Although the firm is actively handling a variety of family law matters throughout Southern California, each member of the Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra team—from assistants to senior partners and associates—takes time out of his or her hectic schedule to participate in the firm’s various philanthropic pursuits.
PHILLIPS, LERNER, LAUZON & JAMRA, L.L.P. ADOPT-A-CENTER PROGRAM
Eleven years ago, Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra created the firm’s Adopt-A-Center program. Its purpose: to aid specific local non-profit organizations that help those less fortunate; in particular, those organizations that offer services and care to families and children.
To date, the Adopt-A-Center Program has assisted a number of unique groups, all of which have benefited tremendously from the firm’s generosity. Not only does Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra donate and raise money for its charity of choice, the attorneys and staff provide hands-on participation in various activities and events during a 12-month period of service. Moreover, many stay on after the completion of its commitment to assist as Board members and volunteers.
The following are the recipients of the Adopt-A-Center Program along with a short profile of their purposes and how Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra assisted in their worthy causes.
2009 – FRED JORDAN MISSIONS – BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAM
This year, the firm unanimously voted to once again provide assistance to Fred Jordan Missions’ (FJM) Back-to-School Backpack Program. This program aids impoverished youngsters by providing them with backpacks, school supplies, haircuts and sneakers. With the change in the economy, FJM’s donations were far less than in years past. So on October 1, 2009, PLLJ took part in a community effort to help provide the resources needed to purchase back-to-school supplies, school office materials, and toys for the children in the community. Assisting FJM staff, PLLJ partners, associates and staff were on hand to participate in this all-day event, stuffing backpacks and passing them out to over 5,000 students, ranging in age from 5 to 17. Armed with the necessary tools to excel in school, along with the sneakers and haircuts furnished by FJM, students were able to begin their academic year with a fresh start and a renewed sense of pride.
2008 FRED JORDAN MISSIONS AND THE LEVITT PAVILION PASADENA
Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra took on a dual effort for 2008, offering assistance to the Fred Jordan Missions, located in the heart of L.A.'s Skid Row and which was originally founded in the 40"s to help homeless men. The Mission has since expanded its work to help orphanages and schools around the world. The firm assisted in getting backpacks stuffed with school supplies for 5000 needy children. It also treated a busload of underprivileged youth to an outdoor concert at the Levitt Pavilion (at Pasadena's Old Towne Memorial Park), on the evening of August 28, 2008, which featured Bill Reveles who was named Best Male Artist by the 2006 Southern California Music Awards, as well as The Folk Collection, a folk band listed among the firm's favorite live musical acts. Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra extended its generosity by underwriting this particular eventone in a series of 50 such summer concerts paying tribute to American music. The Levitt Pavilion offers its concerts free to the general public to encourage community spirit, promote respect for diversity, enhance appreciation for the arts, and enrich family values. Its outreach program also offers professional performances in dance and theater.
2007 - BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS-LOS ANGELES AND THE INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTERS
Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra once again treated a large group300 in allto a special event at Dodger Stadium Sunday, June 10, 2007 where the Dodgers played the Toronto Blue Jays. Big Brothers and Big Sisters, an organization with a waiting list to place 1000 youngsters from all over the southland, were invited to bring their charges for A Day at the Dodgers and enjoy Dodger dogs, sodas, goody bags and t-shirts.
2006 - INNER-CITY SCHOOL/LOS ANGELES
Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon, & Jamra chose a group of Los Angeles inner-city school children who were a part of the Dispute Resolution Services Youth Initiative Program (PLLJ's 2005 Adopt-A-Center recipient), to adopt for the year. Youngsters, parents, and sponsors alike enjoyed a Day at the Dodgers on September 17, 2006 when the Dodgers played the San Diego Padres. The firm provided choice seats and the guests enjoyed refreshments, t-shirts and an exciting game.
