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
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.

May
27
Sat
Garden Night Photography @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
May 27 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Don’t miss the Arboretum’s on-going series “Garden Night Photography Group Session”!  Night offers unique photographic opportunities in the garden so come and discover your own creative images!  Share your night photography techniques with other photographers. Specific emphasis will be placed on the ‘Painting with Light’ technique, so bring your ‘big gun’ flashlights.
                             
*PLEASE NOTE: Be sure you have a DSLR or camera that has manual control capabilities.  AND, please bring camera’s paper manual or pdf on your phone.
 
Where:     
Meet outside the Main Entrance – then visit the Arboretum gardens near the Entrance/Rotunda, Peacock Cafe, Bauer Lawn & Fountain areas, Cactus and Succulent Garden and Madagascar Exhibit area.

Who:          
Frank McDonough, session leader, botanist and photographer

Fee:              
Per Class – $30 Arboretum members/$40 non-members
 
LIMIT 12 Photographers – Please call the Class Registration line at 626-821-4623
 
EQUIPMENT INFORMATION:
HEADLAMPS: You need to bring your own headlamp.  For safety reasons, if you do not have a flashlight, you will not be permitted to attend. You may purchase inexpensive headlamps at Harbor Freight and Home Depot.  
TRIPOD
DSLR CAMERA capable of long exposure time.
LIGHTS: Battery powered high illumination lights/flashlights, laser pointers.
COMFORTABLE SHOES: you will walk and maybe get dirty!
 
About the Session Leader: Besides doling out plant advice at the Arboretum, Arboretum Botanical Information Consultant Frank McDonough photographs the Arboretum on a regular basis. His work can be seen on the L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens Facebook pagethe Arboretum tumblr site, and throughout the Arboretum’s web site  (www.arboretum.org).

Sep
7
Sat
Autism Family Morning @ Aquarium of the Pacific
Sep 7 @ 9:00 am – 10:00 am

The Aquarium of the Pacific hosts a special morning exclusively for families with adults or children with autism.

Admission is just $7 per person. Members and children under 3 are free. 

BUY TICKETS HERE!

The entire Aquarium, except Lorikeet Forest, is open at 7am. Families can enjoy the tranquility of the Aquarium's exhibits and meet 11,000 animals from the world’s largest ocean.

Autism Family Morning guests may continue to enjoy the Aquarium after it opens to the public at 9am.

Harkins Sensory Friendly Screenings @ Harkins Cerritos 16
Sep 7 @ 9:45 am

Smallfoot roars into Harkins Cerritos 16,  just a little more softly; the sensory-friendly screening is appropriate for guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.


One Saturday each month, select Harkins locations present a family-friendly film in an auditorium dedicated to guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.These screenings feature:

  • Brightened Light Levels
  • Reduced Sound Volume
  • Room For Guest Interaction
  • Outside Snacks Permitted

Upcoming Films:

July 6: Toy Story 4
August 3: The Lion King
September 7: The Angry Birds Movie 2
October 5: Abominable
November 9: Arctic Dogs
December 7: Frozen 2

The participating local theatre is the Cerritos 16,  (Another So Cal location is the Mountain Grove 16 in Redlands).

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Oct
5
Sat
Harkins Sensory Friendly Screenings @ Harkins Cerritos 16
Oct 5 @ 9:45 am

Smallfoot roars into Harkins Cerritos 16,  just a little more softly; the sensory-friendly screening is appropriate for guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.


One Saturday each month, select Harkins locations present a family-friendly film in an auditorium dedicated to guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.These screenings feature:

  • Brightened Light Levels
  • Reduced Sound Volume
  • Room For Guest Interaction
  • Outside Snacks Permitted

Upcoming Films:

July 6: Toy Story 4
August 3: The Lion King
September 7: The Angry Birds Movie 2
October 5: Abominable
November 9: Arctic Dogs
December 7: Frozen 2

The participating local theatre is the Cerritos 16,  (Another So Cal location is the Mountain Grove 16 in Redlands).

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Oct
29
Tue
Autism Speaks Pathways to Employment @ Veterans Memorial Building
Oct 29 @ 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Please join Autism Speaks Southern California for a learning and networking event for job seekers with autism.

