The Third Edition of the KI Tikkun Olam Directory
The Third edition will be printed in 2007. The purpose of the Directory is to publicize to all of our members the myriad ways in which our congregants are engaged in tikkun olam. It is hoped that the directory will be both a resource and an inspiration for our entire congregation.
The 2007 Directory will include the names of KI members, the organizations with which they are involved, and a description of the goals and the people served by those organizations. Where applicable, information will be provided about opportunities for individual and group volunteerism.
We need EVERY KI MEMBER to let us know about the good works in which they are engaged, so that the 2007 Tikkun Olam Directory will accurately represent the commitments that members of Kehillat Israel have made to healing the world. Please take a moment NOW to fill out the form or contact Jane Gutman at hjgutman@aol.com.
Tikkun Olam Directory
Our congregants are dedicated to Tikkun Olam (Heal the World) through the following organizations:
YOUTH
SOS Villages www.sos-usa.org
202-347-7920/888-sos-kids
Karen Shapiro, Volunteer
SOS Villages provides children who have lost their parents or who are no longer able to live with them a loving home and a stable environment. There are over 400 villages in 131 countries including Israel.
Optimist Youth Home & Family Services www.oyhfs.org
323-443-3175
Philip Wexler, Advisory Board
The home provides comprehensive treatment, specialized education and support services to abused, neglected or at risk youth and their families.
Variety Boys and Girls Club, Boyle Heights www.vbgc.com
323-269-3177
Lawrence Ott, Secretary, Board of Directors
The goal of this organization is to provide mentoring, education, computer skills, and a safe place for at risk children.
Faith Communities For Families and Children 323-758-7849
Lisa Weilmann
This organization sets out to train individuals to mentor foster youth who have been or are waiting to be emancipated from the foster care system.
Big Brothers/Big Sisters 213-481-3611
Laurie Levin, Guild Member
Big Brothers/Big Sisters is an organization that raises money for children who are in need. They hold an annual gala for approximately 800 guests that raises money for the program.
Children International 800-888-3089
Laurie Levin, Child Sponsor
Children International is a child-sponsoring program. Upon sponsoring a child, you will send money annually, which will help buy food and medicine. It will also provide gifts for birthdays and holidays. In return, you will receive a photo of the child who you sponsored as well as handwritten letters and pictures that they have drawn.
Jewish Big Brothers www.jbbbsla.org
Marshall Wax, Trustee
This program finds “big brothers” for young men and “big sisters” for young women. They also operate Camp Max Straus.
Camp Max Straus Foundation www.foundationcms.org
Marshall Wax, Trustee
This foundation supports Camp Max Straus, offers scholarships to children, and supports Witherbee Wilderness Camp.
A Place Called Home www.apch.org
323-232-7653
Board of Directors
This program provides a safe haven for inner city youth.
Women Helping Youth 310-454-8991/310459-3458
Moira Tenzer/Jill Weintraub
The goal of this organization is to create a group of philanthropic women who will support several projects each year that will improve the physical, mental and emotional well being of children and young adults in need in the greater Los Angeles area.
Youth News Service/L.A. Youth Newspaper www.layouth.com
323-938-9194
Donna Myrow, Executive Director
This service trains more than 500 teens between the ages of 13 and 18 in writing, editing, graphic arts and other job skills. They publish a teen-written newspaper six times a year and distribute it for free to schools, libraries, and community agencies through out L.A. County.
Reading To Kids www.readingtokids.com
310-479-7455
Jason Axe, Treasurer
Reading To Kids is a grassroots organization that is dedicated to inspiring underserved children with a love of reading, thereby enriching their lives and opportunities for future success.
Family Stress Center www.childguidance.org
818-739-5629
Linda Damon, Supervisor. Residency Trainer
This agency aids in the prevention and treatment of child and sexual abuse, domestic violence, and neglect in children from infancy until they reach adulthood.
Everychild Foundation www.everychildfoundation.org
310-573-2153
Jacqueline Caster, Founder and President
The mission of this organization is to ease the suffering of local children, whether due to disease, disability, abuse, neglect or poverty. These goals are accomplished by pooling member dues to make a targeted single annual grant to fund a dream project of a local agency fulfilling a critical unmet need of children in our community.
