The nonprofit Children of One Planet will mark its 24th anniversary with a community event in Altadena on Saturday, Nov. 2. The celebration, with the theme “Live Healthy, Live Happy America,” will take place at the Farnsworth Park Amphitheater, at 568 E. Mount Curve Ave. from 1 to 4 p.m.
The event will feature local musicians, singers, and professional dancers, as well as health and wellness vendors. Food from local restaurants will be available, with free food vouchers offered to the first 200 children under 18 who sign up online.
The schedule includes music and social dancing from 1 to 3 p.m., food service from 2 to 3 p.m., and dance classes and performances from 3 to 4 p.m.
Founded in 2000 by local resident Azita Milanian, Children of One Planet promotes the well-being and health of children worldwide. The organization’s mission is to inspire people to be the voice of innocent children and help protect them against hunger and violence.
Over the past 24 years, the foundation has provided aid to orphanages and underprivileged children globally. Its efforts include donations of food, clothing, toys, and money to various countries, including Costa Rica, Mexico, Haiti, Armenia, and Brazil.
“My dream is to see children free of hunger and violence one day,” said Milanian, who serves as the organization’s president.
The nonprofit has also focused on preventing child human trafficking by distributing educational postcards. These materials provide information on protecting children and families, as well as support for mental and physical health of victims.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization provided masks to Shriner’s Medical Center for Children, Ronald McDonald House, and Sycamores in Los Angeles. In 2019, they donated new mattresses for children at the Dream Center in Los Angeles.
The organization’s key fundraising event, “Dance for Hope America,” features professional ballroom dancers to raise money for their mission.
Milanian, a graduate of the University of Florida’s College of Engineering, worked at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory before founding Children of One Planet in 2000 to
provide more direct assistance to children in need. She started her philanthropic work in 1994 with the Save the Children Foundation, USA.
The organization’s work has been recognized by Save the Children and other organizations, as well as Her Royal Highness Princess Anne of Great Britain.
For more information, visit https://childrenofoneplanet.org/ or call (818) 960-8654 or (424) 276-0266.
