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WINTER 2016 Newsletter ALLIANCE VOICE B4UGO: A Lifeline for Foster Youth 6 Pro Bono Gives Family New Life 4 A New Legion of Leaders 5 Alliance of Moms 9 Medical-Legal Partnership a Win-Win for Kids 10 Annual Dinner Honors Dana Walden & Gary Newman 3 BOARD OF DIRECTORS AroundAnnual the AllianceDinner CHAIR Cliff Gilbert-Lurie Ziffren Brittenham LLP A MESSAGE FROM SECRETARY Phillip Rudolph Jack in the Box Inc. BOARD CHAIR TREASURER 24TH ANNUAL DINNER WILL HONOR FOX’S Chris B. Walther Activision Blizzard CLIFF GILBERT-LURIE & Matthew D. Babrick CEO Goldman, Sachs & Co. DANA WALDEN & GARY NEWMAN Peter Benedek United Talent Agency JANIS SPIRE James P. Clark The Alliance will present Fox Television Group chairmen Chief Deputy Attorney, City of L.A. and CEOs Dana Walden and Gary Newman with the Trent Copeland Attorney & Legal News Analyst and on a career path. Their efforts National Champion for Children Award at our 24th Annual Nancy de Brier are bolstered by the Alliance’s own Attorney & Child Advocate Dinner on Thursday, March 10, 2016 at the Beverly Hilton. “Know Before You Go” campaign, Michael Downer Dana and Gary are a powerful entertainment duo who use Capital Research & Mgmt. Co. which now includes a website and their influence to improve the lives of at-risk children, fight Scott Edelman Gibson Dunn & Crutcher YouTube channel (pg. 6). poverty and strengthen access to healthcare. Susan F. Friedman NBC News (Retired) The Alliance of Moms continues to Leslie Gilbert-Lurie* “Throughout my career Dana and Gary have impressed Writer, Child Advocate & Attorney build membership, momentum and me with their leadership skills and creative talent, but Barbara Grushow importance at the Alliance. Their Barbara Grushow Designs what truly sets them apart is their commitment to people Angie Harmon inspiring work is capturing the Actress & Child Advocate in need,” said Rick Rosen. “They have heart, tenacity and attention of the public and the hearts a willingness to stand up for those less fortunate. They Yasmine Delawari Johnson 2015 brought significant change and Child Advocate of more than 100 member volunteers! truly walk the walk. I can’t think of two people more Jo Kaplan hope for the children we serve, as Referee, Juvenile Court deserving of this award.” we’ve been joined by new partners Mitchell T. Kaplan We look forward to celebrating with Kaplan Stahler Agency in our mission. you at our upcoming 24th Annual Gwyn Lurie Dinner Chairs Leslie & Cliff Gilbert-Lurie, Sue Naegle, Susan Alcove Films Dinner on March 10. We are delighted Friedman and Toni M. Schulman are joined by Honorary James Lichtman We frequently hear from our clients to be honoring two prominent NBCUniversal Co-Chairs Peter Rice, Rick Rosen and Chase Carey in “It takes a village to raise a child,” Karen Mack entertainment executives in our recognizing Dana and Gary’s commitment to underserved Writer & Producer and it’s true. At-risk kids and families community, Dana Walden and Gary children and positively impacting their local community. Steven A. Marenberg* impacted by the foster care system Irell & Manella LLP Newman, as well as the esteemed Sue Naegle need our relentless advocacy and Superintendent of the Pomona Naegle Ink When the two are not making hit television shows such as “Every child in our community deserves the support of mentors, teachers, School District, Richard Martinez. Kevin Reilly “Modern Family,” “Homeland,” “American Horror Story“ Turner Broadcasting System counselors and super star social the opportunity to live a healthy and happy and “Empire,” they spend much of their time and energy Rick Rosen workers and attorneys. William Morris Endeavor Thank you for being a part of our bettering the world around them. Gary is a member of the life. It is such a privilege to be honored by Bruce Rosenblum village and a shining beacon of hope Legendary Television L.A. Board of Governors of the Paley Center for Media and the Alliance, which has positively affected The L.A. Opportunity Youth for the children we serve! Susan Saltz serves on the boards of the Hollywood Radio & Television the lives of so many children and young Child Advocate Collaborative continues to grow the Society, Chrysalis and UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive José F. Sanchez number of youth who are job ready people in Los Angeles.” Sidley Austin LLP Cancer Center Foundation. Dana also is an active board Toni M. Schulman* Child Advocate member of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center - Dana and Gary Pamela Soper, ex officio Foundation, as well as the Los Angeles Zoo and Saban CBS Television Free Clinic. Bart H. Williams* Munger, Tolles & Olson Noelle Wolf James Lichtman Joins Alliance Board Child Advocate Robert J. Woolway Trinity Capital LLC James Lichtman is Executive Vice President & Supt. Richard Martinez Recognized with Community Service Award PRESIDENT & CEO Deputy General Counsel for NBCUniversal. Jamie Janis Spire has served on the boards of