2005 - DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES YOUTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM
Based in Los Angeles, DRS, an organization dedicated to bringing ethical solutions to those in disagreement over a variety of issues, recently established a nationwide collaborative of partnerships by connecting governmental, public and private nonprofit agencies with schools, families and community groups to instill positive conflict prevention, resolution and life-skills in children grades K-12. The firm hosted a one day outing at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood for a private showing of Disney's Chicken Little for youngsters enrolled in the program, children from former Adopt-A-Center recipients including Children Uniting Nations (PLLJ's 2004 Adopt-A-Center recipient) and Vista Del Mar (PLLJ's 1999 Adopt-A-Center recipient) as well as friends, family and other guests700-800 in allwho donned three-D glasses to see the movie. The firm raised funds to support additional workshops and instructional sessions for the children enrolled in the DRS programs.
2004 - CHILDREN UNITING NATIONS
Located in Beverly Hills, CUN is an organization dedicated to providing academic and relationship-based mentoring for children at risk. As part of its adoption of CUN, the firm hosted a table at CUN's annual Academy Award gala as well as participating in Dodger Day at Dodger Stadium and the Day of the Child held at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. With both events, individuals from the community at large were invited to join the children. During the Day of the Child community outreach program, those attending participated with the children in games, rides and meals. CUN is hopeful that its upcoming yearly events will promote continued interest in its mentoring programs.
2003 - OCEAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER
Based in Santa Monica, OPCC is a network of shelters and services for low-income individuals, the homeless, battered women and their children, at-risk youngsters and runaways. They offer a number of services primarily those that aid displaced individuals in rebuilding their lives. During an outdoor carnival/chuck wagon barbecue, which the firm co-sponsored, the firm backed a children"s activity area complete with games, rides, a visit from Barney and a petting zoo.
2002 - BREAK THE CYCLE
This Los Angeles organization's mission is to engage, educate and empower youth to build lives and communities free from dating and domestic violence. The preventive education organization, that offers free legal services, advocacy and support to young people ages 12 to 22, was honored by the firm when it staged a garden party for them at the world-famous Beverly Hills Greystone Mansion. Many of the youngsters involved in Break the Cycle, along with singers from UCLA, performed a variety of song and dance numbers. All who attended also enjoyed a catered spread of delicious food items from The Grille in Beverly Hills. The youngsters also had the opportunity to partake in face painting.
2001 - VENICE FAMILY CLINIC
The Venice Family Clinic provides comprehensive primary health care for those in need regardless of their ability to pay. The clinic serves the uninsured, low income and homeless children. The firm, joined by clinic personnel and guests, painted individual decorative tiles that now make up a floor-to-ceiling mural affixed on the clinic's second floor lobby wall. Each clay tile was personally adorned with sayings, drawings and symbols that ranged in artistic styles from four-year-olds to sixty-year-olds. During this special Sunday afternoon Old Fashioned Ho-Down, the firm provided a full celebration with country-rock music, a full barbecue spread, bales of hay for lounging, beverages and multi-flavored snow cones.
2000 - FREE ARTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN FOUNDATION
With facilities in both Los Angeles and Orange County, Free Arts for Abused Children broadcasts its philosophy: Art Heals which encourages abused and neglected children to express themselves through the fine arts. The firm hosted an art auction, at a prestigious Beverly Hills gallery, where it had people bidding for oil paintings, line drawings and other pieces of framed artwork created by the children in the Vista Del Mar fine arts program. The auction raised more than $20,000. The firm also hosted a Free Arts Day at the Vista Del Mar Center (PLLJ's 1999 Adopt-A-Center recipient), to help the children create additional art projectsall part of the Foundation"s philosophy that art heals.
1999 - VISTA DEL MAR CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES
Located in West Los Angeles, Vista Del Mar (and its affiliated division of Reiss-Davis Child Study Center, Home-SAFE Child Care and Julia Ann Singer Center) are dedicated to the well-being and care of children and families in Southern California who suffer the emotional, physical, psychological and social consequences of abuse, neglect and abandonment) is a multi-faceted facility that provides not only shelter and counseling to women and children, but also offers both an on-site boarding and day school and a host of educational and rehabilitation programs. During its tenure with the group, Phillips, Lerner, Lauzon & Jamra helped with such projects as hosting monthly birthday parties for the children, coordinating and presenting a successful fundraiser, and pitching in to assist in several beautification projects such as flower and tree planting.
