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
13
Thu
LA Arboretum: “What’s Happening in Gardening” Series @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Oct 13 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

whats-happening-in-gardening-la-arboretum-16Don’t miss the LA Arboretum’s “What's Happening in Gardening” Series!

8 Thursdays, September 15-November 3
9:30am-12pm; $140 for the series; $25 per class
 

These classes are designed to help you keep up with garden news, trends, tips and pests. Each class begins with an open discussion and plant giveaway, followed by a lecture or hands-on workshop from one of the following speakers:

Sept. 15:  Jose & Carrie Hernandez, CJ’s Organic Farm

CJ's Organic Farm grows heirloom vegetables, fruits, and herbs for year-round weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets. They also sell organically grown heirloom vegetables and herb starts for your garden at the CJ’s Organic Farm booth at the Villa Park Farmers’ Market in Pasadena on Tuesday mornings.

Sept. 22: Nancy Bird, Rocks for Your Garden

Nancy Bird, rock expert and owner of NancyRocks, will show beautiful colorful rocks that will compliment your garden. She also will explain the Bureau of Land Management rules and permitting procedures for collecting rocks for free!

Sept. 29: Jill Morganelli, New Gardens & Garden Renovations at the Arboretum

Join Jill Morganelli, the Arboretum’s Horticultural Supervisor, for a discussion about the improvements being made in the gardens to enhance the Arboretum experience for visitors.

Oct. 6: Harold Koopowitz, Fall Blooming Daffodils

Harold Koopowitz currently is first vice president of the American Daffodil Society and editor emeritus for the Orchid Digest, which he edited for 10 years. He is well known internationally for breeding both slipper orchids and miniature daffodils. He is Professor Emeritus of biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Irvine. He will be signing copies of his new novel, Diamonds and Disas: The Further Adventures of George and Matilda.

Oct. 13: Joe Brosius, Magic Growers

As production manager at Magic Growers, Joe Brosius is responsible for propagating and growing all plant material products. He also is a partner in the nursery and a past president of the L.A. chapter of California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC). Joe received his degree in ornamental horticulture from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.

Oct. 20: Christine Anthony, Cook Now from Your Garden & Plant Now in Your Garden

A seasonal look at the edibles you're harvesting now and what to do with them, followed by a discussion of what is best to plant now for your meals in the months to come. Christine Anthony, the Renee's Garden Seeds rep to the Arboretum and a UCCE Master Gardener, will share practical tips learned from life long experience in the garden and the kitchen. Please be prepared to share your recipe ideas and gardening tips with one and all.

Oct. 27: Nicholas Staddon, The New American Garden

Nicholas Staddon travels the United States and the world in search of new trends and great plants for American gardens. In his lively and informative presentation, he’ll discuss some of the issues facing American gardeners today: invasive plants, the water situation, the plight of the pollinators, and what the solutions might be. Nicholas also will share some of his very best plant suggestions for our region.

Nov. 3: Leigh Adams: Permaculture: A Gardener’s Perspective

Interpretive horticulturalist and creator of the Crescent Garden, Leigh Adams will give us an overview of her experience working with Permaculture. She will then lead us on a private tour of the garden she created “behind the scenes” at the Arboretum.

http://www.arboretum.org

Imagine LA: Engage, Enlighten & Empower Event @ Wallis Annenberg Center For Performing Arts
Oct 13 @ 5:30 pm

Join Imagine LA Thursday, October 13, 2016, for the Engage, Enlighten & Empower event to learn what it takes to end homelessness, discover how you can be a part of the solution, and enjoy the Wallis Annenberg Center For Performing Arts, fabulous food and wine!  

Wine & Food Pairing Reception & Silent Auction
Food by 
AMMO
5:30 – 7:00pm

A Conversation: What it Takes to End Homelessness in LA
7:00 – 8:00pm In The Lovelace Theater
Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Chair of the Homelessness & Poverty Committee, LA City Council & Wendy Greuel, Chair of LAHSA & Former LA City Controller

Honoring 
Pamela & Cliff Cole, Philanthropic Leadership Award

imagine-laFor more info, please visit http://www.imaginela.org/fall-celebration

Oct
15
Sat
CROP Hunger Walk @ Our Lady Queen of Angels
Oct 15 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Join the Newport Mesa Irvine Interfaith Council as they walk along the Back Bay to help end hunger.  To register, please visit https://www.crophungerwalk.org/newportbeachca​ today!

2016 Imagine Awards @ California Science Center (Samuel Oschin Pavilion under Space Shuttle Endeavor)
Oct 15 @ 7:00 pm

Don’t miss a night of dinner, drinks and dancing under Space Shuttle Endeavour and help Inner-City Arts shoot for the stars!

imagine-awards-16By engaging young people in their own creative process, Inner-City Arts is helping shape a society of creative, confident and collaborative individuals who dare to IMAGINE a future filled with possibility.

Join Inner-City Arts as they celebrate the transformational work of their organization, and honor the philanthropic commitment of The Boeing Company and Susan Emerling-Torres.

Imagine Awards is Inner-City Arts' signature fundraising event. All contributions directly support Inner-City Arts' work in providing arts education for underserved youth in downtown LA.

To purchase your tickets and for sponsorship opportunities, please click HERE.

Oct
16
Sun
KEENFEST 2016 @ Golden Road Brewery
Oct 16 @ 5:00 pm

Please join KEEN Los Angeles Sunday, October 16th for KEENFEST 2016. 
 

Individual Tickets: $75

To purchase Tickets, Tables and Sponsorships, click here.

