Welcome New and Renewing Members
Worth Baker
Douglas Carideo, Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc.
Annie Chen, LAUSD - Aurora Elementary
Shaun Duncan, Marlin Equity Partners
Jonathan Erdtsieck, Angels Investment Advisors
Amin Eslami, First Regional Bank
Melanie Gleason, MoveOn
Erin Jackson, ETVA Property Management
Sonny Kwok, Irvine Company
Renee Linares, Mortgage Relief Legal Center
Tanya Lopez, Charter School Capital
Neha Mandhani, ZS Associates
Ryan Martinez, Bernstein Global Wealth Management
Brian Miller, Western Asset Management Co.
Daniel Park, Cerrell Associates
Daisy Pizana, US House of Representatives
Mikaela Randolph, Cerrell Associates
Ryan Sullivan, Accretive Solutions
Larry Tapia, Revolution Foods
Tucker Thorpe, Wells Fargo Foothill
Sherry Wang, Fox Broadcasting Company
Richard Whipple, Cerrell Associates
Darren White, Dimensional Fund Advisors
Audrey Wu, Iconmobile LLC
Melissa Wyatt, Foundation for Second Chances





Happy March Birthdays!
Allison Bajracharya
Annie Chen
Janis Cilderman
Sandy Escobedo
Alexis Leigh Grant
Tamra Hanff
Eric Haas
C. Thomas Hebert
Shasta Irby
Jim Longobardo
Benjamin Marcus
Kelli Marsh
Krystle McEachron
Rabia Mir
Renee Ordeneaux
Erika Selsor
Evan Shuman
Anthony Vieyra

Happy April Birthdays!
Michael Anderson
Marcus Arredondo
John Barron
Sophia Cabido-Brasel
Vivian Campbell
Kaneka Chhim
Caroline Choe
Matthew Coleman
Hilda Delgado
Shaun Duncan
Leslie Garcia
Eric Gustafson
Walter Haybert
Christopher Jefferson
Claudia Keller
Mindy Kim
Michel MevaaMendo
Ryan Sullivan
Tucker Thorpe
Darren White
Dick Yuhnke

Congratulations to...
Hans Delsoin on being elected Chairman of the Board of Directors of the nonprofit, Hands for Hope.

Brian Chu on his promotion to Sales Development Manager for Rabbit Air

March 4
RVLDP Class 36
Fundraising: Financial Giving

March 14
1st Annual KidFit

March 19
Membership Committee Meeting

March 21
Ready to Learn

March 25
RVLDP Class 37
Orientation


March 26
Projects Committee Meeting

March 28
RVLDP Class 37
Governance Study

April 8
RVLDP Class 36
Financial Management


April 15
Board Leaders Institute and RVLDP Class 37
Governance Study

April 16
Membership Committee Meeting

April 30
Projects Committee Meeting

KidFit a Rousing Success

The LAJCC has been having such a good year with the Ready to Learn project at Aurora Elementary School that we decided to do more for the students there. The staff at the school has been so supportive of RTL and so great to work with that the Projects committee voted to add a physical fitness event to our academic (reading) program. So, on Saturday, March 14, we hosted the first annual KidFit at Aurora.

The day included more than 15 games for the kids to participate in, prizes, and lunch. For the parents several community service agencies (Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jefferson Adult School, the Department of Sanitation, Vernon Branch of the LA Library, The Recreation & Parks Department, St. John’s Well Child & Family Center, Healthy Families [Blue Cross & Blue Shield of California,] the South Central Family Health Center) set up booths with information about their services.

We had 297 students attend, plus many parents and siblings!

Providing great support from the planning stage through the end of the day on the 14th, was Principal Heather Lowe and her staff as well as Councilwoman Jan Perry’s office. Councilwoman Perry’s office, through the efforts of Field Deputy Kathy Castro, generously donated the tents, tables and chairs plus coordinated the community service agencies.

The kids were also treated to the opportunity to be “up close and personal” with the LA Police & Fire Departments. They were able to climb on the fire engine and blast the police cruiser siren!

Thanks to the efforts of Projects Committee chair Michael Christopherson we received donation of more than $5,000 worth of boxing themed merchandise from Custom Merchandise, Inc. President David Goldfarb. Mr. Goldfarb’s generosity enabled us to present each child with a tee shirt and/or cap at the end of the day. CMI produces all of the merchandise for Oscar De La Hoya and many entertainment studios. A $500 donation was made by the Capital Group of Companies Charitable Foundation in honor of [project chair] Dawn Oswald. Committee member Eva Choi was also successful in soliciting donations from the LA Kings hockey team, Massage Envy and Nickelodeon. Additionally, many parents donated oranges and water for the “rest” stations and volunteered at those stations.

We are very grateful to the forty-five LAJCC members and volunteers who generously gave their Saturday and lots of energy to make the first KidFit a success for the kids of Aurora Elementary.

