GLENDORA, Calif. — For the second year in a row, America’s Christian Credit Union (ACCU) partnered with Olive Crest to help bring awareness to the foster care crisis in the greater Los Angeles area, a region holding approximately 35,000 foster children.
During Olive Crest’s second annual pastors’ luncheon, ACCU said its staff joined forces with the Olive Crest leadership team at the Dream Center campus to rally 300+ local pastors to participate in the effort to positively change the tide of the foster care challenge in L.A. The event focused on equipping pastors to bring awareness to their congregations about the growing foster crisis, and encourage their congregants to promote the adoption of children from within the foster care system. The event was kicked off by Jaime Zavala, executive director of Olive Crest’s LA region. Zavala praised the audience of pastors in attendance, and urged pastors to abstain from trying to tackle the whole crisis on their own, suggesting instead that everyone “just do something.”
Zavala also took time to praise ACCU and other sponsors for their support of the event. In response to Zavala’s comments, ACCU’s Board member Lisa Penberthy remarked, “ACCU is here to help. We know there is a need for adoption in the greater LA area, and we make it a priority to help build stronger families."
The event concluded with an inspirational message from Nick Vujicic who urged the congregation to do their part to help children in need. Attendees also heard from a panel of current foster families, outlining the reality and rewards of saying “yes” to foster parenting.