The 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.

300 Poets. 50 Schools.  1 Champion.

Join Get Lit at the largest youth classic poetry festival in the world!  Judges include Neil Hilborn, Duckwrth, Demi Adejuyigbe, & more!  A few happy, helpful volunteers are needed to pitch in with the 2017 Classic Slam and ensure its runs smoothly.  Interested?  If so, please contact Rachel Kilroy at 213-388-8639 or rachel@getlit.org for more info on how you can get involved.  All ages are welcomed!

Schedule of Events:

• 5 – 8 pm (Grand Slam Finals)

Shift:

• 3 – 9 pm

Don’t miss the Jamaica Awareness Association Celebrity Golf Classic annual charity event held to raise funds for JAAC’s ongoing projects, particularly its annual Health and Education mission to Jamaica and scholarship funding!  Registration starts at 9 am and tee time is at 11 am; please register by April 17, 2017.  Opportunities for sponsorship are available.  Please contact Pam Stephenson at 818-277-2254 or Roy Davidson at 661-857-5283 for more sponsorship details and/or to RSVP.  Payment can be made on the JAAC website using the DONATE button or by mailing check to JAAC P.O. BOX 351769, Los Angeles, CA 90035. Free event parking will be available.

Options

• Single golfer – $250
• Corporate Foursome – $1000 (a celebrity will make up a foursome)
• Corporate – $5000
• Executive  – $3000
• Tee sponsor – $100 (ask for brochures)

Each Monday morning at 10 am, we host a fun, hands-on service project at Big Sunday headquarters called MM@10 (Monday Mornings at 10).  It’s a great way for folks of all ages to get together to help others.  Join us for all the fun!  To RSVP for upcoming MM@10 events, please contact beenish@bigsunday.org. Click HERE for MM@10’s full schedule.

Don’t miss “Wings Over Malibu,” a fundraising event benefitting The Emily Shane Foundation.  The fabulous evening includes live entertainment, dancing, hand-crafted cocktails, a sumptuous dinner and dessert, live/silent auctions featuring a curated selection of one-of-a-kind items and experiences and more.  General admission tickets are $150; millennial tickets (27 and under) are $50; a limited selection of VIP tables and sponsorship packages are also available.  The event is hosted by Steven Weinberg.

Join PATH for a night of laughs at the historic Comedy Store in Hollywood. The lineup will include 8 international headliners and all proceeds go to PATH to help end homelessness. Get your tickets here!

Comedians:

• Neal Brennan – Co-creator of Chapelle show
• Darren Carter – Late Show, Comedy Central
• Vargus Mason – HBO, Disney's Lion Guard
• Ty Barnett – Last Comic Standing, Tosh.0
• Niki Glazer – Jimmy Kimmel, Conan
• Erik Myers – Court Ordered, Andrew Dice Clay's Blue Show

There is $8 validated parking just west of the Comedy Store on the south side of Sunset:

SP+ Parking
8570 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood CA 90069

Event is in Main Room. 21 and over admitted.

PATH’s mission is to end homelessness for individuals, families, and communities. PATH does this by building affordable housing and providing supportive services throughout California. In the past four years, PATH has helped nearly 7,000 people move off the streets and into permanent homes.

Instructor: Master Arnold Chien
 
Tai Chi is a martial art based on the theory of an ancient classic called “I Ching”.  Kinetic Tai Chi is created by Master Chien based on this foundation coupling with contemporary Physics of potential & kinetic energy. The training sessions include striking, throwing & submission techniques. There are 10 levels of form to advance. Combining this advanced physical routine with Tai Chi’s rich thinking, students will benefit lifelong health, achieve mental superiority and enjoy high level combat skills.
 
Thursdays      
9:00am-10:30am
 
Winter 1st:    1/26, 2/02, 2/09, 2/16
Winter 2nd:   2/23, 3/02, 3/09, 3/16
 
Spring 1st:   4/13, 4/20, 4/27, 5/04
Spring 2nd:  5/11, 5/18, 5/25, 6/01
 
Cost for Classes:

• $35 per month – members
• $45 per month – non–members
• $15 Drop In – per day
• 10% discount if you sign up for 2 sessions

Pre-registration preferred; To register please call the Education Department at 626-821-4623.

Grandmaster Arnold Chien is the founder of Kinetic Tai Chi, 2012 & 2014 Kungfu master at USC Pacific Asia Museum & 2008 Chinese idol in martial art category. In 2013, he became the first instructor to teach Tai Chi at the legendary Gold’s Gym Arcadia, CA. Chien’s heavy focus on the principle of softness to conquer hardness has helped students to achieve not only the physical limitations, but their mental ones as well, thereby reach the ultimate level of “soft as silk and hard as steel”.

Join us for TM@10 at Big Sunday headquarters where we’ll host a different service project each week that benefits a worthy cause! Enjoy good food, good company and good deeds; everyone is welcome. Some of the groups we’re helping include My Friend’s Place, Covenant House, and lots of shelters, hospitals, and senior facilities around all over town. For more info or to sign up, contact rob@bigsunday.org.  Click HERE for TM@10’s full schedule.

Kendra Scott is a fashion lifestyle brand with 60 stores across the country. Founded on Family, Fashion and Philanthropy, the company is committed to giving back to local communities in a meaningful way.

This Thursday, April 27th between 6:00-9:00 pm, Create Now will be celebrated at the new Kendra Scott store at the Century City Westfield Mall.

Don't miss the delicious refreshments and beautiful jewelry. 20% of all proceeds will benefit Create Now so they can expand their arts programs to reach thousands more youth.

Don’t miss the LA Family Housing 2017 Annual Awards on Thursday, April 27, 2017 at The Rooftop @ the Lot in West Hollywood. Enjoy celebrity chefs, specialty cocktails, entertainment, silent & live auctions, and help end homelessness for children and adults across Los Angeles. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and ticket sales, visit .