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Join us - $10 a month can transform a child's life
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Please consider joining us in transforming lives of vulnerable youth by donating $10 per month to help us ensure that we keep our valuable programs running. Automatic monthly deductions can be made thorough our secure website. Thank you for your generosity.
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Create Now is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1996. Our mission is to transform the lives of high-risk and at-risk youth through creative arts mentoring, education, resources and opportunities. The organization serves kids who have been abused, neglected, abandoned and orphaned, are left homeless, runaways, teen parents, victims of domestic violence, children of prisoners, substance abusers, gang members or incarcerated. In the past fourteen years, we've reached over 21,000 of these vulnerable kids through our unique arts mentoring and cultural programs and services.
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Writing Helps Foster Girls Release Stress
 Inga Hansen is a magazine editor and writer. She recently taught abused and neglected teenage foster girls creative writing at Aviva Family and Children's Services, a group home in Hollywood. Inga said, "I didn't expect the willingness and enthusiasm of the girls to jump right in."
Some of the students were aspiring writers, while others were curious about creative writing. The girls wrote about their plans for the future, current crushes, the people they admire most and their fears and insecurities.
One girl said, "We get to say something and no one can judge us about it. It helps to get a lot of pressure and anger out and sadness that we don't get to show as much as we want to, so we get to write it."
Thanks to Oprah's Angel Network for their generous support of our Write Now literacy program.
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Ford Motors Supports Create Now
We are delighted that Create Now was on e of eight Southern California organizations selected by Ford Motors to have use of a Ford Fiesta car for one week (along with two Flip cameras) as part of "The People's Fleet" campaign. For seven days, this great car took us from one area of L.A. County to another so that we could evaluate our programs, bring supplies to youth and provide other services. Click here to see all the videos and watch us in action, thanks to the Ford Fiesta.
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"Inspired" Talent Showcase a Success!
 Our first youth Talent Showcase called "Inspired" took place on November 13th at West Post Digital in Santa Monica and was a huge triumph! Not only did we raise essential funds to keep our programs going, but all the foster youth from Leroy Haynes, Care Providers, Ettie Lee, Crittenton and Lifecircle group homes had a blast cheering their friends on as the 17 performers shared their amazing talents. These teens read their poems, sang, played guitars, danced and opened their hearts, inspiring everyone with their stories and tremendous talents.
Thanks to our volunteer Angelique Toschi for  organizing this event, West Post Digital for their space, bands "A Welcome Distraction" and "You" for their great performances, host Maxwell Glick, sponsors Brain Candy and Mariachis and More, and donors Nestle Retail Operations, Ralphs, Positive Experience Design and Printing, Blick's Art Supplies, Warner Brothers Consumer Products, the Urban Craft Center, Pappadelles of LA and Brenda Toschi for their support.
 Many of these kids exchanged numbers so that a network of peer support was created. Dominic from Leroy Haynes group home said, "It helped me to build confidence."
Oree from Crittenton Services group home said, "I felt like a star on stage. I felt like I was actually appreciated by the community."
We're so thrilled with the impact of our Talent Showcase that we plan to make it an annual event.
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Thanks to the Harry Chapin Foundation
 Create Now is grateful to the Harry Chapin Foundation for their generous matching grant to provide operating funds to sustain our programs. The Harry Chapin Memorial Fund was created in 1981 by our board member Ken Kragen (who was Harry's manager) and Kenny Rogers. The foundation's mission is to help make a positive difference in communities around the country. We really appreciate their support!
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