MID-CITY : Friend of Disabled Honored for Efforts

Alyce Morris, founder and executive director of a nonprofit foundation that provides day care, education and social services for disabled children and their families, has received the 1993 Los Angeles Kool Achiever Award.

Sponsored by the Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., the award recognizes people who work to improve the quality of life in urban America. The corporation will donate $5,000 to the Jeffrey Foundation in Morris’ name.

The foundation was established in 1972 by Morris, a divorced mother who moved to Los Angeles and was unable to find day care for children with disabilities such as muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy and mental retardation. The foundation has scheduled workshops from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 4 and 11 for people interested in volunteer work.

Morris opened her own home to care for these children, many of whom were from families headed by single mothers who worked. She named her center after her son, who died in 1980 of muscular dystrophy. He was 16.

The Jeffrey Foundation, 5470 W. Washington Blvd., serves about 95 children. More than 150 volunteers help offer therapeutic classes for children, field trips and parent counseling.

The foundation recently began an early intervention program for 2- and 3-year-olds with disabilities and those who were affected by their mothers’ drug use before birth.

“It’s an honor to be able to make the quality of life better for these families and their children,” said Morris, who was selected from among 52 nominees by a panel of local business and civic leaders.

Morris said she draws strength from helping other families cope with their problems. “I’ve never had time to feel sorry for myself,” she said.

Information: (213) 965-7536.