Javier Becerra
LTF and The Downey Patriot has teamed up again to provide the Downey community with another “Coming Home” article. This past week, we featured Javier who has had an outstanding career in the U.S. Army. To read more about his life and get in touch with what exactly he has done for our great nation, visit: Coming Home – Javier Becerra
Last week, Living Tree was able to join in partnership with the Telacu Organization in hosting a booth at their health fair for Seniors. This was a great opportunity for LTF to get traction for our foundation as well as promote our services to seniors that may be veterans or that may know someone who is or is seeking assistance. We were welcomed to the facility with open arms by Telacu’s friendly staff and we were able to meet some great organizations that are excited to partner up with us! Our Founder Rick Rodriguez was also in attendance where he was honored by participating in the Ribbon Cutting at the Opening Ceremonies before the actual event took place.
Living Tree Foundation has had the opportunity to partner up with The Downey Patriot which is our local newspaper to create a new weekly series dedicated to introducing our Veterans that are coming home. Last week, the paper came into the LTF office to conduct an interview with our founders Rick and Lupe Rodriguez. The article digs deep into their history from their beginnings as a company to their family life and the development of Living Tree. Please feel free to check out their interview here: http://www.thedowneypatriot.com/article/in-downey-and-across-the-country-every-soldier-has-a-story/
In addition we would like to thank the whole Downey Patriot team for this wonderful opportunity and we are excited for this new partnership.
Written by: Alyssa Portillo
It’s important to take time from our hectic lives and notice the little things. We tend to get worked up about the smallest mishaps in OUR world that we forget to notice the events happen around us. Take the time to notice.
Posted by: Alyssa Portillo
Wishing you well traveled seas on this Tuesday. Please don’t forget to follow our instagram @livingtreefoundation and our twitter @yourlivingtree.
Posted By: Alyssa Portillo
Today, LTF had a field trip to the VA Hospital Long Beach to get the ball rolling on future contacts and opportunities. While exploring, we were able to visit with individuals that work in the VA Resource Center, Volunteer Center, and The Transitional Center to communicate the mission of Living Tree and see if we could be of assistance. LTF is excited to announce that our members as well as student volunteers will be starting the process of being volunteer escorts for veterans at the hospital. In addition to starting the volunteer process, Living Tree is very excited to be working with the hospital’s Transitional Center in hopes that we may be acting as a liaison between returning troops and the hospital to help them with resources to transition them back into civilian life.
While visiting, we ran into some veterans that were volunteering with parking enforcement that were kind enough to let us take a photo with them.
Written by: Alyssa Portillo
Image by: Victoria Rios
It’s important to understand what we as an organization stand for and what exactly is it that we offer here at LTF. As a team, we have developed some Frequently Asked Questions that may help with understanding The Living Tree Organization better.
What is the purpose of the organization?
-LTF seeks to provide assistance to select organizations that are committed to providing for the needs of combat veterans, currently military service personnel as well as families in dire straits.
Is there a mission statement? What is it?
–LTF strives to provide a helping hand whenever it is needed mostly to the people who need the most.
What groups of people does this organization serve?
–While our organization’s mission is to provide assistance to all who need assistance, we estimate that 90% of our assistance is Veteran based.
What social problems does this organization address or help to remedy?
-LTF prides itself in offering Veterans the resources needed to a quick, easy and effective transition from active duty civilian life.
What are the roles of members of this organization?
-We have one part-time paid Project Manager. The role of the Project Manager is to seek out veterans and individuals that can benefit from the partnering organizations that LTF is in partnership with.
What are the responsibilities of members this organization?
–Each member is responsible for continuous growth and effective building of LTF.
How important are volunteers to this organization?
–Volunteers are essential to the on-going building of LTF. Our goal at LTF is to expand our resources as well as those we assist by minimum of 65% in the next quarter. This goal will not be accomplished without the help of our volunteers.
Does this organizations collaborate with similar organizations on a local, regional, or national level?
–We partner with numerous Veteran based and community networking organizations on all levels.
What are the main obstacles that inhibit the fulfillment of the mission?
–We are a “grass roots” organizations. We operate with little overhead and with minimum support staff. This concept reduces internal inefficiencies that can delay or even hinder our goals.
What are the organization’s annual goals, need, and results?
