On Friday, April 22, 2022, QueensCare and QueensCare Health Centers welcomed spring with the spirit of renewal, re-engaging with colleagues and inspiring one another. The 2022 Employee Celebration brought staff from both organizations together to celebrate the collective achievements of the past two challenging years since the COVID-19 pandemic began.
The festivities took place in one of LA’s hidden gems, LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, a museum and event space dedicated to the history and contributions of Mexican, Mexican American, and Latino/a communities in Los Angeles.
Since its founding in 1897, QueensCare Health Centers (QHC) has given children and families in low-income Los Angeles communities access to opportunities that promote health and wellbeing. QHC was originally a clinic called El Hogar Feliz, located in what is known today as Our Lady Queen of Angels or “La Placita” to care for neglected and abandoned children living in downtown Los Angeles.
LA Plaza de Cultura y Artes, the 2022 Employee Celebration venue, is next door to La Placita Church, bringing the celebration closer to our history, missions, and purpose. Deacon Carlos Ortega of La Placita joined the event with a heartfelt benediction and touching story of QHC’s impact. QueensCare’s newest Chaplain, Father Ihor Koshyk, also blessed the festivities with conviction inviting everyone to have well-deserved fun.
From a meaningful Core Values activity to karaoke to dancing to the surprise musical guest, The Detroit Nights, QueensCare, and QHC staff enjoyed a fun-filled day with smiling faces unburdened by masks. Delicious lunch was provided by The Lobos Truck, Los Angeles’ #1 Food Truck and Guerrilla Tacos, featured in Netflix’s culinary docuseries, Taco Chronicles. Breakfast was provided by Good Heart Catering, a socially conscious catering company feeding LA’s communities facing food insecurity and influential organizations through curated in-house prepped meals.
A special thank you to all the event sponsors for making the day a tremendous success.
Presenting Sponsor
California Foundation for Stronger Communities (CFSC)
Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Coleman Associates
Costco
Dignity Health Sports Park
Fogo de Chão
Goldman Sachs
Good Heart Catering
Harrington Group
Latino Theater Company
McConnell, Manit & Trout Insurance Services
Mutual of America
Niagara Bottling
Target
Starlette Abad
Marina and Steve Aronoff
Ed Avila
Alan Cushman
Denise and Raymond Forgette
Noelle Gervais
Sal Lopez
The Madrid Family
Kristina and Michael Mata
Janice L. Pontoppidan
Lois Saffian
Anna Sivak
Michael Stechmann, O.A.R.
Bettie Woods
