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
Oct
25
Sun
25th Annual Art Exhibit: Inside Out Productions @ Koplin Del Rio Gallery
Oct 25 @ 11:00 am – Oct 25 @ 5:00 pm

L.A. GOAL’s award winning visual arts studio, Inside Out Productions, proudly presents its 25th Annual Art Exhibit! Join them in celebrating the whimsically creative, colorful, confounding and reassuring artwork of Inside Out artists. L.A. GOAL, a non-profit agency, guides adults with developmental disabilities in finding, recognizing and utilizing their abilities.

LA Goal logoThe one-day art exhibit and sale will take place at Koplin Del Rio Gallery on Sunday, October 25th, 2015 from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Proceeds from sales are used to help offset the artists’ salaries and purchase their studio supplies. Inside Out Productions provides professional art instruction as well as paid, part-time employment for artists with developmental disabilities.

Original works of fine art, multi-media sculpture, embroidery, weaving and ceramics will be on display and available for sale. Stop by the L.A. GOAL pop up shop to browse our exciting new products, including an array of new greeting cards, screen printed apparel and notebooks, art prints, ceramic tea light holders, canvas accent pillows, and other neat home and gift items.  

Eleana Del Rio donates the Koplin Del Rio Gallery every year to L.A. GOAL for this annual art event. Koplin Del Rio focuses on contemporary painting, drawing and sculpture of internationally acclaimed artists, as well as emerging California artists. Koplin Del Rio emphasizes showing representational, figurative, landscape and still-life works.

Jan
10
Sun
Manifest Abundance 2016 Waffle Brunch @ House of MVT
Jan 10 @ 11:00 am – Jan 10 @ 4:00 pm

brunch LAST ONE

On January 10, 2016, roll out of bed early with a breakfast menu that includes a quick and easy waffle recipe topped with your choice of fresh bananas, blue berries, strawberries and almonds. Don't miss Manifest Abundance 2016 Waffle Brunch at House of MVT with Mary O and Friends! They'll be bringing you Guided Meditation by Adiel Adra, Chandler by KNA Boutique, Jewelry Popup by Mapache Jewelry and Belgian Waffles with Mary O.  To top it all off, 30% of all proceeds will be donated to the California Community Foundation as House of MVT works together to strengthen Los Angeles communities through effective philanthropy and civic engagement.  Visit https://www.crowdrise.com/manifestabundance201/fundraiser/maryo1 for more info.

Jun
3
Fri
“Sun Sand Sea” Fundraising Event @ Santa Monica Place
Jun 3 – Jul 4 all-day

Sun, Sand, SeaThe Sun Sand Sea event is an intriguing blend of vintage and modern art joining two art mediums: photography and painting. It’s a truly unique experience. 

At its core, it is an exclusive photographic collection featuring the beaches, events and people of Santa Monica and Venice, circa 1920-1950. Curator, Branded Arts, has brought the event to a new level by commissioning cutting-edge artist, Hueman, to not only exhibit new paintings, but paint an onsite interpretive mural. 

Look for Sun Sand Sea at Santa Monica Place from June 3-July 3.

Event proceeds benefit P.S. ARTS, an organization dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing high-quality arts education to California's underserved public schools and communities.

Oct
22
Sat
Susan G. Komen Culinary Showdown @ Loews Hollywood Hotel
Oct 22 – Oct 23 all-day

COOK WITH NORTH AMERICA’S HOTTEST CELEBRITY CHEFS AT THE SUSAN G. KOMEN CULINARY SHOWDOWN TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER

Celebrate Your Inner Foodie While Fundraising; To Be Held October 22 at Loews Hollywood Hotel

Culinary Showdown is a first-time ever event in the United States, an extraordinary challenge giving culinary enthusiasts the opportunity to fundraise for a chance to cook alongside celebrity chefs in the type of team cooking challenge normally reserved for TV. It will be held in Los Angeles by Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County.

The Susan G. Komen Los Angeles Culinary Showdown features an all-star lineup of five Celebrity Chefs, including one of America’s Top 10 Pastry Chefs, Elizabeth Falkner*, and the owner of New York City's Red Rooster Harlem restaurant. Falkner is a huge fan of cooking competitions and has appeared on more than 30 television competition shows either as a competitor or as a judge. Falkner is a multiple award winning chef and James Beard Nominee and author of two cookbooks, Demolition Desserts, and Cooking Off The Clock. The Culinary Showdown will be hosted by John O'Hurley, best known for the role of J. Peterman on the NBC sitcom Seinfeld and who was host of the game show Family Feud and judge on Iron Chef America.

