'Passionately Committed' To Ending Hunger In OC: Local Hero

IRVINE, CA — When times are tough, heroes emerge. We all know someone who's making a difference right now as we live through unprecedented and changing times.

Here at Patch, we've launched an initiative to help recognize these heroes making a difference in their communities. We’re working to let all your neighbors know about these outstanding people and their stories.

This submission comes from Carrie Williams-Freitas who nominated LaVal Brewer of Orange County.

Local hero’s full name

LaVal Brewer

Local hero’s home state

California

Local hero’s Patch

Orange County

How do you know the local hero?

Client

What does the local hero do?

LaVal Brewer is the proud President & CEO of South County Outreach in Irvine, CA, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent hunger and homelessness by helping people help themselves.

Why do you believe the local hero should be recognized or honored?

LaVal possesses more than 30 years of experience in nonprofit management and more than a decade of experience in executive and development roles. He uses that experience to further South County Outreach's mission to prevent hunger and homelessness.

LaVal grew up in South Los Angeles as part of a middle-class family that didn’t have a lot of money, but never went hungry and always had a roof over their heads. At 16, LaVal landed a part-time summer job at LA’s Culver City Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department that would change his life by sparking his interest in the nonprofit sector.

Just prior to joining South County Outreach, LaVal served as Director of Business Development and Partnerships at OneOC, an organization that helps Orange County’s nonprofits become as efficient and effective as they are passionate about their missions. While there, he led the organization to impressive growth through employee engagement and corporate partnerships.

As President and CEO of South County Outreach, it is LaVal’s goal to transform the organization’s Food Pantry into a place where people who are in short-term crisis situations can feel like they are shopping for nutritious, healthy food in a normal grocery store environment without having to pay. He also hopes to partner with cities, funders, and corporate groups to create revenue that will allow the organization to help people who have fallen behind on rent and utility payments, and then find ways for people to better themselves so that they can ultimately escape the hunger and homelessness cycle.

LaVal earned his bachelor’s degree in Human Services from Springfield College. He is a board member for Center Club Orange County and council member for the County of Orange, Senior Citizen Advisory Council, and also serves as an Elder at the Presbyterian Church of the Master in Mission Viejo.

LaVal resides in Mission Viejo with his wife and three daughters, who provide him with inspiration every day.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the local hero?

LaVal is passionately committed to ending homelessness and hunger in Orange County

Thank you for all you do, LaVal Brewer!

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