Soraya Fallah Coordinating a Community Project with UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital

Coordinating a Community Project: Connecting Two Generations

In the spring of 2014, I launched a community initiative aimed at connecting two generations—adult immigrants and children admitted to Mattel Children’s Hospital at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). This project was part of my work at Olympus Adult Day Care Center in West Los Angeles, under the Social and Psychological Department.

The participants and clients at Olympus Adult Center were adults from diverse nationalities and religious minorities, including Iranians, Russians, Armenians, Kurds, Azeris, Latin Americans, and American citizens. Understanding the unique challenges and rich cultural experiences these individuals brought with them, I proposed a project that would foster a sense of purpose and connection. The idea was to collect toys and donations, as well as write postcards with heartfelt messages for hospitalized children. This initiative was met with overwhelming support from the adults at the center and warmly welcomed by the hospital staff. Despite the hospital receiving many donations regularly, they acknowledged that this was the first time such an initiative had been organized by a community-based adult facility.

Over two months, I successfully coordinated the entire event, leading others to assist and ensuring smooth execution. I worked closely with Olympus staff, including the social work and activity departments, as well as the center’s director and owner, who provided significant support both financially and operationally. By April 17, the project culminated in the collection of over 300 toys, several donation checks, and numerous postcards filled with beautiful messages of hope and encouragement.

In addition to the support from Olympus staff and participants, my actions inspired my boss to personally contribute a check to the effort. This gesture underscored the contagious nature of doing good—when you take meaningful action, others are inspired to partake and support the cause.

The project not only provided joy to the children at Mattel Hospital but also created meaningful engagement for the adults at Olympus. Many participants experienced a renewed sense of value and purpose, reinforcing their connection to the broader community. This intergenerational interaction, symbolically linking grandparents and grandchildren, offered profound emotional benefits for both groups.

The project’s success was further amplified by media coverage, which highlighted the unique nature of this initiative. The effort demonstrated the power of community-based action in creating positive social impact and building bridges between generations.

For more information, please feel free to reach out. the news went out to the media. 







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