In The News
WBC Helps Spread Holiday Cheer with L.A. Rams, LAPD, and A Chance for Children Foundation
January 2023
The Watts Rams joined Los Angeles Police Department officers and the L.A. Rams on a ride on Santa’s sleigh to pass out toys throughout the Pueblo Del Rio and Watts communities. LAPD partnered up with the Water Buffalo Club and A Chance for Children Foundation for the sleigh ride and representatives from both organizations also helped pass out toys. Read more here.
2022 Thanksgiving Campaign
November 2022
The Water Buffalo Club raised funds this year to support over 2,000 families by raising $200,000. Thank you to all our Members, Donors and Volunteers for the support. Check out this video!
The Water Buffalo Club Honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal
April 2022
The Water Buffalo Club was honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal (LABJ) as a finalist in the 2022 LABJ Nonprofit and Corporate Citizenship Awards. The WBC was a finalist in the Fundraising Event of the Year Category for our 2021 Thanksgiving Give Away Campaign where we provided grocery store gift cards to help families in need for Thanksgiving. It was an honor to be included in the company of such dedicated community groups. Click here to watch the virtual awards program. The WBC’s category was featured at approximately 1:13.
Dodgers Dreamfield Project
April 2022
On April 16th, Members of the Water Buffalo Club attended the 2nd phase grand opening of the Dodgers Dreamfield Project at Gonzales Park in Compton. This project is part of the WBC’s partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation that began back in late 2019. The Gonzales Park Project featured the complete restoration of two fields and the creation of a third field, pitching practice areas and a practice field, STEM curriculum, solar power for the stadium, new signage and many other enhancements. This project is a generational game changer for the residents of the City of Compton. The fields are named after Jackie Robinson, Rachel Robinson and the third field is called “Field 42”. Rachel Robinson, Jackie’s widow, as well as their son David, and their granddaughter were in attendance as well as Dodgers player Clayton Kershaw, whose foundation, Kershaw’s Challenge was also a project sponsor. Check out this amazing photo of WBC VP, Russ Richker, Board Member, Bruce Mandel, Members, Rick Sukov, Jason Grant and Ryan Duitch with Rachel Robinson and David Robinson.
The Water Buffalo Club Participates in Jackie Robinson Day
April 2022
The Water Buffalo Club participated in Jackie Robinson Day activities at Longfellow Elementary School where we kicked off the LA Reads Campaign in partnership with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and the Dodgers. Members of Jackie Robinson’s Family spoke as well as the CEO of the Dodgers Foundation, Dodger, David Price, and the WBC’s Executive Director. Longfellow Elementary’s over 500 students each received a copy of the book, “I am Jackie Robinson”.
The Water Buffalo Club Partners with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
April 2022
The Water Buffalo Club is partnering with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation to be the presenting sponsor for the 2022 LA Reads Campaign which kicked off on April 15th at Longfellow Elementary in Pasadena on Jackie Robinson Day. More details about this exciting partnership can be found here.
Water Buffalo Club Holiday Donations
December 2021
The Water Buffalo Club donated $31,000 to our partner, The Falcons Youth and Family Services. The funds were used to provide over 6,200 hot meals to children in need over their holiday break.
The Water Buffalo Club took 125 students in need to The Barnes and Noble at The Grove for a private shopping event. Children each received new books and toys as well as photos with Santa. After the shopping event the children got to see a movie and enjoy popcorn, candy and sodas.
The Water Buffalo Club provided grocery store gift cards and new toys for the holiday season to 100 families at 118th Street Elementary School in partnership with IIABA-LA.
The Water Buffalo Club provided 80 students with new books and toys for the holidays at Urban Scholar Academy.
WBC Donates $200,000 to Families in Need for Thanksgiving
November 2021
Water Buffalo Club donates $200,000 worth of grocery store gift cards to help 2,000 families in need this Thanksgiving!
Since 2018 the Water Buffalo Club has doubled the number of families we are able to impact at our annual Thanksgiving Meal Give Away event. From November 13-20th, the Water Buffalo Club distributed grocery store gift cards to families in need through our partner school sites and programs. Check out this video!
Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors, Donors, Members and Volunteers for their support!
Water Buffalo Club Awards $115,000 in new grants
September 2021
Water Buffalo Club Awards $115,000 in new grants to the following Organizations as part of its Silver Bullet Grant Program. The WBC is proud to partner with these amazing groups who are all doing great things to help underserved youth throughout greater Los Angeles.
