More than afterschool. A second home.
Free programs for young people 8 to 24 and their families in the San Fernando Valley. Music, dance, STEAM, college prep, and people who know every name.
Now enrolling: seats are open for the school year.
Our Mission
Hands4Hope LA provides support to youth and their parents from low-income, underserved, predominantly single-parent households to improve their quality of life. We do this through educational enrichment, wellness programming, mentorship, workforce readiness, and family support. Through safe, nurturing, and culturally responsive programs, we help young people build the skills, confidence, and connections they need to thrive.
The Four Pillars
Everything we do stands on four hands.
Develop Talents
Music, dance, and art, taught weekly and proven every June when students take the showcase stage.
Instill Life Skills
Homework done, healthy meals shared, and the everyday habits that carry into adulthood.
Broaden Horizons
The zoo, Dodger Stadium, the Science Center. Experiences kids wouldn’t otherwise get.
Build Self Esteem
Mentors who know every name, small groups, and a stage where every student stands tall.
A few minutes inside
See it for yourself
Spend a few minutes inside the program. Then meet the films our teens write, shoot, and star in themselves, including Daisy, the first of their yearly driver-safety films. This year, for the first time, they made one entirely in Spanish.
See the Showcase
Find your thing
Monday–Thursday until 6:30 pm during the school year. Summer camp when school’s out. Every program free.
Music
Guitar, drums, piano, and a June showcase where students take the stage.
Instruments provided. Just bring the kid.
Dance
Movement, confidence, performance. Wednesdays are for dancing.
STEAM & Tutoring
Coding, art, science, homework help, with healthy snacks on the table.
Local Adventures
The zoo, the fire station, HBCU Night. Experiences kids wouldn’t otherwise get.
Our corner of Los Angeles
Rooted in the Valley.
Some programs are run from a national office. Ours run from Otsego Street. Two homes, two school partnerships, one park we fill every May, and adventures all over Los Angeles.
Every dot is a place where someone knows your kid’s name.
Ready for them to find their thing? Registration takes minutes.
Every program is free. Low-cost transportation from partner schools is available.
For donors
Watch your gift become a kid on a stage.
An instrument lands in a kid’s hands
A real instrument to learn on, ready every time they walk in.
A mentor shows up, week after week
Lessons from people who’ve played for decades and teach for love.
They’re on stage at the June Showcase
26 years running. Families in the seats. A kid who found their thing.
One family’s story
Azie came for homework help. Her whole family stayed.
Her family therapist told her about Hands4Hope LA. Her kids joined the program, then summer camp: Underwood Farms, the California Science Center, Castaic Lake. Homework done, new friends made.
And Azie? Parent workshops, community, and a raffle win that paid a bill in a hard month. “The children are happier, more motivated at school, and safe.”
Twenty-five years of work. UCLA helped us count it.
260,000+
meals served
Nobody learns music hungry.
250,000+
homework assignments finished
Done before parents get off shift.
1,280+
kids given a safe space
Some of them are on this page.
One-time or monthly. Tax-deductible (EIN 95-4791662). Corporate matching doubles it.
We said we know every kid’s name. Here’s what they say about us.
Student testimonials
My son attends the North Hollywood location and he loves this program. I am a single mother and this program is a God send. My son is learning new skills and his social development has improved drastically. He completes his homework with help from the wonderful staff, and they’ve helped him hone his talents. We love Hands4Hope. Such a blessing to the community.
Get Involved
Parents
Registration takes minutes. Programs run Monday–Thursday during the school year, with low-cost transportation from partner schools.
RegisterDonors
Every dollar keeps programs free for the low-income families we serve. Corporate matching doubles your impact.
Give NowVolunteers
Teach a chord, chaperone an adventure, help at the showcase. You’ll get back more than you give.
Volunteer