Volunteer Sees Her Two Decades at Free Clinic as a Labor of Love

Mimi West isn’t your typical volunteer.

More than two decades ago, the Beverly Hills resident began volunteering at the Los Angeles Free Clinic, helping patients, chairing fund-raising events and recruiting volunteers.

This year, West decided to step down from the board of directors to spend more time with her family. But her dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed. At a dinner-dance Thursday in Beverly Hills, Mimi West and her husband, Bernie, were presented with the clinic’s Lenny Somberg Award, named in memory of the former executive director of the clinic.

Over the years, the Wests have helped raise more than $10 million for the Los Angeles Free Clinic.

“It’s very, very meaningful because I knew Lenny so well,” Mimi West said.

West’s involvement with the clinic began one day in the early 1970s after she dropped off her husband for work at CBS Studios. Across Fairfax Avenue, she noticed young adults lined up outside a dilapidated building. Inside, she found a crowded, understaffed clinic trying to help people experiencing bad drug trips and cases of sexually transmitted diseases.

“I walked in to the clinic and I never came out,” said West, 70, who holds degrees from American University and Columbia University School of Social Work. “It was (a place) permeated with love and hippies.”

In those early years, West said, there were tremendous shortages of money, supplies and equipment. The staff consisted of five people.

But the clinic provided services not available elsewhere in Los Angeles, and it carved out a niche in the health care system.

With the help of the Wests’ determination and dedication, the clinic has gained community acceptance and support. Through the years, it grew, expanded and relocated.

Today, the clinic offers legal and counseling services in addition to medical and dental care at its home on Beverly Boulevard.

“It was a work of love,” she said. “You couldn’t discourage anyone from working there.”

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The Westside Fair Housing Council has selected Kay Devine as executive director of the nonprofit organization.

Divine, formerly with the Department of Housing and Urban Development, holds degrees in urban planning and public administration.

Her duties will include ensuring that local, state and federal housing laws are observed.

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Los Angeles Councilwoman Ruth Galanter has named Niki Tennant as her new field deputy for Westchester and Venice.

Tennant, a former deputy to Councilwoman Joan Milke Flores, was executive director of the Harbor City/Habor Gateway Chamber of Commerce. Based in Galanter’s Westchester office, she will be responsible for constituent services and community outreach.

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The Save A Heart Foundation honored Sheldon King, president and chief executive officer of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Dr. James Forrester, director of Cedars’ division of cardiology.

They were recognized for their contributions to the field of cardiology at a Nov. 20 dinner at the Regent Beverly Wilshire Hotel in Beverly Hills.

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Several Loyola Marymount University students were appointed to the Westchester/LAX Chamber of Commerce committees.

They are James Strait, Aiko Edwards, Christy Annis, Lam Do, Brian Cresap, Isabel Markl, Sean Baioni, Thomas Gallup, Paul Suppa, Mary Mulligan and Lisette Perez.

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The Santa Monica Jaycees presented its Outstanding Young Public Safety Officer Award to Al Venegas, a a Santa Monica police officer.

Venegas, a three-year veteran of the force, was honored for his part in the arrest of two armed suspects. He has also been nominated for the Medal of Valor by the Police Department.

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Ernesto Tabarez was awarded the Dr. Henry and Lillian Nesburn Award by the Foundation for the Junior Blind.

Tabarez, blinded in both eyes two years ago, was recognized for outstanding growth in vocational independence. A recent graduate of the Vocational Independence Program, the Venice resident has returned to his job at the Army Corps of Engineers. He is also completing a master’s degree at Cal State Long Beach through the use of a computer.

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