A Sense of Home to Host Legacy Gala November 12
The Los Angeles event honors founders Georgie Smith and Melissa Goddard for their 11 years of service.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Home Organization
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A Sense of Home will hold the Legacy of Home Gala on November 12 at Radford Studios in Los Angeles. The event honors co-founders Georgie Smith and Melissa Goddard, whose organization provides furnishings for youth aging out of foster care.
Why it matters
The gala recognizes the 11-year mission to prevent homelessness for vulnerable youth, a cause that has expanded from Los Angeles to New York City. The organization also operates a Disaster Recovery Program to support those affected by environmental crises.
A Sense of Home has provided essential furnishings and household goods to 1,000 families since the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires. The organization supports youth aging out of foster care through a unique model that creates homes in 90 minutes.
The players
A Sense of Home
This organization prevents homelessness for youth aging out of the foster care system by providing household furnishings.
Georgie Smith
She is a co-founder of A Sense of Home who has guided the organization's mission for 11 years.
Melissa Goddard
She serves as a co-founder of A Sense of Home and has led its growth since inception.
Drew Scott
He is an honoree who will receive one of the inaugural Founders Awards at the upcoming gala.
Karen Pittman
She is an actress and performer who will serve as the emcee for the November 12 event.
The details
The upcoming gala will feature emcee Karen Pittman and present inaugural Founders Awards to Drew Scott and Regina Brodell. Following the event, co-founders Georgie Smith and Melissa Goddard are set to step back from their day-to-day operations in 2027, when current CEO Rachel Stich will assume leadership.
Timeline
The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires impacted local residents.
A Sense of Home expanded to New York City in 2026.
The Legacy of Home Gala takes place on November 12, 2026.
Founders will step back from daily operations in 2027.
Culture Shift
This gala highlights the growing trend of private organizations filling critical gaps in social services for youth aging out of state care. It follows the community support patterns established by the Fostering Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
Residents in Los Angeles can participate in the organization's mission by supporting the gala's efforts to furnish homes for those in need. These contributions directly facilitate the rapid setup of living spaces for local youth transitioning out of the foster care system.
The takeaway
The Legacy of Home Gala celebrates over a decade of community-based efforts to provide stable living environments for youth aging out of foster care. Residents interested in supporting the organization can look toward future leadership transitions in 2027 as the group expands its national reach.
What happens next
Co-founders Georgie Smith and Melissa Goddard will step back from day-to-day operations in 2027, with CEO Rachel Stich taking over leadership at that time.
Further reading
Learn more about local support efforts at the Home Organization section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
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