Non-profit organizations do phenomenal work every day, and – perhaps even more importantly – inspire others to do the same. By uniting people who are bonded together with a common goal, non-profit organizations operate on spirit and will. They are symbols of passionate and noble causes, something that we can all aspire to be a part of, and Long Beach is home to some of the very best.

Recently, the Chamber set out to recognize some of Long Beach’s exemplary non-profit organizations by honoring them at our 118th Annual Inaugural Gala. The Salvation Army/Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center was honored with our prestigious Destination Tomorrow Award for their efforts to build a state-of-the-art Kroc Center facility in central Long Beach. When completed, the center will not only keep our city’s children active and healthy but also provide world-class centers for athletics and learning.

Attendees of our Gala heard from Dr. Joe Magaddino, Professor and Chairman of Economics, at California State University, Long Beach on his recent findings in a report titled, Non-Profits: Profitable Partners for Long Beach. Joe outlined the tremendous impact our non-profits make on our local and regional economy.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe served as Master of Ceremonies and was assisted by Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster in honoring 13 other non-profits, including, Special Olympics Southern California, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, Habitat For Humanity, A.C.E Academy of Long Beach, the YMCA, California Conference for Equality and Justice, U.S. VETS, Leadership Long Beach, Long Beach Nonprofit Partnership, Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership CSULB, Opportunity Schools, Jewish Federation of Greater Long Beach and West Orange County, American Diabetes Association. All of these organizations are examples of the invaluable services provided to our community by our non-profit sector.

They operate not with the sole intention of achieving financial success, but with the goal of improving their community. Our City is better off with these organizations running smoothly. And the Long Beach Chamber has been a major advocate for the non-profit community for many, many years.

Recognizing and assisting these groups is in the best interest of the business community because it’s in the best interest of the entire community. Our lives are enriched every day by the hard-working folks at non-profit organizations across this great city, and many of us would not be able to do what we do in the business world without the selfless work they provide.

Furthermore, they keep our children healthy and our community safe, and that’s a win-win business proposition. Long Beach residents look to them when they need help, and now, non-profits are looking to us for help. It’s the best investment we can make…