They are looking for a few good...

They are looking for a few good men, but they’re not the Marines.

Their ads appear on television, are heard on radio and will be seen on billboards across the city. But they have no budget to pay their artists, writers, actors or producers.

They call themselves “Jewish” or “Catholic,” but they don’t promote religion and they share a common goal: finding role models and friends for fatherless youngsters.

Who are these people? If you guessed Jewish Big Brothers and Catholic Big Brothers, their ad campaign must be working.

Both agencies match children with men willing to give a little time and a lot of heart. And the two have joined forces on a multimedia advertising campaign to attract new volunteers.

“There was a dramatic drop at both agencies after the Northridge earthquake,” said Brad Lemack, public relations director of Jewish Big Brothers. That meant long waiting lists of children wanting big brothers.

At Catholic Big Brothers, there were more than 240 children waiting last month to be matched by the agency, said volunteer recruitment director Karen-Alicia Robertson. Some had been waiting for more than six months.

Neither group had the money to publicize their plight, so Lemack recruited volunteers to develop an advertising campaign that would recruit volunteers by stressing the rewards to men who serve as big brothers.

A big brother to the same boy for seven years, Lemack speaks glowingly of the pay-back. “Just for being yourself,” he said, “you get someone who loves you back--no matter what kind of car you drive or if you’re having a bad hair day.”

Robertson said, “It’s not about being a father replacement, a teacher, a baby-sitter, a clown or an entertainer. It’s about being a friend and having a friend.”

To help get the word out, Lemack recruited Tony Cruz of Cruz/Kravetz Ideas as creative director. Dan Radlauer agreed to compose music for radio and TV spots. And Chey Acuna, a professional animator and professor of broadcasting at Cal State Los Angeles, put together a team of student animators.

In April, they launched a series of public service announcements that will air through the end of the year.

Robertson said the two-month-old campaign has paid big dividends: Since April 25, more than 100 men have applied to become big brothers.

“There is a direct correlation between the airing of the public service spots and the calls we get,” she said. And they expect a new wave of response in the next few weeks, when billboards--donated by Metropolitan Outdoor Media--go up citywide in English and Spanish.

Despite the organizations’ titles, they do not involve religious observance or study.

Jewish Big Brothers of Los Angeles was founded in 1915, and a few years later, that group helped Catholic laymen and a priest launch their own organization.

There are some minor differences:

Jewish Big Brothers matches Jewish girls and boys ages 6 to 18 with Jewish men. Catholic Big Brothers matches boys of any faith, starting at age 7, with men of any faith.

Jewish Big Brothers has a special program for children with physical and learning disabilities. Catholic Big Brothers operates one for hearing-impaired children.

Each group has its own stringent screening procedures and an orientation program.

“We’re looking for men who have stability and a firm sense of self,” said Sue Fox Horn, a licensed clinical social worker who supervises cases for Jewish Big Brothers. “Our minimum commitment requirement is for one year, but we hope that it will go on much longer.

“What you see,” she said, “is a strong mutual attachment that develops over time. For these kids, another experience with loss could be devastating.”

For information about becoming a volunteer big brother, (800) 453-KIDS.

DATES

* A free presentation on “What Is Hospice, and How Does It Work?” will be given by the staff of Community Hospice at First United Methodist Church of Santa Monica twice this week: Sunday and Thursday, from 10 a.m. to noon. Reservations are requested. (310) 393-8258.

* In observance of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the U.N. Charter, the Los Angeles chapter of the Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights offers an educational forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday. “Interfaith Perspectives on Human Rights” will be presented in English and Spanish at All Saints Episcopal Church, 132 N. Euclid St., Pasadena. For information, (213) 483-3840, Ext. 222.

* The Crusaders, sponsored by the Friendship Christian Fellowship Church of Moreno Valley, will hold a community outreach event today--featuring a free gospel concert, food and clothing to be given away, and information about services for the elderly, homeless and abused--at the City of Moreno Valley Community Park, 13380 Frederick Blvd., from noon to 6 p.m.

OPEN HOUSE

* The newly renovated Los Angeles Cannery, operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, holds an open house on Thursday. Food canned at the facility goes to the Church’s “Bishop’s Storehouse” in Colton for distribution to people in need throughout Southern California. The church has a nationwide network of storehouses and food production facilities, and encourages organizations and individuals interested in participating in food distribution efforts to visit and inspect the Downtown Los Angeles facility. A light lunch will be served at the noon open house. The cannery is open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday at 2730 E. 12th St. For tour and lunch reservations, (310) 820-4628.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES

* An “Introduction to Judaism” program for Jews and non-Jews is being offered through the University of Judaism in Los Angeles. The next course begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 6, and runs for 18 weeks. Classes are held at various locations throughout Southern California. For information, (310) 476-9777, Ext. 273.

Mount St. Mary’s College inaugurates its summer series of Thursday evening lectures Thursday, from 7:30 to 9 p.m. with “Women Paul Knew” by Mary Ann Getty, associate editor of “The Catholic Study Bible.” On July 6, Claremont Graduate School professor Karen Jo Torjesen will speak on “Women as Priests: Early Christian Debate Over Gender.”

The four-lecture series is $20; individual lectures are $6. 10 Chester Place, Los Angeles. (213) 746-0450, Ext. 2131.

MUSIC

* A benefit concert and prayer service to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II will be held Sunday at 7:30 p.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood. Proceeds will be used to repair buildings at St. Andrew’s Abbey in the Antelope Valley--the only Benedictine monastery in the archdiocese of Los Angeles. The abbey--which began as a monastery for monks who relocated here from China in 1955--is now home to about 25 monks, and is a contemplative oasis of solitude, peace and prayer for thousands of day and overnight visitors each year. The service will include Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem” and Ralph Vaughan Williams “Song of Thanksgiving,” directed by Frank Brownstead and performed by organist William Beck, the St. Paul the Apostle Schola Cantorum and the St. Cyril of Jerusalem Choir. Abbot Francis Benedict will preside over a prayer service, offered in the Benedictine form. Tickets are $15. The church is located at 10750 Ohio Blvd. (818) 340-8125.

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Long Beach presents concert pianist Nicholas Reveles performing works by Scarlatti, C.P.E. Bach, Mozart and Schumann at 4 p.m. Sunday. 525 E. 7th St. $15 donation requested. (310) 436-4047.

CELEBRATIONS

* Westchester United Methodist Church celebrates its golden anniversary this weekend. Its first pastor, the Rev. J. Bernard Watson, and his wife, Mildred, will attend, along with other pastors and charter members of the church. Festivities include an 11 a.m. gathering today (6/24), followed by a buffet luncheon, and a 3 p.m. concert. Sunday’s events include informal services at 8:30 a.m. and a traditional worship service at 10 a.m., followed by a reception. The church is at 8065 Emerson Ave., Los Angeles. (310) 670-3777.

* A tribute to mark the birthday of psychiatrist C.G. Jung--who believed that religion was an essential dimension of life and therefore of the psychotherapeutic process--will be held at 11 a.m. Sunday at the Philosophical Research Society in Los Angeles. It will be hosted by Stephan Hoeller , a leader in the contemporary Gnostic movement and the author of several books. Admission is $5. 3910 Los Feliz Blvd. (213) 663-2167.

HONORS

* The Los Angeles Bureau of Jewish Education saluted Simha and Sara Lainer this month for seven decades of support for Jewish educational causes throughout the United States, Israel and Mexico.

Southern California File welcomes submissions by fax (213) 237-4712 or mail, c/o Religion Editor, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, CA 90053. Items must be brief and arrive at least three weeks before the event. Include a phone number, date, time and full address.