In addition to Dawn and Michael, members of the Projects committee worked on the successful planning and implementation of a great day for the kids and parents at Aurora Elementary so special thanks go to: Eva Choi, Anthony Vierya, Michelle Mello, Deborah Hong.

The Membership Committee has kicked off 2009 in high gear, starting with a visit from our favorite cheese guru – Barrie Lynn, The Cheese Impresario! Thirty members and their guests spent an evening with Barrie Lynn at the LAJCC sampling fabulous cheeses and the wines that made them even more delicious. Barrie Lynn had an entertaining story to accompany each cheese and provided members with information on where each cheese and wine came from and what was unique about each. She even told us where we could purchase our favorites. For only $10, LAJCC members were able to enjoy an experience that would have cost $50 “on the open market.” Plus, there was lots of great conversation and laughs.

From cheese and wine, on February 3rd, the Committee presented a very timely panel discussion on “Managing Your Career during Turbulent Times.”  Thanks to the contacts of Brian Chu and Traci Torok we were able to present Betsy Berkhemer-Credaire, President of a retained executive search firm; Hector Ramos, a recruiter in the Employee Recruitment Services at USC and Sandy Meola, HR Manager with Total Call International. Moderated by LAJCC volunteer Brian Forster from Manpower, each panelist presented great information from their perspective as a recruiter and/or employer. The nearly 30 members and guests had the opportunity to ask lots of questions and received helpful and instructive answers.

One of the many great tips offered was to focus on accomplishments not duties when writing your resume. The person reviewing your resume isn’t so much interested in how you spent your time but is very interested in what successes you achieved and how they could meet the needs of your potential employer.

LAJCC Does Good While Ringing in the Holidays

Once again the annual LAJCC Holiday Party & RVLDP Graduation was a great success. More than 130 members and guests gathered to congratulate the graduates of Class 35. As always, the site of the party, The Victorian, was spectacular in its holiday decorated brilliance.

We did have a bit of excitement when the power went out on our side of the street in Santa Monica, plunging The Victorian into darkness. Fortunately, we had dozens and dozens of candles lit as part of the decorations and center pieces so the mixing, mingling and sharing holiday cheer were able to continue in the very romantic, candlelit atmosphere.

Attendees had mixed feelings when the power was restored just as we sat down for dinner. Certainly lights made it much easier for the kitchen and wait staff but the candlelit room was very beautiful!

The graduating RVLDP class also held a raffle during the party and raised $1,500 to support the RVLDP. The raffle was the second part of their fundraising efforts which totaled approximately $2,800.

In recognition of the difficulties many families were experiencing during the Holidays, members brought new toys to the party. We had more than 75 great toys donated that evening. The next morning Membership Director Cheryle Babbitt arrived at Festiva Educativa in East LA with her car loaded from stem to stern with toys. Festiva Educativa is an agency that helps low income parents access help for their special needs children. That Saturday they were sponsoring a food give-w-way for one hundred and twenty five needy families. Imagine the families’ surprise when they saw that they would also receive toys for their children! The staff of the agency and all of the recipients were so grateful to our members who so generously provided the gifts. Good work LAJCC members!

Why did you join the LAJCC?
Initially I joined the LAJCC because my colleague Delece Jones said   it would be a good idea for me to connect with like minded individuals. I made the final decision to join because I wanted to be more involved with the community.  I love working with children and the LAJCC provided me with an opportunity to do just that.

How long have you been a member?
A little over a year.

Which projects &/or committees have you participated in?
Los Angeles Watts Summer Games – current co-Chair for Spirit Fest
Camp Quest
Foster Family Picnic – Entertainment Committee
Scholarship Committee
Just recently – Ready to Read,
LAJCC membership committee

What has been your most memorable/enjoyable experience at the LAJCC?
Most definitely working with the cheer and dance teams during the Los Angeles Watts Summer Games, I feel overjoyed watching children’s reactions to accomplishing great things. Camp Quest was also extremely enjoyable and not just because I got to go down the zip line.

What have you learned from your LAJCC experience?
I have learned that you can never have too many volunteers, the more the merrier!!  No child should ever be left out.  If more individuals began to help and provide loving and healthy outlets, imagine how that would positively affect children in the inner city.

What are your current job responsibilities/job title/employer?
Modern day slave…just kidding!   
I currently work at 20th Century Fox aka Fox Filmed Entertainment; I am currently an executive assistant to an EVP (Executive Vice President).

Where are you from originally and how long have you been in Los Angeles?
I am originally from Mars, my biological parents left me here in Los Angeles some 30 years ago.  As history would tell it, I was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA since 1978, but I beg to differ!!

Where did you attend college and what degree(s) do you hold?
I graduated from Loyola Marymount University and I have a degree in dance.  Can you believe I started out a biology major and was denied entrance into the Film School at LMU?  Funny how I ended up in the entertainment industry anyway.  I may be at the bottom of the totem pole, but don’t worry I will soon be high enough for many to see me!!