Founded in 2002, L.A. Catering is one of LifeCare Alliance’s two social enterprise divisions. LifeCare Alliance has been serving the local community through its nutrition and health programs—most notably the Meals on Wheels program—since 1898. All profits from L.A. Catering are reinvested in LifeCare Alliance to support older adults, medically challenged, and disabled individuals in Central Ohio. This means that boxed lunches, holiday parties, cookouts, birthday parties, reunions and weddings catered by the organization help the Central Ohio community.
The social enterprise’s catering services span a wide range of events, from weddings and corporate events, to fundraisers and holiday parties. LifeCare Alliance also has space at its headquarters for events ranging in size from 20 to 350 guests. LifeCare Alliance accepts all clients regardless of their ability to pay.
“Most of the clients who are referred to us have funding streams associated with them; however, there are others who do not,” says David J. Imwalle, director of catering and meal sales at L.A. Catering. “So that’s where L.A. Catering is most effective. Because of the additional revenue generated by L.A. Catering, we helped more than 500 clients throughout the year whose services, otherwise would go unfunded.”
L.A. Catering has continued to grow, and today is a preferred caterer at more than 25 venues, including The Ohio Statehouse, Columbus Museum of Art, CAPA Theatres, Ballet Met, and Columbus State Community College, to name just a few. L.A. Catering also partners with Central Ohio hotels including Drury Inn & Suites and Fairfield Inn & Suites.
“We are continuing to grow,” says Imwalle. “In 2019, we’ll be expanding our full-time employee team from eight to 10 individuals, in addition to adding several part-time team members.”
The L.A. Catering Event Center, where organizations can rent space for events, is located at 670 Harmon Ave., Columbus, OH 43223. To learn more about L.A. Catering and to view the social enterprise’s latest menu, visit www.la-catering.com, or call 614.358.LALA (5252) to discuss your 2019 events.
About SocialVentures
Founded in 2014, SocialVentures is a nonprofit organization that advances remarkably good businesses—businesses that intentionally integrate social impact as a non-negotiable component of their business model. To learn more about organizations like L.A.Catering, visit SocialVentures’ online Marketplace. The Marketplace features profiles of more than 100 local social enterprises. You can use the ‘Cause’ drop-down filter to learn more about how you can support other local social enterprises whose impact area is dedicated to creating healthy communities.
Each month, SocialVentures and The Metropreneur feature a social enterprise to help generate awareness in the community, to demonstrate how everyday purchases of both consumer and business products and services can be leveraged to create positive change in our community.
For more information about SocialVentures or the Marketplace, send an email to [email protected].
