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.
Women writers and directors in the entertainment industry constantly encounter roadblocks when attempting to advance their careers – even when they are just as talented and capable as their male counterparts. Women actors have a similar problem simply because the number of female roles is significantly less than for men. Friend of Big Sunday Amy Lloyd and her business partner Christina Gray have combined efforts to combat this issue with a special IndieGogo campaign for their production company “Chicks Who Make Flicks.” This organization is working to do its part to increase visibility and provide more opportunities for women. The production company creates films made by women, films that tell great woman’s stories, films that capture the voices of women from all over the world and at every stage of their life. Their goal is to create an environment that supports, encourages, and celebrates talented female filmmakers. For more info on how you can support this great cause, please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/chicks-who-make-flicks-a-film-production-company#.
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’ve helped include BookEnds, Quilts with a Divine Quest, and lots of shelters, hospitals and senior facilities around all over town. For more info or to sign up, contact rob@bigsunday.org or click HERE. 
Join our friends at Program for Torture Victims (PTV) as they Ride for Human Rights! PTV rebuilds the lives of torture survivors from over 70 countries who have stood up for freedom, democracy, and human dignity.
Don’t miss a chance to support this great organization on Saturday, March 5 at the SoulCycle Pasadena Studio. Soulcycle makes fitness joyful. You’ll climb, jog, sprint, dance, set intentions and break through boundaries. The best part? You’ll do it together, as a community.
REGISTER TO RIDE FOR ONLY $35 OR IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, SPONSOR TEAM PTV!
SoulCycle is an engaging and inspirational workout, filled with energizing music and positivity that benefits both the body and mind.
Only this time you’re not just benefiting yourself–100% of proceeds will go to support local survivors of torture, persecution, and other human rights abuse who have fled to the U.S. for freedom and safety.
Limited seats left! There are many choices: You can make a team gift, sponsor a specific rider, ride, or ride and raise funds for PTV survivors. Questions? Contact Sophie Westacott at swestacott@ptvla.org or 917-698-9417.
Women writers and directors in the entertainment industry constantly encounter roadblocks when attempting to advance their careers – even when they are just as talented and capable as their male counterparts. Women actors have a similar problem simply because the number of female roles is significantly less than for men. Friend of Big Sunday Amy Lloyd and her business partner Christina Gray have combined efforts to combat this issue with a special IndieGogo campaign for their production company “Chicks Who Make Flicks.” This organization is working to do its part to increase visibility and provide more opportunities for women. The production company creates films made by women, films that tell great woman’s stories, films that capture the voices of women from all over the world and at every stage of their life. Their goal is to create an environment that supports, encourages, and celebrates talented female filmmakers. For more info on how you can support this great cause, please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/chicks-who-make-flicks-a-film-production-company#.
Starting with a warm up stroll, Candyce Columbus, RYT, provides a gentle, stimulating and rejuvenating all-levels traditional hatha yoga practice, enhanced by the idyllic Arboretum.
- 5:30-6:45 p.m. Oak Room when available, Rotunda if not
- $35 per month Arboretum members / $45 per month non–members / $15 Drop-In per day (include Arboretum Admission)
To register, please call the Education Department at 626-821-4623 or pay at the class.
Don’t miss Big Sunday’s First-Ever Gala on March 9 from 6 – 9 pm at République
!
We’ll be honoring Paulette Light & Melanie Staggs, Tony Molina, and Parsons Corp. Melanie and Paulette have run Big Sunday’s monthly food drive, The End of the Month Club, since its inception, and they have also overseen the massive food collection and distribution we’ve done for the past few years at Thanksgiving. They have done an amazing job nurturing and building this extremely popular and successful program, as well as this great and growing Thanksgiving tradition. Tony Molina is a wonderful gentleman who works at NBC-Universal in the transportation department, and has helped Big Sunday move about a zillion pounds of stuff over many years, as well as run all kinds of projects for us, rehabbing schools and shelters. We’ve happily worked with Parsons Corp. on all kinds of terrific and impactful service projects, from San Diego to San Francisco.
We’re excited by the enthusiastic reception for this event and for our very deserving honorees.
Individual tickets are $250 and are on sale now. Click HERE for tickets and sponsorship/tribute ad information. Please contact adam@bigsunday.org with further questions regarding sponsorships.
Women writers and directors in the entertainment industry constantly encounter roadblocks when attempting to advance their careers – even when they are just as talented and capable as their male counterparts. Women actors have a similar problem simply because the number of female roles is significantly less than for men. Friend of Big Sunday Amy Lloyd and her business partner Christina Gray have combined efforts to combat this issue with a special IndieGogo campaign for their production company “Chicks Who Make Flicks.” This organization is working to do its part to increase visibility and provide more opportunities for women. The production company creates films made by women, films that tell great woman’s stories, films that capture the voices of women from all over the world and at every stage of their life. Their goal is to create an environment that supports, encourages, and celebrates talented female filmmakers. For more info on how you can support this great cause, please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/chicks-who-make-flicks-a-film-production-company#.
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’ve helped include BookEnds, Quilts with a Divine Quest, and lots of shelters, hospitals and senior facilities around all over town. For more info or to sign up, contact rob@bigsunday.org or click HERE. 
Fresh: Celebrating the Table
Haley Nguyen: French Cooking with a Vietnamese Touch
Reservations required; please call 626-821-4623
Thursday, March 10 – Haley Nguyen: French Cooking with a Vietnamese Touch
Join Haley Nguyen, culinary educator and chef, for a Vietnamese cooking class with a classical twist. We’ll explore how this incredibly popular cuisine was inspired by French colonization. Haley’s culinary teaching started at the Cooking School of the Rockies in 1994. In 1999, she instigated and implemented the Asian curriculum for the Art Institute of California in Santa Monica. To complement classroom instruction, she leads culinary tours to Little Saigon and Southeast Asia. The tours have aired on the Food Network segment titled “Cooking School Stories.” She is currently chief professor at Long Beach City College in the culinary arts department. Haley owned and operated two restaurants including Xanh, which was reviewed in several local publication as one of the most unique upscale Vietnamese restaurants in the area.
Menu: Seared beef tenderloin with water cress salad; sea bass with green mango and coconut creme brulee
Are you a cooking enthusiast? Don’t miss the “FRESH: Celebrating the Table” series at the LA Arboretum!
- Wednesday, February 10 – Gale Kohl and Peg Rahn do FOOD together!
- Thursday, March 10 (Note day!) – Haley Nguyen: French Cooking with a Vietnamese Touch
- Wednesday, April 13 – Learn teppanyaki from a master Benihana chef!
- Wednesday, May 11 – Jeanne Kelley demonstrates from her new book
Wine provided by Gale Kohl of Gale’s Restaurant in Pasadena.
$50 members / $60 non-members (includes Arboretum Admission)
Pre-registration is required; please call 626-821-4623 to register.