  • 5:00 pm Silent Aucton and Magic Show
  • 5:30 pm Programkeenfest-2016
  • 7:00 pm Silent Auction Closes 
Oct
19
Wed
Back on My Feet Birthday Bash @ JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. LIVE
Oct 19 @ 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm

The ACE Cash Express Back on My Feet Birthday Bash is the organization’s largest event of the year! Join them as they celebrate the past year's achievements of Back on My Feet members and gear up for another successful year in Greater Los Angeles. 

The ACE Cash Express Back on My Feet Greater Los Angeles Bash is a night to give your sneakers a rest, don your finest cocktail attire, and support the impact that Back on My Feet is having in the Greater Los Angeles community.
 
On Wednesday, October 19th, join nearly 400 supporters to rally behind a community that is working to end homelessness in our city by promoting health & wellness, community support, and independence. 

Who: 400 business leaders, supporters, partners and more
What: Their largest gala fundraiser includes dinner, drinks, networking, and more!
Tickets: $275 Individual Ticket, $500 Bash Ticket Pair
Dress: Cocktail attire

Visit https://www.501auctions.com/bomflabash2016 for tickets and info.ace-back-on-my-feed-bash

Oct
20
Thu
LA Arboretum: “What’s Happening in Gardening” Series @ Los Angeles County Arboretum & Botanic Garden
Oct 20 @ 9:30 am – 12:00 pm

whats-happening-in-gardening-la-arboretum-16Don’t miss the LA Arboretum’s “What's Happening in Gardening” Series!

8 Thursdays, September 15-November 3
9:30am-12pm; $140 for the series; $25 per class
 

These classes are designed to help you keep up with garden news, trends, tips and pests. Each class begins with an open discussion and plant giveaway, followed by a lecture or hands-on workshop from one of the following speakers:

Sept. 15:  Jose & Carrie Hernandez, CJ’s Organic Farm

CJ's Organic Farm grows heirloom vegetables, fruits, and herbs for year-round weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) baskets. They also sell organically grown heirloom vegetables and herb starts for your garden at the CJ’s Organic Farm booth at the Villa Park Farmers’ Market in Pasadena on Tuesday mornings.

Sept. 22: Nancy Bird, Rocks for Your Garden

Nancy Bird, rock expert and owner of NancyRocks, will show beautiful colorful rocks that will compliment your garden. She also will explain the Bureau of Land Management rules and permitting procedures for collecting rocks for free!

Sept. 29: Jill Morganelli, New Gardens & Garden Renovations at the Arboretum

Join Jill Morganelli, the Arboretum’s Horticultural Supervisor, for a discussion about the improvements being made in the gardens to enhance the Arboretum experience for visitors.

Oct. 6: Harold Koopowitz, Fall Blooming Daffodils

Harold Koopowitz currently is first vice president of the American Daffodil Society and editor emeritus for the Orchid Digest, which he edited for 10 years. He is well known internationally for breeding both slipper orchids and miniature daffodils. He is Professor Emeritus of biology in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at UC Irvine. He will be signing copies of his new novel, Diamonds and Disas: The Further Adventures of George and Matilda.

Oct. 13: Joe Brosius, Magic Growers

As production manager at Magic Growers, Joe Brosius is responsible for propagating and growing all plant material products. He also is a partner in the nursery and a past president of the L.A. chapter of California Association of Nurseries and Garden Centers (CANGC). Joe received his degree in ornamental horticulture from Cal-Poly San Luis Obispo.

Oct. 20: Christine Anthony, Cook Now from Your Garden & Plant Now in Your Garden

A seasonal look at the edibles you're harvesting now and what to do with them, followed by a discussion of what is best to plant now for your meals in the months to come. Christine Anthony, the Renee's Garden Seeds rep to the Arboretum and a UCCE Master Gardener, will share practical tips learned from life long experience in the garden and the kitchen. Please be prepared to share your recipe ideas and gardening tips with one and all.

Oct. 27: Nicholas Staddon, The New American Garden

Nicholas Staddon travels the United States and the world in search of new trends and great plants for American gardens. In his lively and informative presentation, he’ll discuss some of the issues facing American gardeners today: invasive plants, the water situation, the plight of the pollinators, and what the solutions might be. Nicholas also will share some of his very best plant suggestions for our region.

Nov. 3: Leigh Adams: Permaculture: A Gardener’s Perspective

Interpretive horticulturalist and creator of the Crescent Garden, Leigh Adams will give us an overview of her experience working with Permaculture. She will then lead us on a private tour of the garden she created “behind the scenes” at the Arboretum.

http://www.arboretum.org

Piece by Piece Gala & Exhibition @ Los Angeles Times Building
Oct 20 @ 6:30 pm

Join Piece by Piece for cocktails and light hors d'oeuvres while viewing an exhibition of incredible mosaic art and a special performance by Urban Voices – A Skid Row Choir. Learn more about the artists of Skid Row and South Los Angeles who are changing their world, one piece at a time.

For more info, please visit http://www.piecebypiece.org/gala1/.

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

Oct
23
Sun
Food, Faith & Field Symposium @ Prince of Peace Church
Oct 23 @ 2:00 pm – Oct 23 @ 7:00 pm

netiya-symposiumThis Fall, don’t miss Food Day! Netiya is convening a Food, Faith, and Fieldwork Symposium. The 2016 event will be held on October 23rd, 2-7 pm at the Prince of Peace Episcopal Church in Woodland Hills which boasts a two-acre fruit orchard (installed by Netiya and Seeds of Hope), a community garden, and an interfaith food pantry that feeds 3000 people monthly). Family-friendly. Come and experience a first 'taste' of the upcoming collaboration, Bread & Salt, a series of exhibitions and programs, launching Fall 2017, bringing together numerous Jewish cultural sites throughout Southern California to explore contemporary, historic and ritual aspects of food at the Faith and Field Symposium. Register on the link above!  For more info, please visit http://tinyurl.com/jexj6ts. For sponsorship info, visit netiya.org.

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.