of Los Angeles Changing our Community, Little by Little of Los Angeles A Year in Review 2015 A Year in Review Randy Schwab CEO “JBBBSLA gives children a sense of hope. For some children, their BIG or camp counselor may be the first Brian J. Appel Contents caring adult role model they encounter. It changes Chairman what they know, who they are, and what they become. These programs change and save lives.” Letter from CEO and Board Chair 3 – Brian Appel, Big Brother, Board Chair Centennial Campaign and Donors 4 - 5 A Match Made in Heaven 6 JBBBSLA Programs & E- Mentoring 7 JBBBSLA & Camp Accomplishments 8 - 9 of Los Angeles New Program – College Guidance 8 - 9 Camp Changed My Life 10 Camp Programs and Partners 11 Mission Statement: 2015 Photo Gallery 12 - 13 The mission of JBBBSLA is to help children Donor Honor Roll 14 – 19 achieve their full potential by participating in innovative, effective programs that facilitate 2016 Big Event – Save the Date 20 lasting mentor relationships and support positive youth development. of Los Angeles Officers Letter from CEO and Board Chair Brian J. Appel, Chairman Jonathan C. Lurie, Vice President Thomas R. Schiff, Vice President Sandy Sigal, Vice President Today, children in Los Angeles face different, more serious challenges David Smith, Vice President than those of a century ago. Challenges such as absent parents and Aaron Cohen, Secretary changing family structures, homelessness and food insecurity, failing Mark Kuperstock, Treasurer schools, cyber bullying, gangs and drugs are pervasive. With mentors and role models to guide them past these obstacles, children today gain faith in themselves and hope for a better future. Board of Directors Robert C. Aronoff Now, more than ever, our children need positive role models in their Steven Barlevi lives. They need people who believe in them, who open their eyes to Joey Behrstock Randy Schwab possibilities, who teach them how to beat the odds, and who show them CEO Lisa Bochner the people they can become. They need people who give them hope. Lloyd “Eric” Cotsen In this, our 100th year, we celebrate our agency’s many improvements Daniel L. Dworsky and we reflect on how many of our children have grown up to Richard Feldstein become pillars of the community through their business, volunteer, David A. Fenton and philanthropic efforts. In honor of one such individual, we recently Eric Fingleson amended the name of our camp to Camp Bob Waldorf on the Max Manny Flekman Straus Campus to reflect the generosity and lifetime commitment of Rick Gleitman Bob Waldorf. As a former camper, mentee, mentor, and board chair, Glenn S. Goodstein Bob is a living reminder of what each and every one of our children Marshall B. Grossman and teens can aspire to be. Shoshana Himmel We launched our $7M Centennial Campaign to dramatically expand our Scott R. Isdaner Brian J. Appel mentoring program, make capital improvements to the Camp, introduce Leslie Kavanaugh Chairman innovative teen programming, and ensure more children are prepared Alexander Kozakov and have the resources to reach for and realize their dreams of higher Aaron Levy education. Jeffrey B. Light Steve Miller We forged new community relationships to solidify ourselves as partners Bryan Moeller in creating better futures for the children and teens we serve. For camp, Arnold S. Nelson these include Outward Bound, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Green Dot Public Schools, and Foster Care Counts. And for Youth Matthew Nelson Mentoring, these include Moishe House, Young Jewish Professionals, Shelley Resnik Masa Israel, and various synagogues and Jewish day schools. Brad Rosenberg Dan Rosenson In 2015, we were very proud to award even more scholarships and Stephen M. Saltzman to initiate our College Access Plus pre-college counseling program, Michael H. Sendowski to deepen and broaden the support we provide the children we serve. John Shane We developed innovative teen programming -- including community Daniel M. Siegel service projects, philanthropy programs, and advocacy boot camps Lee I. Silver -- which focus on teaching values and skills to our teen campers, Gelena Skya Wasserman encouraging them to become well-rounded, more involved members Gary N. Stern of their communities. Karl L. Sussman David L. Swartz We thank all of our incredible donors, board members, volunteers, Andrew Thau partners and staff. Together, we confidently start the next 100 years of serving those children and teens who need our support the most. Robert A. Waldorf Lewis M. Wallensky Marshall J. Wax Gary Weinhouse A Year in Review 2015 3 Centennial Campaign As the challenges and needs of our children grow and evolve, so must our programs, infrastructure and facilities. The goal of our Centennial Campaign is to raise $7 million to give thousands more children the chance to forge life-long relationships, experience life-changing opportunities, and believe in a brighter future. Mentoring matters. As JBBBSLA begins a new century of service, we will expand our mentoring program by: • Growing and build bridges