The Help Group ... because every child deserves a great future FALL 2009 BRIAN GOLDNER, MARY URQUHART & MAX MAYER TO BE HONORED AT THE HELP GROUP’S 2009 TEDDY BEAR BALL he Help Group is pleased to announce that has helped to create brighter futures for children three remarkable individuals will be honored with autism. Max Mayer, the gifted writer-director of T at The Help Group’s 2009 Teddy Bear Ball. the acclaimed motion picture “Adam,” will receive This 13th annual holiday the Spirit of Hope Award gala celebration will be for raising important held on Monday, December public awareness and 7th, 2009, at the Beverly understanding through Hilton Hotel. his sensitive portrayal of a young man with Asperger’s BRIAN GOLDNER Brian Goldner, President Disorder. Gala Chairs are and CEO of Hasbro Inc., Brian Grazer, Cheryl & will receive The Help Haim Saban, and Bill Group’s Help Humanitarian Urquhart. MARY URQUHART MAX MAYER Award in recognition of his far-reaching philanthropic leadership and A toy industry veteran, Brian Goldner is widely commitment to children’s causes. Parent advocate recognized for leading the evolution of Hasbro from Mary Urquhart will receive the Champion for Children Award in a traditional toy and game company to a leader in world-class recognition of her heartfelt spirit of giving and volunteerism that family entertainment. Brian is responsible for Hasbro’s business continued on page 3 THE HELP GROUP’S NEW AUTISM CENTER CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION “Deck the Walls” DEDICATED TO EDUCATION, RESEARCH, PARENT & PROFESSIONAL TRAINING AND OUTREACH for The Help Group children at your local Coffee Bean & Tea Lea f® this holiday season! see story on page 5 see story on page 7 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Gary H. Carmona A MESSAGE TO Garth Ancier Chairman of the Board Bruce Berman Dr. Barbara Firestone OUR FRIENDS Hon. Howard & Janice Berman President & CEO Carole Black Dear Friends, Susan Berk Julee & Danny Bramson Director We’re delighted to share this edition of Helpline with you. During James L. Brooks Robert Dorman this holiday time of the year, it is especially gratifying to highlight Amy Brenneman & Brad Silberling Director some of the people and organizations that support our efforts to Bruce C. Corwin Dr. David Firestone build brighter futures for the children. Ann & Dick Costello Director Susanne & Greg Daniels Although these times have been challenging in our city, state and Suzanne & Robert Davidow Perry Katz country, The Help Group’s family of friends have remained resolute Director Hon. Gray & Sharon Davis in their commitment to our mission. With their help, we have Jane & Michael Eisner Dr. Martin Lasky served more than six thousand children and families this year and Mel Elias Director many others through our public awareness and outreach efforts. To Elizabeth & Lee Gabler Jerrold Monkarsh open the doors of opportunity for many more children, construc - Ann & Jim Gianopulos Executive Vice Pres/Chair Elect tion is underway on our new state-of-the-art Autism Center. Dr. Nancy & Jonathan Glaser Joy Monkarsh Secretary As we go to print with this edition, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ® is Brian Grazer launching their “Deck the Walls” campaign in support of our Hon. Wendy Greuel Barry N. Nagoshiner, CPA & Dean Schramm Vice Chair & CFO children. We are looking forward to our Teddy Bear Ball on December 7th honoring three extraordinary individuals, Brian Sandy Grushow Judd Swarzman Amy & Andy Heyward Director Goldner, Mary Urquhart and Max Mayer. That very next Saturday, December 12th, The Help Group will host more than 700 children Quincy Jones Howard Tenenbaum in need and their families who are served by our mental health and Ronnie & Michael Kassan Director child abuse prevention and intervention programs at the 26th Susan & Brian Kennedy Richard M. Zelle annual Holiday Carnival. Just a few weeks in the life of The Help Carol & Arnie Kleiner Director Group—made possible by the giving and caring of all of you who Stephanie & Stuart Liner join us in our efforts. Thanks ever so much! Margaret Loesch CIRCLE OF FRIENDS BOARD Marlee Matlin Best wishes to you and yours for a wonderful holiday season and Jamie & Chris McGurk Dick Costello a very Happy New Year! Ron Meyer Mel Elias Wendy & Barry M. Meyer Jonathan Glaser Gary H. Carmona ~ Dr. Barbara Firestone Lori & Michael Milken Sandy Grushow Lowell Milken Chris McGurk Sandra Milken Jamie McGurk Steve Mosko Jerrold Monkarsh CONTENTS Dawn Ostroff Joy Monkarsh 2009 Teddy Bear Ball Honorees ................................................................cover Hon. Richard J. Riordan Frederic D. Rosen Nadine & Fredric D. Rosen “Deck the Walls” at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf ®….........................cover Nadine