–As of now, LTF annual goal is to assist 450 veterans with job placement, transition from active duty to civilian life in a most effective and efficient way possible. To accomplish our goal, we will work diligently to seek out individuals and veterans that are in need.
How is this organization funded?
–LTF is predominately privately funded. Additionally, we are currently working on numerous grants from various companies and organizations.
Have a great Tuesday!
Written by: Alyssa Portillo
Questions answered by: Julie Garcia
What we give is just as important as how we give and here at LTF we make it our mission to not just help others because it’s what we stand for, we make it our mission so that others may pay it forward to individuals that they may come across. Recently, our project manager Julie Garcia was asked to take part in an interview that asked the following: “What examples can you share about people or communities that have been positively impacted by this organization?” Well, here’s example of our impact.
“While there are many examples of success, I’d like to share of a man named Howard. Howard is a recently retired Navy Veteran who, due to unforeseen delays, broken promises and benefit cutbacks found himself financially unable provide for his family. After communicating with Howard through emails and telephone conversations, we traveled to Riverside California to meet with Howard, his wife and their five children. We discovered that Howard was on the verge of losing his home, their car and all of their personal belongings. Howard explained to us that although his financial situation was due to change for the better, his immediate financial needs could not be met. In fact, the electric power was scheduled to be turned off for non-payment at any moment. Words alone cannot describe the appreciation that this family displayed when LTF presented him with a check. Howard was at a loss for words and he began to weep. Howard’s wife stood in awe; she just couldn’t believe that this was happening; that “total strangers and an unknown organization” would drive over and hour and a half to present them with this life changing gift. LTF only asked Howard for three things: One, that he would allow us to pray for him. Two, that he would allow LTF to tell his story and three, that Howard would “pay it forward”. Howard whole heartedly agreed.” –Julie Garcia
Pictured above with Howard and his family is Rick Rodriguez , Founder of The Living Tree Foundation and Dave Garcia. Although LTF assists many veterans, families, and individuals we wanted to showcase our most recent impact to promote the importance of paying it forward.
Written by: Alyssa Portillo
Interview by: Julie Garcia
Photo credit by: Facebook.com/LivingTreeFoundation
The Living Tree Foundation is dedicated to helping not just veterans but individuals that are in need. Here at LTF we spread our cause through exposure as well as making our presence known at events that outreach to various communities. This past Sunday on May 25th, 2014, Calvary Chapel Santa Fe Springs hosted a community event that sparked a light on the importance of remembering what Memorial Day is all about. This event was hosted as a “free for all” for the community of Santa Fe Springs, CA as a way to honor all of our fallen service members and their families and to display the community engagement and support that is available. This event was a spectacular afternoon filled with fun for the whole family as it was accompanied by CCSFS sponsored ministries, local community vendors, activities for the children, and military outreach. The event itself has grown over the years as exposure from Air1 Radio and KWVE 107.9 FM provided coverage of the whole event. For entertainment purposes, CCSFS was able to host the musical talents of The Soul Reformation and For King and Country to set the ambiance of the afternoon.
The message at hand for this event as well as the vision here at LTF is that we bring awareness to our men and women coming home from war as well as our veterans that have tried to adapt back into civilian life with no success. A Day to Honor hosted by CCSFS is to provide our fallen heroes with recognition through their families and so that the community does not forget. The Living Tree Foundation was there at this event to provide knowledge about our organization as well as outreach to future lives that we may have the honor to be apart of.
Written by: Alyssa Portillo
Living Tree Foundation was founded in 2011, by Lupe Rodriguez and Rick Rodriguez Sr. We are a grassroots organization. Our vision is to be a global assistance to those in need. We help provide assistance for the needs of combat veterans, current military service personnel as well as families in dire straits. Our mission is to provide a helping hand whenever it is needed most to the people who need the most. We proudly sponsor: Operation Legacy, PMA, Purple Heart Baseball, Rebuilding Warriors, Warrior Built, and 03XX Foundation. We give honor and praise to our Lord Jesus Christ for guiding us as we partner with these wonderful organizations.
Please visit http://www.yourlivingtree.org for more information.
Facebook: facebook.com/LivingTreeFoundation
Twitter: @YourLivingTree
Instagram: @LivingTreeFoundation
*Use the hash tag #YourLivingTree to connect with us!
the living tree foundation 