to newly-identified underserved communities. We see an increasing call from immigrant communities for mentors who can help first-generation children acculturate more smoothly. Further, our partners in the bereaved, special-needs and LGBT Jewish communities report an increased demand and need for mentors. To support these children successfully, we need additional outreach and mentoring support specialists. • Introducing a new, cutting-edge electronic platform (E-Mentoring). E-Mentoring will create new opportunities and accelerate the growth of our mentoring program. The mentoring movement recognizes that modern technologies can greatly enhance the connection between our children and their mentors. (See page 7) • Expanding precollege counseling and financial support for higher education. Many of our Little Brothers and Little Sisters overcome tremendous obstacles simply to graduate from high school and have little of the essential support required for them to attend a four-year university, community college, or trade school. Further, we have become acutely aware of how complete college counseling is essential for our children to understand their options and to reach their full education potential. (See page 8) “My Big Brother taught me to trust others and believe I could overcome any challenge put in my way. Together we try new things, discover fun new activities, and just talk.” - Little Brother 4 A Year in Review 2015 Thank you to our Centennial Campaign Donors. Together, Centennial Campaign A Century of Hope we are impacting the lives of thousands of children and families every day. $1,000,000+ Camp Counts. Toby and Bob Waldorf Our centennial campaign will enable us to expand and enhance our camp facilities $500,000-999,999 and infrastructure to provide more children with life-building skills and life-changing Nancy and Brad Rosenberg experiences by: $250,000-499,999 • Adding a new 1,000 square foot wing to the dining hall to give The Estate of Robert Lloyd Meyers campers and counselors space to enjoy meals together, rather than in shifts or in different locations at camp. The new facility will provide designated kosher $100,000-249,999 cooking accommodations to reach and accommodate more of our community. Marion Brucker Trust Steven J. Fogel • Expanding our conference center to increase indoor programming Scott R. Isdaner, Strauss Foundation Trust space and to add the additional staff sleeping quarters needed to support more Katz Family Survivors Trust campers, counselors, and retreat groups. Nancy Seegers Lurie and Jonathan Lurie Debra and Richard Powell • Building a new amphitheater and more outdoor communal The Nelson Family, The Rabinovitch Foundation spaces to give campers and retreat groups larger places for community Lynn and John Shane meetings, all-camp programs, and worship. The Sandy Sigal Family Gail and Lee Silver • Creating a new sports field to provide a safer, more inviting recreation Marcie and David Swartz venue for all camp programs. Emily and Gregory Waldorf $25,000-$99,999 • Installing solar panels and water saving devices to reduce fixed Mimi Alpert Feldman overhead costs and ensure that the Camp is a good steward of the environment. Mae and Brian Appel • Awarding more scholarships and provide precollege Louis Colen(z”l) counseling (See page 8) Stacie and Aaron Cohen Jodi and David Fenton Ellen and Richard Gleitman • Developing innovative teen programming to ensure that our teens Linda and Daniel Rosenson learn, participate in, and demonstrate leadership in the areas of social action, Dr. Stephen M. Saltzman advocacy and teen philanthropy. Laurie Dworsky and Randy Schwab • Growing the Camp Endowment to ensure perpetual operational funding Linda and Michael Sendowski and camper subsidies. Kathy and Marshall Wax $24,999 and Under Jacqueline and Howard Banchik Amy and Joey Behrstock Janne and Henry Burdick Laurie Feldman and Robert Friedman Sharon and Richard Feldstein Mariko Wilson and Eric Fingleson First Republic Bank Leslie and Jack Kavanaugh Martin Mandles Irene and David Smith Gary N. Stern UBS Wealth Management A Year in Review 2015 5 A Match Made in Heaven Brenner and Helene Goldsen & Martin Frankel The phrase “match made in heaven” comes to mind when I, as the mom, think of the pairing of Brenner and Martin. They simply fit together, and they have since they met eight years ago when Brenner was in third grade. Brenner was the only child of a single mom surrounded by his mother’s female friends. He was a man’s man even as a child, and advanced in anything athletic and yearned to hang with the big guys…then we met Martin. Looking back now, it still amazes me that we almost didn’t pursue the match out of concern that Martin was so much older. As fate would have it, he was exactly what Brenner needed. At their very first meeting, Martin recalls that despite the room being filled with toys, “Brenner and I started throwing a ball and eventually expanded into the waiting room, talking the whole time.” In fact, Martin’s own energy and athleticism completely keeps up with Brenner’s.