the Legal Aid Trailblazing education leader Richard Martinez, Superintendent of the Pomona Unified School CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Foundation of Los Angeles, the First Amendment Michael House District, will receive the Alliance’s 2015 Francis M. Wheat Community Service Award at our Coalition and Stanford Law School, his alma LEGAL DIRECTOR 24th Annual Dinner. Martinez is known as a champion for collaboration, urban education and Laura Streimer mater. He currently serves as President of the Los foster children. He was recently selected by the U.S. Department of Education as one of 100 DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT Angeles Copyright Society. We welcome Jamie Margy Feldman top school leaders in America. Martinez is an education pioneer. He successfully integrated and are thrilled to have his support. COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR digital learning throughout his district, which resulted in awards for technological innovation Constance Farrell (cont. on page 4) * Past Chairs ALLIANCE VOICE | Winter 2016 kids-alliance.org | 3 Pro Bono Spotlight Program Highlight WILMERHALE DRAMATICALLY A NEW LEGION SHIFTS FAMILY’S FUTURE OF LEADERS a grandmother’s journey from hopelessness to homeowner foster youth step up to lead and empower their peers Linda had an empty nest when she got a call from a social It was an active summer for the dozens of organizations On July 1, OYC Summer Youth Ambassadors attended worker: Her adult daughter was suffering from postpartum that make up the L.A. Opportunity Youth Collaborative a press conference that kicked off summer youth psychosis and Linda’s three grandchildren had been put (OYC). This multi-agency partnership of public and employment programs, hosted by Mayor Eric Garcetti into foster care. Linda immediately agreed to care for them private organizations is focused on improving education, and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors. and was told she’d have support and resources to help her employment and life outcomes for foster youth. do so. Soon after, she was incorrectly informed that she The Summer Youth Ambassadors are a group of former did not qualify. Without financial support, the family was foster youth supported by OYC partner United Friends soon homeless, relying on the generosity of relatives for “The most rewarding part of my job is the of the Children, who worked in YouthSource Centers food and shelter. Without a consistent home address, Linda excitement I see from youth once they are around the county to recruit foster youth to the summer couldn’t find work and without a stable home, the children told they can start work.” job programs. They also support youth through the found it hard to keep up in school. application process. - Keisha Solis, Summer Youth Ambassador Linda struggled for seven long years to keep the family Throughout the summer and fall, foster youth participated together and to meet their basic needs. She pleaded in job shadowing, attended recruitment events and were for some help but was denied. Her case came to the In June, OYC convened its first OYC Young Leaders hired into temporary and full time jobs. Through these WilmerHale team Lindy Patrick, Jessica Kurzban and Gregory Boden. attention of the Alliance, and in stepped WilmerHale meeting with 20 impressive current and former foster efforts, foster youth gained valuable work experience, pro bono attorney Jessica Kurzban. Jessica and the youth. The Young Leaders meet monthly to develop polished their resumes and acquired the soft skills to WilmerHale team filed an appeal, and the judge found skills and become a knowledge-building community that advance in their journeys toward school and career. that the county had failed to provide proper funding “These cases bring immediate gratification informs the work of the OYC. They are already using their and support for Linda’s grandchildren. He awarded the voices to impact change as spokespeople to employers, because you can see the positive change appropriate benefits, along with a back payment of educators, policy makers and their peers. happen that has direct impact on a $70,000 for the many years of lost financial support to which the family had been entitled. family’s life and basic needs.” - Jessica Kurzban, WilmerHale Linda’s and the childrens’ lives changed dramatically as a result of that award. Linda was able to buy a modest home, find a job and enroll the kids in after school activities while she was at work. The children are now flourishing and succeeding in school. Supt. Richard Martinez Recognized with Community Service Award (cont. from page 3) in early childhood education from the California School Boards Association. A native of East Los Angeles, Martinez began his career in crisis intervention for the Bell Gardens Police Department before shifting his community-driven career focus OYC Summer Youth Ambassadors with Mayor Eric Garcetti. OYC Young Leaders engage in a skill-building activity at their kick off meeting.