Dinner to End Homelessness Raises $600,000

Los Angeles Family Housing (LAFH), founded in 1983 to end homelessness and increase affordable housing, honored Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Santa Monica Councilman Bobby Shriver and developer Mark Weinstein at its 6th annual Awards Dinner Nov. 17 at the Universal Studios Globe Theater.

More than 400 attended raising $600,000 for LAFH that has served 90,000 since it began. Citibank, Washington Mutual and Century Housing were presenting sponsors. Dinner chairs were Linda and Steve Brown of Hoffman Brown Company in Sherman Oaks.

Former LAFH client Dorcas Williams of Palmdale opened the dinner with her sons Deonte, 10, and Dennis, 12, thanking LAFH for her independence. LAFH President David Grunwald and comedian Shayla Rivera welcomed guests.

LAFH board chair George Minter of La Cañada presented the L.A. Family Housing Inspiration Award to Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa who has announced an unprecedented $1 billion affordable housing bond for the City of Los Angeles. Villaraigosa told the audience, “Los Angeles is not working when mothers and children sleep on our streets.”

LAFH honorary lifetime director Audrey Irmas representing the Audrey and Sydney M. Irmas Charitable Foundation was recognized as LAFH’s chief private supporter. The Sydney M. Irmas Outstanding Humanitarian Award honors the late philanthropist and attorney who rescued LAFH in 1984 when a lack of funding threatened its closure.

KZLA radio host and LAFH board member Peter Tilden introduced Kevin Cronin and Dave Amato of REO Speedwagon who rocked the house with their signature Can’t Fight This Feeling.

Presenting sponsor Citibank’s Susan Walters described the financial institution’s support for LAFH programs and introduced client Sebastian Gaston who praised LAFH for returning him to gainful employment.

2001 L.A. Family Housing Legacy Award winner Jeff Lee introduced L.A. Family Housing Legacy Award recipient MJW Investments president Mark Weinstein, honored for launching a partnership with LAFH to include 155 affordable housing units at the historic Sears redevelopment project in Boyle Heights.

Matthew Irmas of Santa Monica introduced the 2005 Irmas Award recipient Santa Monica Councilman Bobby Shriver an attorney who heads the DATA foundation that seeks to reduce Third World debt, poverty and illness. Shriver commended his parents and the Irmas family for championing seemingly impossible causes like the Special Olympics Eunice Shriver began in 1968 and the Peace Corps originally led by Sargent Shriver in 1961. That kind of vision, Shriver says, will end homelessness here and nationwide. “We have empty beds in the West Los Angeles Veteran’s Administration building, while veterans sleep on the beach in Santa Monica. We must change that,” he said.Photo by Angela BrinskeleHUMANITARIAN AWARD PRESENTED -- At the 2005 LA Family Housing Dinner at Universal Studios Globe Theater board chair George Minter of La Cañada, left, and Sydney M. Irmas Outstanding Humanitarian Award recipient Santa Monica Councilman Bobby Shriver. The event raised $600,000 to end homelessness and increase affordable housing throughout Los Angeles. 20051124iqbqmwkn(LA)