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March 31, 2005

20 Years of Help

On Feb. 25, the Jewish Family Service of Los Angeles (JFS) celebrated the 20th anniversary of its Adult Day Healthcare Center (ADHC) in style with brunch and an art exhibit at the JFS/Valley Storefront in North Hollywood. Guest speakers included Susie Forer-Dehrey, JFS associate executive director; Jennifer Trotta of Mayor James Hahn’s L.A. Neighborhood Team; and Arturo Gonzalez, field deputy for Los Angeles City Council member Wendy Greuel.

Entertainment was provided by singer-songwriter Craig Taubman who led the more than 75 participants in a rousing singalong. Taubman was recognized for his contribution over the yearsto the ADHC, which provides medical and social services for frail senior citizens and other adults with physical or mental disabilities

Hillel’s Lifers

Supporters of the Yitzhak Rabin Hillel Center for Jewish Life at UCLA, along with dignitaries and rabbis gathered at the Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel Jan 27 for the Hillel’s annual dinner. The evening honored the lifetime achievements of Dr. Gerald Levey, vice chancellor of medical sciences and dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA; and Dr. Barbara Levey, assistant vice chancellor of biomedical affairs at UCLA, and outstanding senior Rona Ram.

All monies raised went to support the ongoing work of the Hillel.

SERVING ISRAEL

AMIT’s annual scholarship dinner on March 6 at the Luxe Hotel on Sunset Boulevard was an elegant evening with a generous spirit. Some 300 guests attended the dinner celebrating “80 years of service to the State of Israel” honoring those who have raised funds for the organization, which is devoted to educating and caring for orphaned and disadvantaged children in Israel.

Daphna Ziman, the founder of Children Uniting Nations, and actress Debra Raffin (“Seventh Heaven”) hosted the ceremony where Mildred Lewin, a 35-year member of AMIT, received the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Guardian of the Children Award went to Max and Sonia Mittleman for “devotion to AMIT with their annual fundraising activities,” said L.A. Council president Debbie Herbst.

Lola Levoy, owner and senior escrow officer of Beverly Hills Escrow, received the Women of Accomplishment Award, as did Stacy Phillips, the co-founder of Pacific Associates. Internationally renowned photographer Evelyn Bernstein, whose work was displayed in the auditorium, was award’sthird recipient.

Also in attendance were Joy Volk, Western Regional vice president, and Jan Schechter, the national president, who flew in from Israel that afternoon to attend. Charles Adicoff, owner of Adicoff Screening Room in Beverly Hills, was the evening’s auctioneer. – Emily Pauker, Contributing Writer

A Special Shidduch

Chai Lifeline recently partnered with Peri Devaney, editor of Ron Rubin’s newly published book, “Anything for a T-Shirt: Fred Lebow and the New York Marathon,” on a special project at the L.A. Marathon Expo on March 5.

Chai Lifeline, an international organization dedicated to providing support to children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, placed its own posters at the Tribute to Fred Lebow booth.

To honor Lebow’s memory, Devaney committed to contributing a portion of the proceeds from book sales at the booth to Chai Lifeline. And an additional $1 was donated to anyone who mentioned Chai Lifeline when buying the book.

Prior to his death from brain cancer, Lebow, a Holocaust survivor, said, “When I went [to my chemotherapy session], there were two kids…. I can accept that an adult could have cancer but I cannot accept that for these little kids.”

He subsequently endorsed linking the New York City marathons with specific charities – somet hing that he had refused on prior occasions.

The offer also continues post-marathon. A copy of the book can be purchased at

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