Big Sunday happily welcomes you to Our Really Big Community Calendar

We try to include all kinds of volunteering and helping opportunities for all kinds of interests, talents, passions, and ages! As you’ll see, these include volunteering opportunities (one-time and long-term) as well as the chance to support a nonprofit by attending fundraising events. Plus, of course, we include all of Big Sunday’s homegrown events, too! Whoever you are, and whatever you do, there is someone out there who could use your help.

If you have questions about our calendar, or would like to add a listing, please contact calendar@bigsunday.org or submit your event/opportunity via the button below.

Big Sunday Event Giving Opportunity! One-time Volunteer Opportunity Ongoing Volunteer Opportunity
Feb
27
Sat
BARK: Kids Read to Dogs @ John C. Fremont Library
Feb 27 @ 2:00 pm

Are your children animal lovers? If so, don’t miss this opportunity! Join the good folks at the John C. Fremont Library and read books to dogs. BARK is an all-volunteer program that encourages children to increase their reading skills and self-confidence by reading aloud to certified therapy dogs. Studies show that reading to these dogs actually leads to improvement in reading skills! Younger children may also attend. For more info, please contact Children's Librarian Megan Katz at 323-962-3521.

Apr
30
Sat
YALLWEST @ Santa Monica High School
Apr 30 – May 2 all-day

YALLWEST is a local literary festival focused on Young Adult novels. This year they're bringing in over 125 authors for a weekend of discussions, books, and fun! In addition to bringing in authors, YALLWEST busses in over 800 students from Title 1 schools who get to attend the festival and get a book for free!

They're looking for volunteers to help with:

  • staffing panel rooms
  • helping to set up/tear down
  • be guides for incoming school groups
  • helping with author signings

Time Commitment: each shift is 4 hours.

Perks: free parking, a t-shirt, and a ticket to one paid event.

To sign up visit: http://www.yallwest.com/volunteers or email our Volunteer Coordinator Gretchen Schreiber at gretchen@yallwest.com.

Book Fair: Children’s Bureau SET UP DAY @ Children's Bureau
Apr 30 @ 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Don't miss the Children's Bureau Annual Book Fair where thousands of gently used books are distributed to low-income children! It's a celebration of literacy and children's books. The books need to be sorted and organized into a "book store," then the kids need help selecting their books to take home.  For more info, please contact Hope Wintner.

May
1
Sun
Annual Book Fair: Children’s Bureau @ Children's Bureau
May 1 @ 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Take part in the Children's Bureau's Annual Book Fair and celebration of literacy where thousands of gently used books are distributed to low-income children. Volunteers are needed to sort and organize the books into a "book store" and then to help the kids select their books to take home.  To help, please contact Hope Wintner.

Jun
16
Thu
Ain’t No Half Steppin’: Dance from Soul Train to B-Boys @ Grand Park
Jun 16 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Panel Discussion: Ain't No Half Steppin': Dance from Soul Train to B-Boys

Over four days, The Music Center examines the culture, artistry and evolution of Hip-Hop dance through live performances, dance competitions, discussions, demonstrations, late-night dance parties and more.  One June 16, don’t miss Ain't No Half Steppin': Dance from Soul Train to B-Boys.

Join a panel of dance legends of Soul, b-boying and theatre to discuss how their contributions impacted the meaning of dance and grafted new roots onto Hip Hop’s history. The event is featuring original Soul Train dancers Damita Jo Freeman and Thelma Davis; b-boy and founder of the Hip Hop School of the Arts, Lil’ Cesar; and Puremovement Company Director Rennie Harris. Facilitated by Professor Imani Kai Johnson (University of California, Riverside, Department of Dance).

Event seating is first come, first served. Check in at sign-in table on Olive Court (between Grand Ave. and Hill St) beginning at 6pm.

Jun
19
Sun
Beat Swap Meet @ Grand Park
Jun 19 @ 12:00 pm – Jun 19 @ 6:00 pm

Over four days, The Music Center examines the culture, artistry and evolution of Hip-Hop dance through live performances, dance competitions, discussions, demonstrations, late-night dance parties and more. 

On June 19, come together for an afternoon of vinyl, DJs, b-boy & b-girl competitions, food and more at Beat Swap Meet. Celebrate the 8th anniversary of everyone’s favorite gathering of families, music enthusiasts, dance lovers and everyone in between.

Beat Swap Meet is the world's only traveling record show featuring music from all genres, all on vinyl, and everything inspiring from it.

This event is co-produced by Beat Swap Meet and The Music Center.

Jan
14
Sat
Reading to Kids: January 14th Reading Clubs @ 8 Elementary Schools in Downtown LA
Jan 14 @ 9:00 am – 12:00 pm

r2k-logo-purple250READING TO KIDS: January 14th Reading Clubs

Reading to Kids organizes monthly reading clubs on the second Saturday of every month at eight downtown Los Angeles elementary schools. The reading clubs run from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Pairs of volunteer readers read aloud to small groups of students from the elementary school (typically between 4 and 6 children per group) in a fun environment. Teachers at the elementary school provide supervision and guidance throughout the morning.

To volunteer at our next reading clubs, please visit http://www.readingtokids.org where you'll need to register and RSVP. For more information, please feel free to e-mail info@readingtokids.org or call 310-479-7455.

The next reading clubs, "Mysteries & Adventure" will be held on January 14, 2017, from 9 am to 12 pm. For exact locations, please visit http://www.readingtokids.org.

Volunteers must be 18 or older to volunteer with Reading to Kids.

Apr
22
Sat
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC
Apr 22 @ 10:00 am – Apr 22 @ 6:00 pm

15_FOB_stk_taglineThe Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

Apr
23
Sun
Los Angeles Times Festival of Books @ USC
Apr 23 @ 10:00 am – Apr 23 @ 6:00 pm

15_FOB_stk_taglineThe Festival of Books began in 1996 with a simple goal: Bring together the people who create books and the people who love to read them. The Festival was an immediate success and has become Southern California's major literary event. The 2017 Festival will be held on Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23 at the University of Southern California and they would love to have you join as a volunteer.

Last year over 150,000 people attended the Festival, which featured more than a hundred ticketed author events, children’s storytelling, poetry readings, book signings and more than 400 exhibitor booths. The Festival’s success has been due in part to the generous participation of volunteers who welcomed attendees, assisted with registration, staffed author events, supervised book signings and much more.

Time Commitment: Volunteers sign up for one or more 3-4 hour shifts on one or both days.

Requirements:
• The majority of volunteer activities require being on your feet for most of your shift.
• Please wear comfortable shoes and khaki or beige pants or shorts.
• Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older. (You cannot bring children under the age of 18 with you during your shift. )

Benefits: Volunteers will receive free parking, shuttle service from the parking lot and lunch.   Volunteer t-shirts will be provided to wear and keep after the event.

*Please sign up as soon as possible as space fills up quickly and the final deadline for pre-registering as a volunteer is April 5, 2017.

After you express interest in this opportunity, you will be sent further instructions on how to complete your volunteer registration.

How it Works

You can SEARCH by scrolling through the Months or by selecting different Categories or Tag functions. For a totally different view, try the Posterboard or Stream options! Feel free to submit an item for the calendar by clicking the “Submit Your Event / Opportunity” button above at the right-hand side of the page. Questions? Email calendar@bigsunday.org.