- Urban Scholar Academy: $25,000 for a new passenger van
- Foundation for Learning, Academics & Growth (FLAG): $22,500 for technology
- Los Angeles Metropolitan Debate League (LAMDL): $22,000 for technology
- AWOKE/UNITE/GR818ERS: $18,000 for audio/visual equipment
- Shero’s Rise: $10,000 for technology
- Hands 4 Hope LA: $10,000 for technology
- EmpowHer: $7,500 for technology
WBC Board Member Rob Deutschman on KBLA1580
August 2021
Check our WBC Board Member Rob Deutschman on the August 23rd broadcast of KBLA1580’s “Who’s Paying Attention” radio program. You can check out the broadcast via the app or on their website.
WBC’s Executive Director Featured in ShoutoutLA
August 2021
The WBC’s Executive Director was featured in the ShoutoutLA Interview. You can access the interview here.
The Water Buffalo Club partners with The Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation
July 2021
The Water Buffalo Club partners with The Thelma Pearl Howard Foundation to award special partnership grants to The Debbie Allen Dance Academy and The Inner City Youth Orchestra of Los Angeles.
The Water Buffalo Club partners with Sloane Stevens Foundation
June 2021
The Water Buffalo Club partners with Sloane Stephens Foundation to help expand access to tennis programs to children in Compton. See the story here.
The Water Buffalo Club partners with Falcons Youth and Family Services for Thanksgiving
November 2020
In addition to our own Thanksgiving Gift card Give Away Events, the Water Buffalo Club partnered with Falcons Youth and Family Services to provide fresh smoked turkeys and gift cards to 100 families in need. See the story here.
The Water Buffalo Club Annual Thanksgiving Campaign 2020
November 2020
The Water Buffalo Club (WBC) didn’t let COVID stop us from making a difference this Thanksgiving! Instead of handing out boxes of fresh turkeys, pies and food for the holiday, the WBC partnered with various sponsors and donors to fund the donation of 1,500 $75 gift cards for families in need across greater Los Angeles. This was our most impactful year in our 31 year history! Gift cards were distributed at 12 different elementary school campuses. Here is a video from one of our donation sites, McKinley Elementary in Compton.
The Water Buffalo Club featured in VoyageLA
October 2020
Water Buffalo Club’s Kate Zarouk is interviewed by VoyageLA, click here.
The Water Buffalo Club Proudly Joins with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Kershaw’s Challenge
February 2020
The Water Buffalo Club joined forces with The Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and Kershaw’s Challenge to help renovate three baseball fields in the community of Compton at Gonzales Park. Check out this video from the groundbreaking ceremony hosted by Anthony Anderson.
The Water Buffalo Club Proudly Joins with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation
February 12, 2020
The Water Buffalo Club proudly joins with the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation and its lead partners The City of Compton and Kershaw’s Challenge to be a lead sponsor of the largest Dodger Dreamfields project to date honoring Jackie Robinson at Gonzales Park in Compton. Groundbreaking for the multi-million dollar 3 field renovation took place on February 12th with WBC President, Vin Calcagno, Vice President John Saunders, and Fundraising Chair and Board Member, Rob Deutschman in attendance. Below are some photos from the amazing event.
Water Buffalo Club partners with the LAPD, USC’s Sol Price School of Pubic Policy, and A Chance for Children to create a new public safety initiative
May 15, 2019
The Water Buffalo Club partnered with the LAPD, USC’s Sol Price School of Pubic Policy, and A Chance for Children to create a new public safety initiative that brings together a powerful, multi-pronged community partnership to support The Hero In You Foundation’s Rocket Rules for Safety Program. Developed for children ages 3-9, a vulnerable and overlooked age-group, the goal is to teach situational and sensory awareness and action skills that kids can apply in real-life Active Threat situations. We aim to promote knowledge that leads to smart, split-second decisions in a variety of scenarios and surroundings.
YWCA Pasadena Girls Empowerment Programs Receive Generous Grant to Purchase New Van
March 18, 2019
YWCA Pasadena has received a generous $14,500 grant from the Water Buffalo Club in support of their Girls Empowerment Programs. This grant was provided to the YWCA Pasadena to purchase a new van to replace an 18-year-old van which was used to transport program participants for the after-school program, field trips, and excursions during summer camp. The new Chevrolet Express van was purchased at JStar Auto Group with attentive service and assistance from salesman Luke Jiles. To read more about this announcement, click here.
Water Buffalo Club Featured on PEACE Fund Radio
February 6, 2019
To hear Adrian Paul, founder of the PEACE Fund interview members of the Water Buffalo Club on PEACE Fund Radio, click here.