Spring 2007 The Help Group because every child deserves a great future TEDDY BEAR PICNIC HONORS TEDDY BEAR BALL HOLIDAY GALA AMY BRENNEMAN & BRAD SILBERLING LIGHTS UP THE SEASON AND PAM CLARK ~ NANCY ROSENFELT Dr. Barbara Firestone, Susanne Daniels, Brad Silberling & Amy Brenneman Kelsey & Camille Grammer, Gary H. Carmona he International Ballroom of the Beverly Hilton was he Help Group is pleased to announce that Amy filled with the spirit of the holiday season as Brenneman and Brad Silberling will receive its Help T hundreds of friends and supporters gathered for The T Humanitarian Award at the Teddy Bear Picnic, Help Group’s 10th annual Teddy Bear Ball on Saturday evening, in recognition of their outstanding humanitarianism. This December 2. This year’s event honored Susanne Daniels, year’s 30th Annual Spring Luncheon will be held at the Beverly President of Entertainment, Lifetime Entertainment Services Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, June 12. At this gathering, The Help with the 2006 Help Humanitarian Award, in recognition of her Group will present its outstanding commitment to many philanthropic causes. Professional Excellence Camille and Kelsey Grammer received the Champion for Award to two outstand- Children Award in honor of their ongoing dedication to ing professionals, Pamela enriching the lives of children. Clark, Director of The continued on page 10 Help Group’s Autism THE HELP GROUP LAUNCHES “THERE IS Schools, and Nancy Pamela Clark Nancy Rosenfelt HELP, THERE IS HOPE” AUTISM CAMPAIGN Rosenfelt, Director of Summit View Schools. Bruce Berman, Elizabeth and Lee Gabler, n recognition of National Ann and Jim Gianopulos, Brian Grazer, and Stacey Snider, are Autism Awareness serving as 2007 Luncheon Chairs. I month, The Help Group developed its There is Hope, There Amy Brenneman and Brad Silberling are a remarkable couple is Help: Learn the Early Signs of with a shared commitment to many philanthropic causes. Amy Autism campaign in English and Brenneman is highly respected for her roles in film, television and theater. She has been nominated for five Emmys, three Spanish (see related articles on pages 3 and Golden Globes, a SAG award and is a three time TV Guide 9). The campaign was designed to acquaint families with the early Award winner for Best Actress. Amy first became known to signs of autism that may be evident television audiences for her portrayal of Officer Janice Licalsi in within a child’s first two years of life. Early identification is of the series "NYPD Blue,” and subsequently by the six-season hit paramount importance since research has shown that many series, “Judging Amy,” a drama based on the real-life children with an autism spectrum disorder can make substantial experiences of her mother, a State of Connecticut Superior progress in all areas of development when intensive Court judge. Beginning this fall on ABC, Amy will be co-starring intervention is started before five years of age. in “Private Practice,” a spin-off of the medical drama “Grey’s continued on page 8 continued on page 3 2 HelpLine BOARD OF DIRECTORS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Gary H. Carmona Garth Ancier Chairman of the Board Hon. Howard & Janice Berman Dr. Barbara Firestone Carole Black President and CEO Julee & Danny Bramson Susan Berk A MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS James L. Brooks Director Hon. Yvonne Brathwaite Burke Robert Dorman W e’re delighted to have this opportunity to bring you Dyan Cannon Director news of our programs and activities and to take a few Wendy & Victor Coleman Bruce C. Corwin Dr. David Firestone moments to thank our longstanding friends and welcome Director Ann & Dick Costello new friends to our Help Group family—there’s so much to Perry Katz Susanne & Greg Daniels Director report to you—here are a few highlights. Suzanne & Robert Davidow Dr. Martin Lasky Hon. Gray & Sharon Davis Director This edition brings you news of our philanthropic events Jane & Michael Eisner Jerrold Monkarsh and the people whose remarkable efforts we honor at our Mel Elias Executive Vice Chair/Chair Elect Teddy Bear Ball, our Teddy Bear Golf Classic and our Elizabeth & Lee Gabler Ann & Jim Gianopulos Joy Monkarsh upcoming Teddy Bear Picnic. On June 12, we invite you to Secretary Dr. Nancy & Jonathan Glaser join us as we salute Amy Brenneman and Brad Silberling Barry N. Nagoshiner, C.P.A. Nancy Goliger & Bruce Berman Vice Chair and CFO with our Help Humanitarian Award and Pamela Clark and Brian Grazer Nancy Rosenfelt with our Professional Excellence Award. Hon. Wendy Greuel Judd Swarzman & Dean Schramm Director During the month of April, we marked national autism Sandy Grushow Howard Tenenbaum Mary & Sam Haskell Director awareness with the launch of our There is Hope, There is Hon. Robert Hertzberg Help: Learn the Early Signs campaign. We are grateful to Richard M. Zelle Quincy Jones