Date:  Tuesday, October 29, 2019

Veterans Memorial Building
4117 Overland Avenue
Culver City, California 90230

Time:   6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

The vast majority of adults with autism are unemployed and underemployed worldwide. The good news is that there are businesses in Southern California that now recognize the strengths and skills that many autistic job seekers can bring to the workplace. We hope you will join us for an interactive panel discussion and networking event intended to create connections with interested employers, and a dialogue about autism, employment and inclusion.

Our panel will feature people with autism who have successfully navigated their pathways to employment. The discussion will explore the common barriers to employment, what help is available, and how some autistic adults have been able to overcome them to thrive in their careers. Caregivers and family members are also welcome to participate to share and learn from one another. There will also be an opportunity to network with businesses from the Southern California area that are interested in hiring people on the spectrum.

We look forward to engaging in a dialogue about how much people with autism have to offer the business community in Southern California.

Times:  
6:00 p.m. – Registration / Resource Fair Opens
6:45 p.m. – Welcome & Introduction of Panelist
7:00 p.m. – Panel Discussion followed by Q&A
8:00 p.m. – Event Ends 

Parking is Free and refreshments will be served!

For questions, please email: Outreach@autismspeaks.org

The event is free, but registration is required. RSVP HERE.

Nov
9
Sat
Harkins Sensory Friendly Screenings @ Harkins Cerritos 16
Nov 9 @ 9:45 am

Smallfoot roars into Harkins Cerritos 16,  just a little more softly; the sensory-friendly screening is appropriate for guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.


One Saturday each month, select Harkins locations present a family-friendly film in an auditorium dedicated to guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.These screenings feature:

  • Brightened Light Levels
  • Reduced Sound Volume
  • Room For Guest Interaction
  • Outside Snacks Permitted

Upcoming Films:

July 6: Toy Story 4
August 3: The Lion King
September 7: The Angry Birds Movie 2
October 5: Abominable
November 9: Arctic Dogs
December 7: Frozen 2

The participating local theatre is the Cerritos 16,  (Another So Cal location is the Mountain Grove 16 in Redlands).

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Dec
7
Sat
Harkins Sensory Friendly Screenings @ Harkins Cerritos 16
Dec 7 @ 9:45 am

Smallfoot roars into Harkins Cerritos 16,  just a little more softly; the sensory-friendly screening is appropriate for guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.


One Saturday each month, select Harkins locations present a family-friendly film in an auditorium dedicated to guests affected by autism and sensory processing disorders.These screenings feature:

  • Brightened Light Levels
  • Reduced Sound Volume
  • Room For Guest Interaction
  • Outside Snacks Permitted

Upcoming Films:

July 6: Toy Story 4
August 3: The Lion King
September 7: The Angry Birds Movie 2
October 5: Abominable
November 9: Arctic Dogs
December 7: Frozen 2

The participating local theatre is the Cerritos 16,  (Another So Cal location is the Mountain Grove 16 in Redlands).

BUY TICKETS HERE!

Feb
29
Sat
Wild Honey Foundation Presents: WILD HONEY ORCHESTRA CELEBRATES THE LOVIN’ SPOONFUL TO BENEFIT THE AUTISM THINK TANK @ Alex Theater
Feb 29 @ 8:00 pm – 11:30 pm

The Wild Honey Orchestra celebrates the music of Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Famers the Lovin’ Spoonful as a fundraiser for the Autism Think Tank. Led by acclaimed musical director Rob Laufer, Wild Honey Orchestra & Friends (guest singers TBA) will present a comprehensive exploration of the ground-breaking catalog of one of the 1960s’ most underrated but influential bands in the folk-rock-country (Americana) world. The Wild Honey Orchestra will passionately celebrate every musical nuance of over 30 of the Lovin’ Spoonful’s brilliant songs: ‘Do You Believe in Magic,’ ‘Summer in the City,’ ‘Six O’Clock,’ ‘Coconut Grove,’ ‘Daydream,’ ‘Darling Be Home Soon,’ ‘She’s Still a Mystery,’ and so many more. Beloved by their peers – the Beatles, the Kinks, and many more – the Spoonful’s rich and varied catalog of hits and hidden treasures is a perfect fit for the Wild Honey Orchestra and Friends, including Elliot Easton of the Cars and Dennis Diken of the Smithereens. The show will benefit the Autism Think Tank’s effort to help individuals with autism and their families.

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.