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 $30 million across Los Angeles with the help of OUR 250 partner organizations
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 also encourage everyone who receives a Change Reaction grant to be part of the giving cycle by identifying a specific action they can take to lift up someone else.
Our goal is to empower as many people as we can through our grants and through the experience of being part of a chain of giving.