Bruce Rosen has made an inspiring contribution to improving his community and helping local people who need assistance.  He has spent the past 25 years as a volunteer, Board Member, consultant, Program Director and Executive Director at nonprofit organizations throughout Los Angeles. From developing innovative hunger relief programs for the Westside Food Bank to providing part-time jobs and internships for residents of our YWCA Housing and Education program, Bruce’s hands-on, creative approaches to solving problems have changed lives and helped nonprofits better achieve their missions.

Bruce is the founder of the Extra Helpings Westside Food Recovery Program that mobilized an army of volunteers and picked up over a million pounds of surplus food a year from local food businesses. When he realized the synergies of incorporating his food rescue program with the resources and distribution network of a food bank, he merged the Extra Helpings program into the Westside Food Bank’s operations. That led to his two decade long involvement with the Food Bank as a four term Board President and continuing Board Member.

It was through his work with the Food Bank that Bruce was introduced to the YWCA Housing Program. In addition to all the food we receive as a member agency of the Food Bank, Bruce has made a special commitment to the program. He is always donating supplies to the house, finding volunteers to prepare a special dinner, identifying new sources of financial support and helping the girls with tuition expenses or much needed driving lessons.

In addition to his work with the Westside Food Bank and the YWCA, Bruce has volunteered and consulted with hundreds of local nonprofit organizations. At the Southern California Center for Nonprofit Management, Bruce helped create and direct such programs as the Los Angeles Arts Loan Fund and the Southern California Social Enterprise Initiative.  Bruce worked extensively with Pacific Clinics’ Portals House, Inside Out Community Arts and the Vets’ Garden at the West Los Angeles Veterans Administration Medical Center. Bruce has contributed to this community in so many ways and he has had a profound impact on the services available to help those in need.

Bruce also provides investment management services through his investment advisory firm, Redwood Financial. Bruce lives in the Pacific Palisades with his wife and three sons, where as you might expect, he is an active member of the community.