ABOUT US
Freedom4U is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating life skills, leadership abilities and creativity in teenagers in the South Bay and Harbor Area of Los Angeles. Freedom4U strives to reduce risky behaviors in youth by providing creative, substance-free gatherings and purpose-driven volunteer missions.
In 2002, founder and director Greg Allen, a Palos Verdes-based family therapist, wanted to do something about the growing reports of underage house parties and substance abuse. After surveying local teens, Allen found that their top priorities were hanging out with their friends, as well as music and art. And so Freedom4U was born, with the intention of providing a fun, safe platform for youth to gather and express their creativity.
With programming such as annual film/photography/art contests, live music showcases, leadership service field trips and career workshops, Freedom4U aims to cultivate youth engagement and encourage them to discover passions and foster meaningful connections. Freedom4U also leads drug prevention seminars for parents and their children and partners with some 20 local schools to provide group therapy.
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to identify, develop and release the potential of youth into their life purpose by offering peer-driven healthy activities such as creative arts, life skills, service projects, and leadership opportunities to youth in the South Bay/Harbor Area of L.A.
THE THREE C'S
Community
Our goal of community extends through all of our programs and events. We seek to connect and build relationships with the youth in our community. These relationships then lead to character development and then the release of creativity and passion.
Character
Through our sense of community, we build up our youth and their abilities to become future leaders in their communitities. Character development is a central characteristic of our programs, and a key building block of our organization.
Creativity
Creativity is potentially the most important quality of any prospective leader. The ability to think up new solutions cannot be overstated in importance. We foster youth to act as "laboratories," creating, developing, and expressing new ideas; all the creative genius of our local youth is attended to and allowed to grow into its full potential. We believe that passion leads to purpose.
PARTNERED ORGINIZATIONS
Here at Freedom4U, we strive to give back to organizations that support at-risk communities and help children & youth in need. Beyond just hosting fundraisers, workshops, and other events, we donate directly to other establishments that align with our mission statements in order to provide additional support for the South Bay, San Pedro, and Harbor community.
Some of these organizations include San Pedro meals on wheels, individual students scholarships, San Pedro Chamber of Commerce, San Pedro high school football boosters, San Pedro historic Arts District, San Pedro property and business owners, Freedom4u, point Fermin elementary school, Barton Hill Elementary school, Port of Los Angeles high school, retro San Pedro, Palos Verdes chamber of commerce, Peninsula magazine, PV magazine, RUHS PTSA, and a few others!