By: Jason Argent, Volunteer Executive Writer
Since 2021, Larry Moreau has brought warmth, calm, and nearly 1,000 hours of service to Beach Cities Health District (BCHD). Whether he’s greeting guests at the BCHD main building, helping visitors navigate the Center for Health and Fitness (CHF), or giving out wristbands to participants at Free Fitness events, Larry is the kind of volunteer who makes everyone feel like they’ve come to the right place.
Originally from Rockford, Illinois, Larry got his MBA at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before launching a successful career as a CPA and, later, in investment banking. He first worked for a firm, then started his own, focusing on helping early-stage startups go public. After several years living in Paris (yes, he speaks French) and now more than four decades in Hermosa Beach, Larry has fully embraced Southern California life, with plenty of reading and people-watching near the beach to round it out.
But it’s volunteering that brings him the most joy. He first joined BCHD during the pandemic to help at the COVID-19 vaccine site. Since then, he’s taken on a wide range of roles, including allcove Campus Greeter, Community Services Administrative Volunteer, Event Volunteer, and a current seat on the Volunteer Advisory Council. These days, you’ll often find him at the CHF front desk, offering directions, easing nerves, and brightening someone’s day.
“Volunteering doesn’t feel like work,” Larry says. “I think I get as much out of it as the people I help.” What he values most are the people: The fellow volunteers, the staff, and the community members he meets along the way. “The most rewarding part is meeting and working with great people who want to help others.”
His BCHD supervisor, Bernadette Johnson, agrees: “Larry is definitely a people person. He helps create a warm, welcoming atmosphere and brings fun and laughter every time he’s at the front desk.”
For Larry, it’s not about one big moment. It’s all the small ones. A helpful exchange. A shared laugh. A nervous visitor who walks away feeling better than when they arrived.
That’s the good stuff. And we’re grateful that Larry’s a part of it.
