2 North Hollywood Charities Among 10 Finalists For Annenberg's 'Fast Pitch' Competition

The Los Angeles City Council is going to declare Tuesday Non-Profit Day, which will coincide with a major event downtown supporting nonprofits in L.A. 

One of the highlights of the day will feature 10 non-profits giving “fast pitch” presentations at Club Nokia about their organizations before an audience of more than 1,000 people for a chance to win prizes totaling $100,000. Two of the non-profits are the North Hollywood-based Cardborigami and Get on the Bus.

The event is being put on by The Annenberg Foundation and will feature Jamie Lee Curtis, George Lopez, Gov. Jerry Brown and Mayor Anonio Villaraigosa. The two North Hollywood-based charities that will be participating in the contest are Get on the Bus and Cardborigami.

Get on the Bus is organized by the Center for Restorative Justice, a North Hollywood-based nonprofit which "re-weaves the web of relationships that have been torn apart by crime and the policies of the criminal justice system," according to its Web site. Get on the Bus provides children with free transportation that allows them to visit their parent in prison, helping families maintain an important bond. See this , or the attached YouTube video, for more information. Get on the Bus has been running this program for 12 years.

Cardborigami, according to its website, is "an innovative and thoughtful approach to alleviate homelessness due to disaster or poverty. The product is a portable shelter that provides privacy and protection from the elements. The shelters are waterproof, flame-retardant, and can fold open and closed in less than a minute with no assembly required. This provides instant space and shelter for those who have nothing. When not in use or when being transported, each unit can be folded into a size that is easily carried by a single person."

Cardborigami was featured recently on a segment of KTLA news, see the attached YouTube video.

The other finalists are: GRID Alternatives, Gumball Foundation, Inner-City Arts, L.A. Diaper Drive, Mother’s Day Radio, Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden, Village Market Place, a program of Community Services Unlimited.

Here is a schedule for Tuesday's events

• 9 a.m. A reception will be held in the Los Angeles City Hall rotunda, followed by the city council session, where Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa, Council President Eric Garcetti and City Council members for the declaration of LA's first nonprofit day acknowledging the significant contributions of the nonprofit sector to quality of life in Los Angeles.

• 3:30 p.m. Exhibit area opens featuring local nonprofits at L.A. Live downtown
• 5:00 p.m. PEER TO PEER Program and LASVP Social Innovation Fast Pitch and Judging
• 5:45 p.m. Interview and photo opportunity with officials and presenters

  (inside Club Nokia)

• 7:15 p.m. Fast Pitch winners announcement
• 7:30 p.m. Reception