Providing resources for Los Angeles youth and finding solutions for those with Lyme disease

Helaine Cohen, a partner in our Los Angeles Tax team, grew up in a family that valued helping others. What drew her to New Directions for Youth (NDY) was their focus on helping children in Los Angeles County.  

“I wanted to volunteer with a program where I could see the fruits of their labor in my community,” Helaine said.   

NDY provides comprehensive social services to at-risk youth and has helped more than 200,000 children. Their services are provided free of charge, making them a critical resource for low-income families.  

Most children in the program are in either elementary or middle school. In addition to after-school programming, NDY offers a 10-week summer camp experience which includes recreation, arts and crafts, and skill development training. 

Helaine volunteers as NDY’s vice president of finance and helps at events throughout the year. During the holidays, she donates food, clothing and gifts to families in the program.  

“I love that this organization does so much to make people’s roads a little easier, it’s such a feel-good environment,” Helaine said. “All it takes is one person to make a huge difference in a child’s life and the Baker Tilly Foundation’s donation will make a tremendous difference as well.”