On September 13, 2018, Wedgewood and Sharefest came together for a community transformation project they called "Wedgefest" — a collaboration that would become an ongoing partnership between the two organizations. The project brought Wedgewood employees and vendor partners to the Gil Garcetti Learning Academy in South Los Angeles, a historic school that had been serving its community for over 100 years.
Sharefest is a non-profit organization that gives youth with significant barriers the skills, support, and connections they need to achieve economic success. At its core, Sharefest creates opportunities for businesses to give back to their local communities by coordinating meaningful service projects. For Wedgewood, whose mission is to revitalize communities one property at a time, the partnership was a natural fit.
A School That Needed New Life
The Gil Garcetti Learning Academy had more than a century of history behind it — but like many aged structures, it needed modernization and a refresh to continue fostering a vibrant learning environment for years to come. Wedgewood employees contributed their time and expertise to help breathe new life into the building. Vendor partners stepped up as well, providing generous donations and supplies to support the project.
The result was a brighter, revitalized space for the school's teachers, administrators, and students — a physical transformation that echoed the same work Wedgewood Homes does every day in residential neighborhoods across the country.
What the Partnership Means
"We continue to be blown away not only by the generosity of the company, but from the generosity of the individuals that made Wedgewood what it is today," said Chad Mayer, Executive Director of Sharefest Community Development.
"Wedgewood supported our youth, not only financially, but by making beautification improvements at our school sites and providing supplies to our youth," added Betsy Chou, VP of Finance and Operations at Sharefest Community Development.
The Wedgefest project at Gil Garcetti Learning Academy is one example of what happens when a business takes its community values seriously — not as a marketing exercise, but as an extension of its purpose. Revitalizing communities means more than buying and restoring homes. It means showing up for the schools, neighbors, and organizations that make those communities worth investing in.
Watch the video below to see the transformation.