El Nido Family Centers www.elnidofamilycenters.org
818-830-3646
Fred Samulon, Board of Directors
This purpose of El Nido is to promote the healthy social and emotional development of children and youth in the context of their families and communities. El Nido provides culturally sensitive social services to a diverse population in L.A., most of whom are economically disadvantaged. These services include counseling, family life education and service coordination.
Kids With A Cause www.kidswithacause.org
310-590-4505
Ellen Sterling, Volunteer
This group plans activities for children who are at risk, which allows them to interact with children who are in the entertainment industry working in film, television, and the recording industry. They use their positive experiences to make a difference in the child’s life.
HEALTH CARE
Leukemia and Lymphoma Society www.leukemia-lymphoma.org
800-955-4572/310-216-7600
Karen Shapiro, Volunteer
The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society is the world’s largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education, and patient services. Their mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma and improve the quality of life for patients and their families.
The Help Group www.thehelpgroup.org
877-943-9747
Karen Shapiro, Volunteer
The Help Group is the largest, most innovative and comprehensive non-profit organization in the Unites States serving children with special needs related to autism, Asperger’s disorder, learning disabilities, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, abuse and emotional problems.
L.A. Goal 310-838-5379
Mary B. Dean
L.A. Goal offers support and activities for disabled adults such as art, music, drama, sports as well as social events.
Maple Center-Beverly Hills 310-271-9999
Luba Fischer, Volunteer Supervisor
The Maple Center provides counseling for people in the Beverly Hills Community with a minimal fee.
American Diabetes Association www.diabetes.org
310-966-2890 (Julie: ext. 7415, Linda: ext. 7445)
Seymour Levin, Member
The ADA is committed to the care and the cure of diabetes.
Our House www.ourhouse-grief.org
310-475-0299
Marlene Clark, Co-Leader of Children’s Group
The goal of this program is to provide a safe environment for children and adults to share their grief with others who have experienced a similar loss. Volunteer co-leaders are trained to lead groups for this non-profit organization.
Beit T! Shuvah Email: beittshuvah2@aol.com
310-204-5200
Ronnie Stabler, Board Member, Co-Chair of Development
This organization is the only Jewish residential rehabilitation center in the country.
Cedars Sinai Pediatric Surgery 310-423-5749
Deborah Fried, Executive Board Member
This group’s objective is to raise money for six doctors who specialize in all types of operations and discoveries that can help children from birth to pre-teen.
Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation www.pkdcure.org
800-753-2873
Thomas Elias, Board Member, Advisory Council
This organization is dedicated to finding a cure for polycystic kidney disease. It also assists those with genetic diseases who have difficulties living with the disease.
WYNGS www.wwyngs.org
818-267-3031
Dina Murphy, Board Member
By providing financial assistance, group and individual emotional support and educational resources, WYNGS helps people in wheelchairs, their friends and families rebuild their lives after spinal cord injury.
Children Affected By AIDS Foundation www.caaf4kids.org
310-258-0850
This organization raises money and distributes it to meet the needs of kids with AIDS or those who were orphaned by AIDS. This includes a camp network, and grants for recreational, physiological, educational and basic living needs.
Hadassah 818-343-9316
Fay Samulon, Volunteer
For decades Hadassah has helped the wounded and sick in Israel and provided the world with medical advances.
Life Rolls On Foundation www.lifesrollson.org
949-254-0896
The goal of this organization is to increase awareness of and raise funds for research related to spinal cord injuries.
The Cure Our Children Foundation www.cureourchildren.org
310-355-6046
Barry and Lainie Sugarman
This group is dedicated to assisting families who have sick children or family members who have life threatening diseases.
Venice Family Clinic 310-392-8630
Marc Wishingrad, Volunteer Physician
The Venice Family Clinic provides medical care for the underserved population of the Westside.
Friends of Eliya, USA www.eliyausa.org
310-659-8316
Marsha Hurwitz, Volunteer
Friends of Eliya, USA is the American fundraising arm for the Israel Association for the Advancement of Blind and Visually Impaired Children.
National Kidney Foundation www.kidneysocal.org
800-747-5527
Thomas Elias, Co-Chair Team Southern California For U.S. Transplant Games
The purpose of this organization is to promote research for cures of all manner of kidney diseases, promote organ transplants of all types, advocate for kidney patients, and assist kidney patients with their lives.
