Dee Johnson

Dee Johnson, Founder and Executive Director of the Lend A Hand Foundation (LAHF), now in its 26th year of service, works diligently to eliminate barriers that keep students from attending school, participating in school, and achieving both their educational and life goals. LAHF is mostly known for its back-to-school giveaways, now in its 24th year, and has provided over 148,000 essential educational supply kits since the beginning of the program in 1999. Last year alone, the organization provided 25,000 supply kits covering 52 schools in Oakland/Alameda County. The organization works closely with the Oakland Unified School District providing not only school supplies but helping to equip community closets at schools that have a great need for basic resources. LAHF also works with several transitional housing facilities to help alleviate food insecurities, address family emergencies, and to uplift families as they thrive for a better life. LAHF has had a beneficial impact in our community.