Youthful Challenge Led Her to Pursue Social Service Work

Terry Lantz, director of the Westside Activities Center, has always had an interest in helping people.

Lantz’s introduction to philanthropy began when she was 4. As a child, she often went on hospital visits with her mother, who volunteered regularly. During high school, she suffered an injury that prevented her from attending classes or activities for a long period, and the experience became the driving force to start her on a social service career of her own.

“I was tired of not doing things in my life,” she said. “So I found an agency, called them and started volunteering.”

Lantz devoted herself full time to her volunteer work for awhile, then took a paid job at the Westside Activities Center, where she has now worked for 19 years.

Initially, the center was intended to be a pilot program that helped children who are physically or developmentally disabled (Lantz strongly prefers the term challenged ) learn to function on a day-to-day basis.

The demand for the program was so great that Lantz looked for ways to expand. Finding few services available to adults and teen-agers, she set up an assortment of programs for older individuals that specialized in independent living skills, community integration and employment opportunities.

“We provide an extended family and faith in our clients so they can believe in themselves,” she said. “We really want to show them how to take a risk, while also giving them the support they need.”

Today, the center, at 8652 Venice Blvd., employs a staff of 15 and has numerous volunteers. Its funding sources include proceeds from United Cerebral Palsy Telethons held each January and grants from the Los Angeles City Community Development Department. Lantz says she hopes this year’s Cerebral Palsy Star-athon ‘92, which airs today on KCAL-TV, Channel 9, will help educate the public regarding the needs and goals of physically challenged people.

“I have been very fortunate to be a part of the growth process,” she said. “The motivation is really selfish and basic, but I have gotten more out of it than I have put in.”

Two new directors have been appointed to the Santa Monica Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors by President Richard Lawrence.

They are Rita Kitts, retail operations manager of Santa Monica Place, and Robert Kresser, chief executive officer of Kresser/Craig in Santa Monica.

The two appointments complete the 40-member board.

Sinai Akiba Academy honored Andrew and Beverly Liggett at a benefit dance Saturday at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles.

The Liggetts, longtime supporters of Sinai Temple, recently established the Liggett Family Teacher’s Endowment Fund. The fund helps provide benefits for the academy’s teaching staff.

Dr. Cathleen Godzik was awarded the Chadwick F. Smith Award in recognition of her commitment to treating crippled children in Mexico.

She received the award at the Orthopaedic Hospital of Los Angeles’ second annual International Children’s Program Awards Banquet last month.

She resides in the Hollywood Hills.

Earl Johnson, a third-year graduate student at the UCLA School of Social Welfare, is the first recipient of the James and Judy Bergman Endowed Fellowship.

Johnson will receive $5,000 from the endowment and is doing research on the Greater Avenues for Independence welfare program. The fellowship is awarded to a graduate student who is interested in the application of research to social work practice.