Ernest Lieblich Foundation

Ernest Lieblich was an avid supporter of children and the arts for many decades. His contributions over the years supported diverse organizations dedicated to providing children with the tools of self-expression through music and art.

Continue Ernest’s support of organizations providing much-needed services to those in need by contributing to his fund.

About Ernest Lieblich

Ernest was drawn to the arts at an early age when he would recite Shakespeare to his family at home in Germany. When he turned 16 his voice changed to a base baritone and he promptly started singing for any audience he could find.

As a young man Ernest was caught in the tumult of World War II and although he had always supposed he would have a singing career, life found a safe haven for him in Portugal with his brother and sister.

Years later Ernest emigrated to the United States, first landing in New York, and working as a busboy near the West Village. He soon got a job as a singing waiter in a Jewish resort for the summer.

Drafted into the army in the early 1940s, Ernest was trained as a combat engineer, but it was discovered he could play the organ and he was re-assigned to Los Angeles where he spent the duration of the war.

Settling in Los Angeles after the war, Ernest began a long and successful business career culminating in his establishment of Food Craft, the pioneer in coffee and refreshment service for commercial businesses in Los Angeles.

Financial success allowed Ernest to pursue his love of music and the arts by supporting organizations that valued musical education for children as a cornerstone to enriching children, families and society.

Ernest was a strong supporter of more than 50 different organizations. Here are a few:

• Best Friends: A sanctuary for abused and abandoned animals.
• The Colburn School of Performing Arts: A premier Los Angeles performing arts school.
• Children of the Night: Rescuing America’s children from prostitution.
• City Hearts: Provides free classes in performing arts, literacy and visual arts for children.
• Covenant House: Provides shelter and other services for homeless youth.
• Harmony Project: Provides music education for children.
• The HeArt Project: Linking teenagers with professional artists and communities.
• Heart Touch: Trains individuals to deliver compassionate care to homebound or hospitalized, men, women and children.
• INCA: A Peruvian music and dance ensemble.
• Institute for Harmonic Science: A research institute that investigates the therapeutic effects of music.
• KCET: The public broadcasting station for Los Angeles.
• Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center: Supporting programs for homeless kids and  youth.
• Special Olympics: Creating a world of acceptance.
• Teach for America: Dedicated to ending educational inequity.
• Young Artists International: Dedicated to the continuity of the great tradition of classical music

To make a secure, tax-deductible donation online, click on the button below. You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Ernest Lieblich Foundation. Checks should be mailed to:

California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012

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Contributions to the California Community Foundation represent irrevocable gifts subject to the legal and fiduciary control of the foundation’s board of directors. This charge will appear on your credit card statement as a payment to “Calif Comm Fdn – CCF”. In addition, California Community Foundation incurs a third-party administrative fee of 2.7 percent for credit card contributions. The foundation will charge the fee directly to the individual fund.