Rosen Ande & Bruce Rosenblum New Autism Center Under Construction …...........................................cover Bruce Rosenblum Cheryl & Haim Saban 18th Annual Golf Classic …............................................................................pg 4 David Salzman Sonia & David Salzman Sunny Sassoon The Help Group Honors CA Senator D. Steinberg ….........................pg 5 Ellen & Richard Sandler Ken Solomon The Help Group’s Autism Awareness Initiatives …...............................pg 6 Debbie & Sunny Sassoon Anne Sweeney ABC7 Rebroadcasts Autism Heroes Special ….......................................pg 6 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger & First Lady Maria Shriver Capital Campaign Donors ….........................................................................pg 7 Howard Tenenbaum Stacy & Jesse Sharf 12th Annual Teddy Bear Ball …....................................................................pg 8 Stacey Snider EXECUTIVE ADMINISTRATION Teddy Bear Tea ~ An Affair of the Heart …...........................................pg 10 Lissa & Ken Solomon Dr. Barbara Firestone Honored as “Woman of the Year” …...........pg 11 Anne Sweeney & Philip H. Miller Dr. Barbara Firestone The Help Group Plays Key Role in CA Senate Select Committee ..pg 11 Nancy Tellem President & CEO Steve Tisch Classroom Sponsorship …............................................................................pg 12 Dr. Susan Berman Kathy & Charles P. Toppino The Help Group’s Teddy Bear Picnic Donors …...................................pg 12 Chief Operations Officer Claire & D. Michael Tom Komp Summit 2009 Convenes Leading Experts ….........................................pg 13 Van Konynenburg Senior Vice President Milken Festival For Youth Kick-Off ….......................................................pg 14 Jerry Weintraub Michael Love Celebrating the Magic of the Holidays …..............................................pg 14 Hon. Jack Weiss & Leslie Kautz Senior Vice President Girl Scouts Bring Joy to Over 700 Children ….....................................pg 14 Hon. Herb J. & Fabian Wesson Hon. Zev & Barbara Yaroslavsky John Farrimond Village Glen School Takes Part in Autism Research …......................pg 14 Vice President Barbara & Stanley Zax H elpLine 3 TEDDY BEAR BALL - continued from cover development and for driving its continued global growth. In beginning of her longstanding efforts to create hope and 2008, he was named Marketwatch CEO of the Year. Dubbed the opportunity. This spring Brian will graduate from The Help “transformer”, he was recognized for rebranding the image of Group’s Village Glen School. Hasbro and “transforming it beyond a toymaker to an intellectu - As parents, Mary and her husband Bill speak openly and candidly al-property-owning powerhouse.” Since joining the Company about autism, and in doing so offer insight, encouragement and in 2000, Brian has been a key force in making Hasbro one of hope to other parents just beginning or already on the journey. the industry’s most successful and profitable companies. By They are wonderful humanitarians who are committed to making re-igniting many of its classic brands, including TRANSFORMERS, a difference in the lives of children and families in very real and G.I. JOE, LITTLEST PET SHOP, NERF, MONOPOLY, PLAYSKOOL meaningful ways and MY LITTLE and are committed PONY, Hasbro has GALA CHAIRS to giving back to evolved from a tra - the community. For ditional toy and more than six years game company to a the Urquhart’s have leader in world- been a part of The class family enter - Help Group family. tainment with its Mary’s years of properties enjoyed dedicated work on in a variety of behalf of children lifestyle mediums, Brian Grazer Cheryl Saban Haim Saban Bill Urquhart with ASD and her including feature long history of volunteerism gives true meaning to the words films, television, digital entertainment, publishing, consumer “champion for children”. goods and more. Brian’s humanitarian spirit is reflected in his involvement with Max Mayer is an award-winning writer/director with a broad many philanthropic causes. With Brian at the helm, Hasbro’s portfolio of theater, film and television credits. He is a Founder vibrant culture of corporate philanthropy touches the lives of and Producing Director of the New York Stage and Film Company millions of children around the world. The Hasbro Children’s Fund renowned for developing new works for the American theater. supports educational programs for children at risk, and provides Over the past two decades Max has directed numerous world and the basics for children in need through its Gift of Play product New York premieres and has won Best Production and Best donations and Gift of Hope financial grants to dozens of Director Helen Hayes Awards . organizations