Local Business Leaders Assemble to Address Critical Issues Facing Los Angeles

United Way of Greater Los Angeles Hosts Second Annual Corporate Philanthropy Summit

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 3 /PRNewswire/ — United Way of Greater Los Angeles today hosts its Second Annual Corporate Philanthropy Summit, an event designed to motivate and inspire corporate and business leaders to work with the public and nonprofit sectors to reduce poverty in Los Angeles County. Keynoting the luncheon will be Henry Cisneros, executive chairman of CityView and former United States Secretary of Housing & Urban Development. The keynote will be followed by a panel discussion with business and community leaders, canvassing the ways executives can increase their productivity and overall business success while giving back to their community. In addition to looking at how the current economic conditions are impacting poverty, the panel will address how businesses can succeed through philanthropic efforts focused on improving healthcare, affordable housing, and an educated workforce. The event also includes an awards presentation recognizing those companies whose partnership with United Way exemplifies the spirit of corporate philanthropy helping communities thrive.

“Poverty affects everyone, from business owners to employees, and we owe it to those less fortunate to provide the support they need,” said Henry Cisneros, executive chairman, CityView and former US Secretary of Housing & Urban Development. “Los Angeles businesses need to answer this call, not only as funders but as active strategic partners to help change the conditions facing those less fortunate in Los Angeles. In these tough economic conditions, businesses need to be creative in their employee giving and volunteer programs and tap into the strength of local non-profits and organizations to help individuals and strengthen entire communities.”

After the keynote by Henry Cisneros, the panel discussion will take a closer look at the critical issues affecting the quality of life in Greater Los Angeles, including the housing and homelessness crisis, how to help families build assets and financial stability, school policy reform and the changing shape of the economic landscape.

“United Way has been partnering with civic and corporate leaders to improve the quality of life in Los Angeles County for a long time, and current economic conditions make it more important than ever that we continue these partnerships,” said Elise Buik, president and CEO, United Way of Greater Los Angeles. “We want to recognize the ways in which our partners have helped move our Creating Pathways Out of Poverty Plan forward, and assist businesses in understanding that we can make change happen by working together to tackle the root causes of poverty. LA County is at a crossroads right now, with the middle class disappearing and the lack of an educated workforce. Businesses will not survive unless change is made, and we need to come together and act now.”

    Details of United Way's Corporate Philanthropy Summit:

    WHAT:       A luncheon celebrating corporate philanthropy in Los Angeles;
                a keynote and panel discussion with leading philanthropists
                focused on critical issues

    WHEN:       February 3, 2009
                11:30:  Registration and Reception
                12:00: Lunch and Program

    WHERE:      California Science Center
                Daniel Locker Conference Room
                Exposition Park
                39th & Figueroa Streets
                Los Angeles, CA 90037

    PROGRAM:    Opening Remarks - Elise Buik, CEO and President, UWGLA
                Award Presentation - Martha Corbett, UWGLA Campaign Chair,
                 Managing Partner for Southern California and Phoenix
                 Markets, PricewaterhouseCoopers
                Keynote Speech - Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, CityView
                Panelist "Kitchen Table" Discussion
                -- Dr. Frank D. Gilliam, Jr., Dean of UCLA's School of Public
                   Affairs (Moderator)
                -- Elise Buik, President & CEO, United Way of Greater Los
                   Angeles,
                -- Henry Cisneros, Executive Chairman, CityView
                -- Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Los
                   Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
                -- Janet Lamkin, President, Bank of America California
                -- Tim Leiweke, President & CEO, Anschutz Entertainment
                   Group

                Closing Remarks and Call to Action - Elise Buik

    VISUALS:    Opening remarks by Elise Buik
                Awards presentation
                Keynote with Henry Cisneros
                Interviews with local leading corporate philanthropists, see
                 above for partial list
    CONTACT:    For more information about the event or if you would like to
                attend, please contact Taulene Ayoub, United Way of Greater
                Los Angeles, at 213-808-6436 or tayoub@unitedwayla.org.

About United Way of Greater Los Angeles

United Way of Greater Los Angeles is a nonprofit organization that creates pathways out of poverty by focusing on meeting basic needs, improving educational achievement and increasing financial stability for the most vulnerable in our community. Through its research work, United Way identifies the issues and works in partnership with community leaders and supporters to solve them by funding targeted programs and advocating for change. For more information, visit www.unitedwayla.org.

SOURCE United Way of Greater Los Angeles