Dystonia Medical Research Foundation www.dystoniaa-foundation.org
312-755-0198
Steve and Leanne Frankel
This organization’s purpose is to advance research for more effective treatments and ultimately a cure, to promote awareness and education and to support those individuals (and families) affected by this disease. Dystonia is a chronic neurological disease that affects muscles causing involuntary spasms.
Vista Del Mara Child and Family Services www.vistadelmar.org
310-836-1223
Amy Jaffe, Senior Vice President of Operations
Vista Del Mar provides comprehensive family-centered, social, educational and behavioral health services that encourage children, adolescents and their families to lead self reliant, stable and productive lives.
Jewish Family Services/Family Violence Project www.jfsla.org
818-789-1293
Kitty Glass, Community Outreach Coordinator, Volunteer
The goal of JFS/FVP is to provide counseling and shelter services for victims of domestic violence and their children. They also provide community education, a 40 hour training for volunteers and professionals, as well as special programs designed for teens.
The Center For The Partially Blind www.low-vision.org
310-458-3501
Adam and Sonya Chapnick
CPS helps visually impaired children and adults with all kinds of vision loss. They offer medical services, life coaching, and social opportunities.
Junior Blind of America www.juniorblind.org
323-295-4555
Brenda Diener, Board Member
This organization helps children and adults who are blind or visually impaired achieve independence.
Kids Included Together (KIT/LA) www.kitonline.org
818-568-4526
Joan Lurie Farb, Board of Directors, Member
KIT/LA’s mission is to support recreational programs that include children with and without disabilities. KIT’s goals are to enrich the lives of all who participate and to increase understanding and acceptance of disabilities as a natural part of life.
The Serra Project www.serraproject.org
626-403-4222
Laurie Hasencamp, Chair of the Board of Directors
The Serra Project is a charitable organization that provides housing and related supportive services (meals, transportation, counseling, etc.) to homeless men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS and usually at least one other disability.
Lambda Legal is a national agency that provides cutting edge legal representation of individuals being discriminated against because of their sexual orientation or HIV status. Lambda also works with legislators to draft legislation aimed at eliminating sexual orientation discrimination and engages in educational community outreach.
Peace Over Violence
www.peaceoverviolence.org
213-955-9090
Patti Giggans, Executive Director
Peace Over Violence is a sexual, domestic, and interpersonal violence prevention agency. It has been active for 35 years and provides 24-hour crisis counseling for victims of violence.
20/20 Sports Experience www.2020sports.org
310-459-9999
Jason Silver, Founder, President
20/20 Sports Experience is a non-profit organization that provides a service for visually handicapped children, giving them the opportunity to attend live sporting events.
Good Samaritan Hospital www.goodsam.org
213-482-2764
Sammy Feuerlicht, Vice President
Good Samaritan Hospital is a non-profit, non-sectarian and independent hospital in downtown Los Angeles.
SENIORS/DISABLED
Shut In-Santa Monica Library www.smpl.org
310-458-2295
Joan Darman
This organization works with adults who are unable to visit the Santa Monica Library yet have an interest in staying literate and alert. On a monthly basis books on tape are delivered to the residences and cheery words are given to the disabled individuals.
Meals On Wheels www.mealsonwheelswest.org
310-394-5133
Ruth Weston
Meals On Wheels delivers hot, balanced meals to clients who are often elderly and/or unable to prepare food for themselves.
Executive Service Corps www.escsc.org
213-381-2891
Fred Samulon, Advisory Council, Consultant
The Executive Service Corps is a non-profit organization that is devoted to enhancing management skills in the non-profit sector through the involvement of retired executives in pro bono consulting services.
Ocean House Senior Living In Santa Monica 310-399-3227
Dana Fein, Volunteer
This facility offers housing and assisted living for seniors.
ENVIRONMENT
Oceana www.oceana.org
Barbara Kohn, Board Member
Oceana advocates for the protection of the world’s oceans.
Los Angeles County Bicycle Coalition www.labikecoalition.org
213-629-2142
Sammy Feuerlicht, Board Member
This organization works to make Los Angeles a more livable place by making it a more bicycle-friendly place. The L.A.C.B.C. advocates for safe bike paths, routes and lanes for the benefit of both recreational and commuter cyclists.
