At The Change Reaction, we're all about showing love to the hardworking folks in Los Angeles.
Our mission? Helping out one person at a time during difficult life events or significant changes by meeting their specific, individual needs.
The Change Reaction was founded in 2019 by Greg and Jodi Perlman, who are the heart and soul behind what we do.
The Change Reaction started with a simple conversation at UCLA Hospital, where they wondered about the financial help families needed during their hospitalizations. It turned out there wasn't much support for these needs. Hotel stays, transportation, rent, and parking fees became financial burdens to patients and families during their hospitalizations. That's when the Perlman’s decided to make a change. They created a fund at UCLA and, working side by side with hospital social workers, began providing financial assistance to patients facing these struggles.
Fast forward to today. What began as a spark at UCLA has grown into something extraordinary. Our unique way of helping has evolved into a hyper-local, caring approach. We've built a network of change agents—social workers, nurses, doctors, faith leaders, police officers, lawyers, city council members, and community champions. These amazing people help us find the hardworking folks who need financial support at critical moments.
Every week, we receive about 200 grant requests
Our Change Reaction team reads each request and most requests are fulfilled within 24 hours. We understand that the situations that come to us are urgent and we treat them as such. That's the Change Reaction way – quick, caring, and always there when it's needed.
We have distributed over $30 million with the help of OUR 250 partner organizations, demonstrating a high-impact model of commuity support.
Our work continues to evolve through our interactions with partner organizations and their clients. We listen to people who are going through hardships and to those helping them, and respond to what we hear.
The result? Our most trusted frontline workers get wind in their sails, Angelenos have their faith in humanity restored, and donors experience deep fulfillment when they see the direct impact of their gifts.
We don't just offer help - we invite every recipient to join in the giving movement.
Each person who receives a grant is encouraged to pay it forward, creating a ripple effect that strengthens the fabric of our community. Our aim is to empower as many Angelenos as possible, not only through our financial grants but also by inspiring a shared commitment to kindness and resilience.