Susan G. Komen is proud to announce event co-chairs Christine Avanti-Fischer who is a best-selling author of Skinny Chicks Don’t Eat Salads and Skinny Chicks Eat Real Food, Certified Nutritionist, TV personality and lifestyle expert and her husband, Jonathon Fischer, co-founder (with Christine) and chairman of the Jonathon D. Fischer Foundation, a non-profit with the mission of helping people around the world.

By participating in the Susan G. Komen Los Angeles Inaugural Culinary Showdown, you will also be supporting the fight against breast cancer that affects 1 in 8 women in their lifetime.

All proceeds go to Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County, supporting the organization's work to ensure all women in the Los Angeles community have timely access to affordable breast health care. Participants who raise the minimum of $1,000 will be treated to a gourmet meal as the celebrity chefs and their teams, comprised of the top fundraisers, take center stage to take part in the thrilling culinary battle.

The showdown starts with Celebrity Chefs School where contestants will be coached on everything from ingredient selection to proper plating. Trade secrets on food preparation, knife techniques, methodology and more will be revealed by top cooking masters – integral for when things heat up in the kitchen during the Culinary Showdown.

The 50 highest fundraisers will be rewarded with the opportunity to put their culinary talents to the test live on stage in tandem with a celebrity chef, as they face off in the Culinary Showdown, a Chopped-style competition at the gala October 22 at Loews Hollywood Hotel. Five teams of 10 will compete under pressure to create three unique dishes, applying the skills mastered during Celebrity Chefs School. Participants will cook each course on the clock, and will be judged by an expert panel on taste and presentation.

To learn more and register, go to www.sgklaculinaryshowdown.org

About Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County

Komen Los Angeles County is the local source for funding programs that provide breast health services, breast cancer education and outreach in their LA county service area. Komen Los Angeles donates 75 percent of net funds raised to vital local breast health services, and dedicates the remaining 25 percent to national research to find the cure. Since 1998, Komen LA County has raised over $11 million for local programs and national research grants. Komen Los Angeles has one clear mission: to save lives and end breast cancer forever by empowering others, ensuring quality care for all and energizing science to find the cures. http://komenlacounty.org

https://www.facebook.com/komenla

https://twitter.com/komenla

www.instagram.com/komenla

Nov
5
Sat
North American Reptile Breeders Conference & Trade Show @ Pasadena Convention Center
Nov 5 – Nov 7 all-day

photo-for-calendar-listingsThe North American Reptile Breeders Conference & Trade Show welcomes families, students, reptile professionals and enthusiasts to its Pasadena show this November. Attendees will get an up-close view of reptiles of all shapes and sizes including snakes, frogs, turtles, geckos, iguanas, and tortoises – all are available for sale. In addition to viewing exotic and rare breeds, admission to the show includes educational sessions from some of the industry’s most respected experts as they discuss specific species and habitats during various presentations throughout the weekend. Whether you are a reptile aficionado or entering the world of “herping” for the first time, this high quality, captive-bred-only reptile show is sure to entertain.

  • USARK Auction Saturday, November 5, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. at the Pasadena Convention Center

Everyone is welcome. Admission is free and includes hors d’oeuvres. All proceeds from the live auction will benefit USARK (the United States Association of Reptile Keepers), a non-profit organization advocating for the practice of Herpetoculture.

For more information, please visit http://narbc.com/Pasadena/tickets_narbc_pasadena.html.

Nov
10
Thu
Shopping for a Cause at Talbots @ Talbots in Pasadena
Nov 10 @ 3:00 pm – Nov 10 @ 6:00 pm

acs-logo-smallDoes your wardrobe need a fall refresher? Join American Cancer Society at the Talbots in Pasadena for a fundraiser to benefitting ACS – all you have to do is shop and maybe bring a friend! Ten percent of all proceeds between 4-8 pm will be donated to ACS and if you RSVP to enida.acosta@cancer.org, you will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 gift card! You must be present at 6 pm to win! Now is a great time to do some early holiday shopping! Call 626-564-6078 with any questions.

Mar
11
Sat
Friendship Bowl – Event Day Volunteers Needed @ Palos Verdes Bowl
Mar 11 – Mar 12 all-day

walk-with-sally-bowlathon-1426Join Walk With Sally at their 10th Annual Friendship Bowl! Volunteer the day of the event or sign up online to become a fundraiser and make a difference for kids whose parents or siblings have cancer! For more info, please visit www.walkwithsally.org/bowlathon.

Mar
18
Sat
Garden Night Photography @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Mar 18 @ 7:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Join the Los Angeles 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 here, 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).

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).

Nov
9
Thu
6th ANNUAL RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE LUNCHEON @ Ruth's Chris Steakhouse
Nov 9 @ 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

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.