LOS ANGELES – Nov. 21, 2017 – BlackLine,Inc. (Nasdaq: BL) CEO Therese Tucker and the company’s employees are leading a drive to provide each homeless person in Los Angeles (LA) with new clothing this holiday season. With estimates suggesting there are at least 50,000 people currently without homes in LA County, Ms. Tucker’s initiative is among the most ambitious hands-on examples of a local tech company working to build a more civic-minded and philanthropic LA tech community.
Tucker and BlackLine are working closely with Shelter Partnership, a local organization that will oversee the distribution over the next two months of more than 180,000 essential items to hundreds of non-profit agencies that serve veterans, domestic violence victims, families living in poverty and disabled individuals throughout the region.
“The donation of seven semi-trucks full of sweat pants, sweat shirts, undergarments and socks by Therese will serve tens of thousands of individuals in need,” states Ruth Schwartz, executive director, Shelter Partnership. “We are so appreciative of this very generous contribution of critical items for homeless individuals in LA.”
BlackLine held its annual Giving Back Day on Saturday, Nov. 18th, as part of the financial automation software provider’s global user conference InTheBlack North America 2017: The Accounting & Finance Innovation Summit. Giving Back Day is designed to bring BlackLine customers, partners and employees together each year to contribute to the local community. This year, the group participated in United Way’s HomeWalk LA 2017, an annual rally to fight homelessness, the morning of the 18th and then proceeded to Midnight Mission in downtown LA where they served food and began handing out the new sweat shirts and pants, socks and undergarments being donated by Tucker.
“When companies like BlackLine join the fight to bring hope to homeless Angelenos, we move another step closer to getting people off the streets for good,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “The homelessness crisis is a heartbreaking human tragedy, but partnerships like this one show how we can work together to end it.”
BlackLine kicked off the initiative on Saturday, Nov. 4th, at Union Rescue Mission in downtown LA where employees and their families also handed out clothing to those in need.
“Every person should have something warm and clean to wear as winter approaches. We know that reaching 50,000 people will be a huge challenge, and we hope that efficient distribution will help us achieve our goal,” said Tucker. “We realize homelessness is a complex issue that can’t be solved overnight, nor can we alleviate suffering through a single donation. It’s important that we take time to come together to serve our community by doing something practical and hands-on. We encourage other business leaders in the region to help as well.”
Further demonstrating her commitment to helping the homeless in her community, Tucker also dedicated a panel at BlackLine’s annual user conference to the issue. Ana Guerrero, chief of staff to Mayor Eric Garcetti, joined Tucker on stage for the discussion, along with Ann Sewill, vice president of Health and Housing at the California Community Foundation, another organization that partnered with Tucker and BlackLine to support the clothing donation.
“Therese Tucker is passionate about and committed to helping solve the immediate – and long-term – needs facing our homeless neighbors,” Ms. Sewill said. “Through this initiative, she has created an opportunity for BlackLine employees and partners to have a tangible way to give back to the community in a meaningful way.”
Photos from BlackLine’s 2017 Giving Back Day project can be downloaded at the following:
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