I thought I would give all of you a special treat for this Holiday Season by interviewing the owner of Living Advanatage, Pamela Clay. Pam is one of the most vibrant and energetic people I know. She has such infectious positive energy and I wanted everyone to know just how wonderful she really is by featuring her as an Everyday Shero, because her life calling to help foster youth is truly saving the universe. Living Advantage is actually the charity that Sheroes gives a percentage of proceeds raised at all of our fundraisers. Get to know Pamela Clay and get involved in her movement!!!
I have to say after interviewing her I have even more respect and admiration for you Pam!! Kudos to you, Pam for making a difference in our community and being an Everyday Shero!!
S: Please tell us what inspired you to begin your non-profit organization, Living Advantage?
PC: In September, 1993 Living Advantage, Inc. was incorporated as a non-profit organization. Bernice W. Clay, the founder, established the organization to further carry out her mission to help underprivileged youth in areas of special education, severe emotional and behavioral problems, and speech impediments. The other founding members have diversified backgrounds. Together they opened the first (6) bed group home in 1996.
I was suppose to just be the silent financial partner, but my Mom got sick, I had to make the decision if I wanted to continue her mission or loose about a $4,000 investment. It was not a huge lost however; I had never lost any money in an investment. So…… the business woman I am, I needed to make that money work and that’s what pretty much inspired me to begin the work of the non-profit.
Now what inspired me to take it to another level…………the kids not having anyone, I mean NOBODY that supported them. They would walk through our group home doors with barely shoes on their feet. There was nobody that was there for them, whether having a good day or bad day. They really have no foundation of love and support that is consistent and unconditional. THAT IS WHAT INSPIRES ME TO RUN LIVING ADVANTAGE, A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION!!!
S:What were you doing before you began Living Advantage?
PC: I have been an entrepreneur for over 30 years and have established relationships with organizations and businesses throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. My background includes over 25 years of Real Estate finance and business management. While having purchased Real Estate throughout Los Angles that is how we started investing in group homes.
S:It seems like you have a very supportive team, how did you go about acquiring these individuals and who are they?
PC:Honestly, these people come to me because of their need to want to help these children. Foster youth/children are very special and require people of the heart. God places my team with me by belief and faith that we are making a difference and will impact thousands of children, but in the long run a community, city, state, nation of people. It is not me doing this. This is a calling….
S:What does Living Advantage do for our community?
PC:Living Advantage sends out an E-news-letters to over 35,000 people a week. We have a strong viewership on social networks like FaceBook, Twitter, U tube, MySpace; we do blogging, several public service announcements/non-profit commercials on TV, radio and cable. We spend a lot of time in the community that showcase our works at school, events, conferences, Red carpets and public official Town Halls, just to mention a few. We use press releases, print news articles and magazine articles to inform and educate our community about the issues of youth in foster care and ways they can support and show their love.
S:Does Living Advantage help youth in Los Angeles only or do you service other cites as well. If not, do you plan on expanding?
PC:For now we centralize our efforts in Los Angeles City/County. The reason for that is because there are nearly 40,000 foster youth living in the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) — THE LARGEST POPULATION IN THE NATION! This year alone over 1,400 young adults will have to leave the support of the foster care system forever with little or no financial support and/or life skills. Now they are vulnerable and exposed to committing theft, prostitution and drug abuse for survival. Together we will help reduce the plight of homelessness, incarceration, Gangs, alcoholism and drug addiction against these young adults. In order to make a larger impact we had to focus our attempt that better empowers them and we are more effective and efficient. Yes, when sustainable funding is in place we will expand.
S:What other projects/businesses are you involved in?
PC:February 27, 2009 we have impacted institutional and governmental policies by introducing Assembly Bill#1148, The VALE Program into legislation. April, 2009 Student Worker Training Site for Youth in Los Angeles City, AADAP and City of Los Angeles Summer Youth Employment Program. We just signed a Memorandum of Understanding with LA Unified School District #7 Manual Arts High School to Partner and start the Virtual Assistant Living and Educational Program, VALE Program – Were we provide access to online data storage to provide a secure portal to maintain personal and vital life documents for youth. Introduce foster youth to the computer technology and e-educational resources available via the internet, to achieve a higher rate of educational success. Community Support – To expose foster youth to positive role models for the purpose of higher self esteem and to engage youth at events and activities that are hosted by Living Advantage and expose them to our on-line community Mentors/Supporters.
S:How does someone go about contributing and/or becoming a sponsor of LA?
PC:www.LivingAdvantageInc.org the donate now button or go to the link “OTHER WAYS TO SUPPORT” Gives you a host of different formats to get involve, volunteer, shop at Ralphs, etc.
S:What is your most rewarding experience thus far?
PC:Knowing that the VALE Program works – TRUE LIFE TESTIMONIAL…….. Ubaldo D. was a young man who lived in one of the Living Advantage foster homes and aged out of the system 5 years ago. He recently contacted Living Advantage because he lost his social security card and needed it to renew his driver’s license. He has a family of 5 to support and without a valid driver’s license he was in jeopardy of losing his job. Living Advantage easily retrieved Ubaldo’s information and he was able to get his license and keep his job. He has since been promoted and has a better quality of life.
S:What are some of the challenges of running Living Advantage?
PC:MONEY…..MONEY…..MONEY!!!! Sustainable revenue to implement the VALE Program and pay the bills. It is a challenge……..
S:Where do you see Living Advantage in 5 years, 10 years?
PC:Servicing thousands of youth that need our work all over the country
S:Are there ways for people to get involved with Living Advantage on a volunteer basis if they can’t necessarily contribute monetarily?
PC:Yes, of course. We love volunteers.
S:Do you find it difficult to keep a nonprofit afloat in these economic times?
PC:IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, BUT THROUGH THE GRACE OF GOD AND FOLKS THAT GIVE A LITTLE, IT GOES A LONGGGGG WAY!!
S:You work so hard for these kids, do you ever get your Pam time? What does Pam time consist of?
PC:You know what??? I do work hard for my kids. I honestly love their butts, but as hard as I work for the kids, I do play hard. It consist of being at home, I’m a great cook. I have a phenomenal 23 year old daughter, the majority of my family in LA are in convalescent homes, so I am there about 1-2 a week. I do a lot of hospital visits. I am also a restaurant connoisseur. I receive at least 3-5 invitations a day to a party, club, movie premier, etc. I travel, snow ski, Jet ski, roller skate, swim and PPPPAAARRRTTTYYYY!!!!
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