PRESENT NOW

Philanthropic Fundraising ServicesCalifornia, United States2-10 Employees

Based in Santa Monica, California, PRESENT NOW is a national nonprofit founded in 2012 by Melanie Neumann and Erica Fisher to support children living in transitional domestic violence shelters with experiences and gifts that bring joy, comfort, and relief during crises. Its central effort, the Presents Program, provides essential goods, specialty items, and emotional support to augment shelter services and inspire new child-centered activities. The organization organizes its work around three focus areas—Presence of Love for Valentine’s Day, Presence of Mind for Back-to-School, and Presence of Being for birthdays—to acknowledge children during meaningful moments as families begin anew.

More than 200 volunteers customize and pack presents for children and young adults served by shelter partners across the country, with a large portion participating through Presence of Joy, a Los Angeles–based high school initiative. Presence of Joy also serves an educational purpose by raising awareness about domestic violence and shelter life, and PoJ members can earn community service hours and credits toward the Presidential Service Award. In December 2023, The Sheridan Group began a partnership with PRESENT NOW, reflecting collaborations that support gifts and services for children in shelters.

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