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Palisadians For Peace 310-454-8985
Mary B. Dean
The purpose of this organization is to work for peace and towards the reduction of nuclear weapons throughout the world.
Pacific Palisades Women’s Club 310-454-9012
Mary B. Dean
The Pacific Palisades Women’s Club holds social events and raises money for various charities and organizations.
Liberty Hill Foundation www.libertyhill.org
310-453-3611
Mary Ann Braubach, Fundraiser/Volunteer
The LHF is a social change organization that partners with innovative and effective Los Angeles grassroots organizations to combat poverty and injustice. They work to transform out city into a place that promises safety, equality, and opportunity to everyone who lives here.
Pacific Islander Community Council www.pp90272.org
310-573-9100
Harry Sondheim, Board Member
This Council provides a forum for discussions for community issues. It advocates for the Pacific Palisades to the government and other private agencies on issues concerning the community.
Pacific Palisades Library Association 310-454-1088
Harry Sondheim, Board Member
This organization provides enhancements to libraries, speakers of interest and also writing opportunities for children.
EDUCATION
Children’s Scholarship Fund www.scholarshipfund.org
213-689-8909 ext. 104
Erica Reiter, Consultant
Children’s Scholarship Fund provides school choices for children on the poverty line. They give these children the opportunity for private education and an equal opportunity to succeed in life.
Communities In Schools www.cisnet.org
800-cis-4kids
Donna Weiss, National Board Member
Communities In Schools is the nation’s largest non-profit organization dedicated to helping youth graduate from school and prepare for life. CIS brings community resources into public schools to reach at risk youth.
The Spectrum Program-New Roads School www.newroads.org
310-828-5582/310-828-6561
Nancy London, Director
This is an inclusion program for students diagnosed with high-functioning autism, Asberger’s Syndrome, NLD and the like. The purpose is to increase their social awareness and social functioning and to give them maximum opportunity to lead independent lives.
Wonder of Reading www.wondersofreading.org
310-289-1201
Andrew Caster
The Wonder of Reading is a non-profit organization whose mission is to have a significant impact on reading in Southern California elementary schools through building, restocking and training personnel in public school libraries.
Reconstructionist’s Rabbinical College Mickey Bienenfeld
310-428-7441 (Mr. Bienefeld’s Number)
This organization is responsible for rabbinical training and supporting the rabbinical student program in Israel.
Facing History and Ourselves www.facinghistory.org
626-744-1177
Drew Pauly, Advisory Board
Facing History has been engaging students of diverse backgrounds in an examination of racism, prejudice and anti-Semitism for over 30 years in order to promote the development of a more humane and informed society. By studying the historical development and lessons of the Holocaust and other examples of genocide, students can make the essential connection between history and the choices they confront in their own lives.
POVERTY
Los Angeles Diaper Drive www.diaperdrive.com
310-230-8625
Hilary Rosen, Board Member/Photographer
The L.A. Diaper Drive was formed to give assistance to low-income families whose ability to provide the basic necessities to their children are very limited. The belief that no mother should have to choose between diapers and food fueled the idea and the formation of L.A. Diaper Drive. The goal is to change the world, one diaper at a time.
One On One Outreach 310-398-6061
Michael Schwartz, Coordinator
The goal of this organization is to help feed the working poor of South Central Los Angeles.
Direct Relief International www.directrelief.org
805-964-4767
Alison Edelstein, Fundraiser
Direct Relief provides medical aid including medicines, medical supplies and equipment to strengthen in-country health efforts around the world to improve the quality of life for the most impoverished people.
Operation School Bell www.operationschoolbell.org
323-469-6017/323-469-1793
Wendy Graf, Volunteer
Operation School Bell is an organization that goes around to Los Angeles area schools and aids L.A. school children who cannot afford clothes to go to school. Help is needed through donations and fundraising.
Chrysalis www.changelives.org
310-401-9400
Daniel Hurwitz, Volunteer
Chrysalis helps economically disadvantaged and homeless individuals become self-sufficient through support and job opportunities. Among other programs, it has a weekly Women’s support group for its clients.