Director the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf for once again hosting our Ronnie & Michael Kassan awareness campaign in its 200 stores and to Gelson’s for Susan & Brian Kennedy CIRCLE OF FRIENDS BOARD introducing this campaign throughout its chain. On April Stephanie & Stuart Liner Victor Coleman Margaret Loesch 13, at our Autism Awareness Reception, we were Dick Costello Marlee Matlin privileged to acknowledge Senator John Burton whose Mel Elias Jamie & Chris McGurk Jonathan Glaser lifelong commitment to children with autism and their Ron Meyer Sandy Grushow families has made an extraordinary difference. Wendy & Barry M. Meyer Chris McGurk Lori & Michael Milken Jamie McGurk To meet the demand of the ever growing number of Lowell Milken Jerrold Monkarsh families in need of support, we feature upcoming Sandra Milken Joy Monkarsh professional and parent education programs and Hon. Richard J. Riordan Frederic D. Rosen Nadine & Frederic D. Rosen highlights from our Child Abuse Prevention and Nadine Rosen Ande & Bruce Rosenblum Bruce Rosenblum Intervention seminar. These pages also bring news of the Cheryl & Haim Saban David Salzman California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission, Holiday Sonia & David Salzman Sunny Sassoon Carnival, Milken Family Foundation Festival for Youth Ellen & Richard Sandler Ken Solomon Debbie & Sunny Sassoon program and our Summit View School for students with Anne Sweeney Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger Howard Tenenbaum learning differences. And you’ll meet one of our recent & First Lady Maria Shriver graduates, Dulce Tenerio and some wonderful volunteers Stacey Snider Lissa & Ken Solomon EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION like Rebecca Lascoe. Anne Sweeney & Philip H. Miller Dr. Barbara Firestone We’d like to close with this thought from Bertha von Nancy Tellem President and CEO Suttner, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient in 1905. "After Jaime Tisch Dr. Susan Berman Steve Tisch the verb 'to Love,' 'to Help' is the most beautiful verb Chief Operating Officer Claire & D. Michael Van Tom Komp in the world.” Our thanks to you for your commitment to Konenyenburg Senior Vice President our children and for all that you do to “help” each and Jane & Jerry Weintraub Michael Love every day. Hon. Jack Weiss & Leslie Kautz Vice President Hon. Herb J. & Fabian Wesson John Farrimond Gary H. Carmona Dr. Barbara Firestone Hon. Zev & Barbara Yaroslavsky Vice President Barbara & Stanley Zax HelpLine 3 2007 TEDDY BEAR PICNIC TEDDY BEAR PICNIC - continued from page 1 HONORING Anatomy.” Amy’s film credits to date include, “Heat,” “Fear Your Friends & Neighbors,” “Nine Lives,” and this fall she will be starring in “Jane Austen Amy Brenneman & Brad Silberling Book Club” and “88 Minutes.” A graduate of Harvard University, Amy HELP HUMANITARIAN AWARD RECIPIENTS earned a degree in Comparative Religion. Pamela Clark, M.A. ~ Nancy Rosenfelt, M.A. PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD RECIPIENTS Brad Silberling is a critically acclaimed director, writer and producer. His most recent film is the independent feature “10 Items or Less,” which he wrote and directed, and stars Morgan Freeman. Prior to that, he directed the LUNCHEON CHAIRS Academy Award winning box office smash, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Bruce Berman Unfortunate Events.” He wrote, directed and produced the highly praised Elizabeth & Lee Gabler “Moonlight Mile” and directed the much lauded box office hit “City of Ann & Jim Gianopulos Angels.” He is a graduate of the UCLA School of Theater Film and Television Brian Grazer where he earned his master’s degree in production, following his bachelor’s Stacey Snider degree in English from U.C. Santa Barbara. In addition to prolific careers in film and television, Amy and Brad are LUNCHEON COMMITTEE committed to giving back to the community. Amy is a spokesperson for Merv Adelson Joan Lurie & Scott Farb Healthy Child, Healthy World and has participated in numerous television Dan Aloni Laurie MacDonald and radio shows to help educate the public about children’s health and the Oren Aviv & Walter Parkes Brenda & Rich Battista Kathie Marion environment. She is an avid supporter of the Feminist Majority, a founding Willow Bay & Bob Iger Leslie Moonves member of the Cornerstone Theater Company and through her involvement Maria Bello Sarah & Neal Moritz with Women in Film, she spends her time encouraging current and future Jami Morse Heidegger Larry Brezner continued on page 16 Norman R. Brokaw Rick Nicita Hutch Parker Jessica Capshaw Gavigan & Christopher Gavigan Peggy & Paige Parrish THE HELP GROUP SALUTES THE COFFEE BEAN & Susan & Eric Carlson Catherine Paura TEA LEAF FOR ITS OUTSTANDING COMMITMENT Richard W. Cook Julie & Marc Platt Melanie Cook Jeff Robinov Barbara Davis Karen Rosenfelt Blancato Jordan &