Lutheran Social Services of Southern Calif. Raises $70K at ‘Hope Starts Here’ Gala & Awards Dinner

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC) - a leading provider of social services programs in Southern California – raised approximately $70K at their annual Gala & Awards on Saturday, April 18 at Orange Hill Restaurant. The funds will support critical emergency services for families and individuals in crisis to help meet urgent needs, navigate periods of instability, and build pathways toward long‑term self‑sufficiency. Nearly 200 guests gathered at the sold-out evening ‘Hope Starts Here’ hosted by The Hon. & Mrs. Damon L. and Felicia Alexander.

The gala began with a beautiful outdoor cocktail reception and silent auction and continued inside with a champagne toast welcome, live music, gourmet dinner, live auction and powerful stories of hope and transformation.

The evening’s host and sponsor The Honorable Damon L. Alexander, said, “Tonight, we take the opportunity to make a lasting change in this region. Lutheran Social Services of Southern California celebrates 82 years of compassionate care: that translates into hundreds of thousands of lives pulled from vulnerability and securely placed into self-sufficiency. The Hope that we carry with us every day never goes away.”

During the evening program, the 2026 HOPE (Helping Others Pursue Empowerment) Awards presentation including Sue Kroeger, Lifetime Commitment; Kevin Jones, Volunteer of the Year; KBRITE Radio, Community Partner and Tovey/Schultz Construction, Inc, Corporate Partner.

Lutheran Social Services President and CEO Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith presented the final 2026 HOPE Empowerment Award to Jerry Engelhardt, saying, “For the past several decades, Jerry Engelhardt and his late wife Lynda have served their community, and the communities around them with love and compassion, standing by their neighbors and making an incredible difference and impact. They were instrumental in helping us launch our Community Wellness Campus and Jerry has stayed engaged in every step of the process until the dream of self-sufficiency and dignity in San Bernardino was realized.”

Major gala sponsors included Tovey/Shultz Construction, Inc., The Hon. Damon Alexander, Rev. Sharon Ruff-Richter, 60 Daisy LLC, Cal Lutheran University, Rock of the Foothills, Dr. LaSharnda Beckwith, KBRITE Radio and The Orange County Register.

For more information about the gala or Lutheran Social Services, visit www.lsssc.org.

About Lutheran Social Services of Southern California

Lutheran Social Services of Southern California (LSSSC) has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to helping the most vulnerable families and individuals in Southern California for over 80 years. LSSSC is a social ministry organization with Lutheran Services of America, one of the largest health and human service networks in America. Partners and funders include the San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health, U.S. Departments of Education, Housing and Urban Development and Health and Human Services. LSSSC dates back to 1944 when a handful of congregants from Lutheran churches in San Diego began providing services and resources to veterans returning home. This group joined with like-minded congregants in Los Angeles and formed Lutheran Social Services of Southern Calif. in 1946. Today, LSSSC employs close to 200 caring and dedicated staff delivering more than 30 programs across six counties that embrace, equip and empower vulnerable individuals in Southern California.

###