time to help spruce up the women/children's section at Cardinal Manning.

11th Annual Paint Project LA at SVdP's Cardinal Manning Center on Feb. 5

Dear Young Vincentians & Friends:

In observance of the Souper Bowl of Caring Collection’s National Service Blitz, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Council of Los Angeles is hosting its 11th Annual Paint Project LA on Saturday, February 5 at the Society’s Cardinal Manning Center in downtown Los Angeles’ Skid Row.

Come and join with other young Vincentians from across Southern California as we gather to paint, clean, and otherwise help out at the Society’s homeless shelter. Please note at this time, we are only accepting twenty (20) participants for this event. So, first come, first serve. Please call or e-mail me to let me know if you plan to participate.

On Sunday, February 6, 2010 – Souper Bowl of Caring Collection at your Parish

That time of year is fast approaching; the annual Souper Bowl of Caring. That’s right, Souper Bowl. Every year, on Super Bowl Sunday, youth groups of every denomination across the country stand at the exits of their churches with soup bowls or other containers and ask their parishioners for a $1 donation. Less than a cup of coffee. Less than many newspapers.

As always, we ask those who participate to donate their proceeds to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul Conference at their parish – or, if the youth have their own youth Conference, to keep all or part of the proceeds for their own service projects (and they are, of course, free to share part of the proceeds with their adult counterpart).

Please let me know if your Conference or parish youth participate in the Souper Bowl collection this year, and how much you were able to raise.

Thanks again for all you do.

Yours in Vincent & Frédéric,

Manuel Sanchez