If you’ve been part of the LCM family for some time, you are already familiar with our annual gifting tradition. Each year, two charitable organizations are selected by two of our team members to receive a donation on behalf of you, our clients. Nearly always, the charities have a special meaning to the people who chose them. Our goal is twofold. First, we want to put our mission to ‘invest wisely, live abundantly, and give purposefully’ into action by giving back to our community. Second, we want to familiarize you with charities that we believe are worthy not only of our own donations, but of yours as well.
Brooke and Marr were asked to select the organizations that will receive gifts in honor of the Leisure client family this year. If you are searching for wonderful organizations to give to this season, we hope their choices will serve as a powerful inspiration.
LCM’s 2024 gifts
Brooke’s chosen charity is Angel Flight West (AFW) whose 1,800+ volunteer pilots fly their own planes and pay all costs out of their own pockets to transport people with healthcare or other needs to the best possible care. Brooke’s introduction to the organization came from her former bosses, Steve and Jill Beck. “Steve is a mission command pilot for AFW, and his personal involvement with the organization inspired the whole company to become involved,” says Brooke. “We sponsored a big golf tournament at Monarch Beach where I heard many stories about how AFW truly changes lives for people in need.”
A touching example of this impact is the story of Taylor, a spirited two-year-old who faced an unexpected health crisis. After she developed Opsoclonus-Myoclonus-Ataxia syndrome, her doctors discovered a cancerous tumor near her spine. AFW made it possible for Taylor and her family to fly at no cost to the city where she could receive the treatment she needed. Flights were arranged through AFW’s dedicated network of volunteer pilots who generously donate their time and resources when and where they are needed. Dennis, the pilot who volunteered to fly Taylor and her family, went above and beyond, personally driving them from the airport to their hotel during busy traffic. His compassion and dedication made a profound difference, providing the comfort and reassurance that every family deserves in such difficult times.
Brooke’s understanding of just how much this service can mean hit home when her husband, Kevin, was diagnosed with an acoustic neuroma tumor. “At the time, our daughter was just 18 months old, and the whole experience was an awful, fast-moving whirlwind,” says Brooke. “We were incredibly fortunate that the top surgeon for the procedure Kevin needed was right here in Southern California. I can’t fathom how hard it would have been if we’d needed to travel to a faraway city—or if it had been our toddler who needed urgent care.” By removing the financial and logistical burden of getting care where and when it’s needed, AFW changes lives every day.
Philanthropists can also feel confident that every amount donated to AFW counts. Ranked as a 4-star charity on Charity Navigator, every dollar given to AFW is multiplied nearly 5x thanks to its strong network of more than 1,600 pilots who provide their time, fuel, and personal support at no cost, as well as the team of over 1,000 ‘earth angels’ who manage operations on the ground.
Marr’s chosen charity is Villa Esperanza Services, an organization dedicated to empowering children, adults, and seniors with special needs. Their mission is to provide love, care, and hope for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families. Annually, the organization’s Pasadena campus provides daycare for over 650 children, teens, and adults who live with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome, Autism, and nearly 30 other disabilities. They also have residences in the neighborhood for independent living.
“We have worked with Villa Esperanza for over 15 years, helping them build their endowment and maintain their financial independence,” says Marr. Outside of the office, Marr has also been inspired by his participation in the organization’s annual golf tournament at San Gabriel Country Club. “One of the highlights of the tournament is that they bring a number of the students to help volunteer for the event. It’s a delight to see the enthusiasm of these young students—and how engaged they are, despite their disabilities. It’s a tribute to the work that Villa performs every day.” The leadership, staff, and volunteers at Villa are passionate about the services they provide, and they know that without their help, the time and money needed for families to provide the one-on-one care their children require may be insurmountable.
Villa does receive some funding from public resources. “But as we all know,” stresses Marr, “State funding is very precarious and unpredictable, which makes budgeting for operations a wildcard. Private donations help fill the gap to make Villa’s services possible.” Thanks to Villa’s exceptional reputation and 4-star rating on Charity Navigator, individuals and companies throughout Southern California can feel confident that all donations are going to a wonderful and well-managed cause. For Marr, the choice was simple: “It’s easy to want to be involved because they perform the most difficult tasks every day: providing education and care for children and adults with life challenging disabilities.”
As we reflect on the season of giving, we are inspired by the incredible work of Angel Flight West and Villa Esperanza Services. These organizations embody the spirit of compassion, resilience, and dedication that we strive to emulate at Leisure Capital Management. We hope their stories resonate with you as much as they have with us, and we encourage you to consider supporting these or other meaningful causes that make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. Together, we can amplify the impact of giving and continue to build stronger, more connected communities.
