Draft:Living Advantage, Inc.

Living Advantage, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Los Angeles, California. It was established by Bernice W. Clay with the mission to provide foster children with financial and independent living skills and access to personal records.

History
Living Advantage's founder, Bernice W. Clay, had a vision to start a non-profit that would help underprivileged youth. As a speech pathologist for the Los Angeles Unified School District, she developed a passion for helping high-risk adolescents. On September 30, 1993, LA, Inc. was incorporated as a nonprofit by the state of California, and in 1996 Bernice opened her first six-bed group home. Bernice passed away just three years later, but her daughter Pamela R. Clay, the executive director of LA, Inc, has continued LA, Inc.'s mission to help at-risk youth.

In her 24-year tenure, Pamela discovered that many youth don't have the necessary life documents that are essential for securing a job, a driver's license, bank accounts, or enrolling in school. In response, she headed the developed of the patent-pending, electronic data storage program called Electronic Lockbox or eLockbox.

Chad L. Coleman
Chad L. Coleman appeared in a Public Service Announcement for LA, Inc. in 2015. A former foster youth himself, he regularly expresses the need for change in the foster care system.

Los Angeles Rams
Since 2020, Los Angeles Rams player, Joseph Noteboom, has chosen to wear LA, Inc. cleats for the My Cause My Cleats game.

University Of Southern California
In 2023, LA, Inc. was awarded the USC Good Neighbors Grant for the Virtual Assisted Living And Education Program (V.A.L.E.).