LOS ANGELES – The holidays are in full swing across public housing communities. The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) launched its 2024 Holiday Toy Giveaway series for children aged 0-12 and families at all 14 public housing sites. This annual initiative, made possible through the strong partnership between HACLA, partners, and residents, led to the distribution of over 6,000 toys. 

“The holiday season is a time for joy, togetherness, and giving back to our community,” said Lourdes Castro Ramírez, HACLA President and CEO. “Our annual toy giveaways are a testament to HACLA’s commitment to bringing joy to our youngest residents while fostering a sense of community. This wouldn’t be possible without the dedication and hard work of our resident leaders, our staff, and supportive partners who go above and beyond to ensure families across our public housing sites feel cared about during this special time of year.” 

The toy giveaways brought holiday joy to nearly 6,000 families across HACLA’s public housing sites, with special highlights at Pueblo del Rio, Ramona Gardens, Jordan Downs, and Nickerson Gardens. At Pueblo del Rio, the Community Safety Partnership Bureau (CSP) created a winter wonderland by bringing snow for residents to enjoy. At Ramona Gardens, the event featured a treat station and a photo area with Santa Claus, while Boys and Girls Club volunteers helped manage the toy giveaway. Over at Jordan Downs, Phi Beta Sigma and Zeta Phi Beta volunteers spread holiday cheer as they escorted children to select their toys. These events showcased the strong community spirit across HACLA’s public housing sites.

“These events are about more than just gifts; they’re about creating lasting memories and a sense of belonging for our communities. We are proud to stand alongside HACLA and community partners to bring holiday magic to our neighborhoods,” stated Joel Lopez, CSP Assistant Commanding Officer.  

JR Dzubak, CEO of West San Gabriel Valley and Eastside Boys and Girls Club, added, “On December 10th, the spirit of giving will shine brighter than ever as we join forces with the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles and West San Gabriel Valley Boys & Girls Club to spread joy and hope. This toy giveaway is more than just a holiday tradition—it's a reminder of the power of community, where every gift given is a symbol of our collective care and commitment to uplifting our neighbors.” 

“The “Toys for Watts” event is hosted by the Theta Alpha Sigma Alumni Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity inc. This event started in 2003. We have over 50 volunteers from Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc and Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc. Our fraternity’s motto is culture for service and service for humanity and “Toys for Watts” is a great opportunity to share this effort. Our fraternity’s principles are brotherhood, scholarship, and service so we love serving the kids in Jordan Downs. Many of our fraternity members lived in Watts and Jordan, so this has special meaning in supporting communities of our own. We reach out to community members, friend, and family to support these kids," said Chris Manigault, Giveaway Project Coordinator and former Phi Beta Sigma chapter president.

As part of the series, HACLA also collaborated with Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) for their annual Holiday Charity Concert and Toy Giveaway at Nickerson Gardens. The two-day event featured performances by TDE artists and special guests, with concert entry granted in exchange for donations of unwrapped toys, new clothes, or other items. The concert is followed by a community event the next day, offering activities such as a toy giveaway, carnival attractions, and a family holiday photo opportunity.  

“Partnering with HACLA to create TDE Christmas has been nothing short of incredible. This initiative has brought both joy and profound impact, funneling tens of millions into Nickerson Gardens and Watts while inspiring hope and unity. It’s an honor to be part of something so transformative,” said Brandon “Big B” Tiffith, TDE Chief Marketing Officer.  

These efforts were also made possible thanks to the generous support of our partners including Veritas, California Office of Traffic Safety, Legacy LA, Alma Services, Soledad Enrichment Action, South LA All In, Al Barro Foundation, Mama’s Del Sur Centro, Start Here, Urbano Strategies, Zapatos, and other local organizations.

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About HACLA
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) was established in 1938 by City of Los Angeles Resolution No. 1241. HACLA is one of the nation’s largest and leading public housing authorities, providing the largest supply of quality affordable housing to residents of the City of Los Angeles. HACLA provides affordable housing to over 83,000 households in its Public Housing and Section 8 rental assistance programs, and offers a range of permanent supportive housing programs for homeless households, including: Project-Based, HUD – Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing, Homeless, Tenant Based Supportive Housing, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), Continuum of Care and Moderate Rehabilitation Single Room Occupancy program. For more information, visit www.hacla.org. 

Contact:
Claudia Monterrosa, Director of Policy & Innovation 
213-252-1871

Media.Relations@hacla.org