Vet’s Garden www.gla.med.va.gov/vetsgarden/default.cfm
310-268-4062
Bruce Rosen, Board President
This is a 25- acre commercial farm at the Westwood VA center that provides job training and transitional employment for veterans to enable them to return to the competitive labor market.
The Water Buffalo Club www.waterbuffaloclub.com
310-277-9322
Steven Frankel, Member
This organization supports other charitable organizations in the Los Angeles area that service children and their families, and chooses groups that “fall under the radar screen” of traditional giving. Their objective is to help underprivileged children living in the Los Angeles area.
Kozeh L.A. 323-761-8153
Susan Lebow, Volunteer
Kozeh assists children with their reading skills and works with them one on one.
One Voice 310-458-9961
Susan Lebow, Volunteer
This organization provides assistance for families living at the poverty level.
JEWISH Jewish Free Loan Association www.jfla.org
323-761-8830
Philip Wexler, Board Member
JFLA assists people of all faiths who are facing financial challenges. It makes free loans for emergencies, education healthcare, life cycle events and small businesses.
American Jewish World Service www.ajws.org
212-792-2900
Carol Yumkas, Member
AJWS is dedicated to alleviating poverty, hunger and disease among the people of the developing world regardless of race, religion or nationality. Through grants to grassroots organizations, volunteer services, advocacy and education, AJWS fosters civil society, sustainable development, human rights for all people through promoting the values and responsibilities of global citizenship within the Jewish community.
Jewish Funds For Justice www.jewishjustice.org
310-450-3390
Celia Bernstein, L.A. Director
Jewish Funds For Justice is a public foundation established through the merger of the Shefa Fund and Jewish Funds For Justice. They mobilize the resources of American Jewry through their programs which include leadership development, grant making which supports community organizing and synagogue-based organizing.
Aminadav Aloni Music Foundation www.aloniemusic.org
818-907-7194
Karen Shapiro, Board Member
The mission of this organization is to ensure that the musical legacy of Jewish, Israeli composer Aminadav Aloni lives on to bring joy and enrichment to future generations. He wrote much of the music heard during High Holiday and Shabbat services.
Jewish Reconstructionists Federation www.jrf.org
215-782-8500/323-933-7491
Linda Schibel, Board Member
JRF is the umbrella organization to the Reconstructionists congregations in the Reconstructionists movement. Through this organization, services, consultations, resources, and materials as well as educational resources are made available to all of the congregations in the movement.
Sephardic Educational Center www.secjerusalem.org
Vicky Rosen, Volunteer
The goal of the SEC is to maintain and promote the unique cultural history, customs, and identity of Sephardic Jews.
The Israeli-Palestinian Confederation Committee is a group of volunteers who joined together to create a mechanism for promoting peace between the Isrealis and Palestinians.
Department of Antiquities-Hebrew University of Jerusalem Mickey Bienenfeld
This organization deals with excavating various archeological sites in Israel.
Bikur Holim-UCLA Medical Center Mickey Bienenfeld
This group visits Jewish patients at the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood.
HUNGER
CROP Donald Mink, Chairman
CROP works to help eliminate local and international hunger. They donate funds to the Westside Food Bank and also to help with international disaster and hunger relief.
MAZON: A Jewish Response To Hunger www.mazon.org
310-442-0020
Bria Silbert, Director of Donor Services
MAZON is a national non-profit which raises funds from the Jewish community to support food banks, soup kitchens, and other organizations working to prevent or alleviate hunger among people of all faiths and backgrounds.
SOVA www.jfsla.org
Bruce Rosen, Task Force Chair
SOVA operates three food pantries and resource centers that offer free groceries and supportive services for needy people in our community.
Westside Food Bank www.westsidefoodbankca.org
310-828-6016
Bruce Rosen, Board President
This organization deals with local hunger relief. WSFB distributes 4 million pounds of food each year to social service agencies. Last year these food supplies reached 80,000 people. Almost half of whom were children.
Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition www.westsideshelter.org
310-314-0071
R.C. Heffer, Member
The Westside Shelter and Hunger Coalition is an alliance of organizations, public agencies and faith communities committed to ending hunger and homelessness through service coordination, public education and advocacy.
Palisades Hunger Walk 310-454-4075
Donald Mink, Chairman
This is a 5K walk that raises funds to combat hunger locally and internationally.
