Abdi Towfigh Fund to Fight Leukemia
Abdi's journey started on July 9, 1973, when he was born to Iranian
parents traveling in Akron, Ohio. He was a fun-loving, energetic and
kind-hearted human being who enjoyed life to the fullest.
He was a loyal friend and a unique, bright and courageous
individual whose personality exuded love and excitement.
After the 1979 Iran Revolution, the Towfigh Family immigrated
to France and then to the United States in
1980. Abdi (short for Abdullah) Towfigh lived in America until
his sudden, early death on October 10, 2003. He was only 30
years old.
Adbi attended UCLA as an undergraduate and went on to earn
a law degree from USC Law School. In 1999, he began his legal career with Paul,
Hastings, Janofsky & Walker in Los Angeles.
He is greatly missed and his memory will forever be in the
hearts of all those who were lucky enough to have known him.
In 2006, one of Abdi’s former colleagues named him an Honored Teammate for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s marathon to raise money for the fight against blood cancer. His words embody so eloquently the degree of appreciation and respect those closest to Abdi feel:
“I met Abdi Towfigh as his client and he [soon] became a friend. He was one of those rare individuals who seemed to operate quite effortlessly at a spiritual level that I continue to aspire to in my life.
As a member of the Paul Hastings team, he personified all of the positive attributes expected from someone working at such a major legal concern: strong, fit, handsome, confident, articulate, intelligent, effective and distinctive. But what most impressed me were those qualities so rarely found in such a naturally gifted human being: warmth, concern, humility, kindness, consideration, appreciation and respect.
At 30, he was engaged in a promising career and so very full of life. And then, just a few weeks after he suddenly fell ill and took a medial leave of absence, he was gone -- a victim of the ravages of Leukemia.
We all miss Abdi, and we are grateful for the time he spent with us -- however brief that may have seemed. And we are comforted to know that he continues to work his magic in whatever realm he now exists."
Abdi had a closely knit circle of friends who have been incredibly supportive. Life is certainly not the same without him. His loss is an immense pain that never subsides; but we learn to live with it. We discovered that if we were to celebrate his life and channel the pain of his loss into doing good deeds in his honor and memory, it would ameliorate the pain.
With help from his firm, Paul Hastings, the Towfigh Family in 2003 created the Abdi Towfigh Fund to Fight Leukemia in Abdi’s memory. Fund proceeds provide hope and help to others -- especially children -- who suffer from this dreadful illness.
For our first grant in 2004, we supported five underprivileged children with leukemia/brain tumor/cancer and their families to go to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times to help them recapture hope, and love of life in a medically and psychologically safe environment created especially for them.
In 2005, we contributed to the “Make a Wish Foundation” to help turn wishes of children with leukemia into reality. We also contributed to “Challenged America,” which provides wheelchairs and durable medical goods to kids with disabilities.
Abdi's fund has since grown to $104,000 and our 2006 grant will go to the City of Hope’s Clinical Social Work Department to help alleviate the financial pressures on leukemia patients’ families in need.
As we continue to honor Abdi's legacy, his fund grows and more substantial grants will be given to assist underserved populations. Thank you for your continued support and donations. Please share the following link with others who may wish to contribute: http://www.calfund.org/8/giving_towfigh.php.
Sincere thanks,
The Towfigh Family
Contributions to the California Community Foundation represent irrevocable gifts subject to the legal and fiduciary control of the foundation's Board of Directors.
Click here to contribute to this fund now.
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