Summer is finally here, and for Playa Vistans that means free outdoor concerts and movies galore — and the convenience of a daily shuttle to and from the beach. It’s important to enjoy the long days of summer, then come home and barbeque or just chill out. But many local workers and residents understand that not everyone has that luxury.
When I spoke to Lena Khouri, co-founder of Deutsch Good, a charitable gang of advertising execs, I was thoroughly inspired by her dedication to organizing and giving back to the community. Homeless teens, rescue dogs and even local beaches have benefitted from the efforts of Deutsch Good and will continue to do so.
The Venice Design Series held its concluding fundraiser this year at the offices of 72andSunny. Proceeds from the stunning gala go to Venice Community Housing Corp., an organization dedicated to providing neighborhood-based solutions for the homeless and low-income families in need of a safe place to live. Hosts Jay Griffith, 72andSunny CEO Matt Jarvis and filmmaker Amy Steir graciously provided tours of the buildings that once were home to Howard Hughes’s business ventures. Again, I was filled with inspiration from all the compassion and hard work that went into planning and executing such a lovely event to benefit those most in need.
At Taste of Playa Vista, an evening of food, wine and music, I had the chance to chat with local mom Marianna Villa, who organized the accompanying auction to benefit Playa Vista Elementary School. It’s easy to think that organizing such an elaborate auction would be stressful, but Villa had nothing but joy in her eyes as she told me how much her two children love their community.
As we celebrate the season with the many summer treats featured in this issue, I hope that you will also find inspiration to help make the community at large a better place in at least
some small way. According to the people interviewed in these pages, it feels great to give back.
Shanee Edwards
Managing Editor · editor@playavistadirect.com
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