Brenda Berman was a mother, philanthropist and selfless friend to many around the world. Whether living in New Zealand, Australia, Silicon Valley or Southern California, her life was dedicated to helping others – no matter their age, creed or culture.
Mission
Brenda had several interests throughout her dynamic life:
- Her concern for the environmental protection of the land, water and air.
- As her two beautiful sons grew and eventually ventured out on their own, Brenda had a desire to support women seeking an education in an effort to re-start their lives.
- Finally, Brenda’s life ended prematurely as she waged a proactive and courageous battle against triple negative breast cancer. One of her final hopes was that a cure be found to eradicate this dastardly disease from the face of the planet.
The Brenda Berman Family Foundation fund has been established to honor Brenda’s memory and her commitment in support of these three specific causes.
To make a secure donation online, click on the link below. You may also send checks payable to the Brenda Berman Family Foundation.
You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Brenda Berman Family Foundation. Checks should be mailed to:
California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
San Fernando Valley community and business leader Charles “Chuck” Bloomfield passed away of pancreatic cancer on March 1, 2004, at home. The Betty and Daniel Bloomfield Fund, named for his parents, honors their memory as well as his. This fund supports individuals involved with the Cato Institute and the Ayn Rand Institute, and provides music scholarships to students of the Juilliard School.
When Bloomfield established this fund at the foundation in 2004, he said, “Since Betty and Daniel Bloomfield were the role models and inspiration for anything positive that I might have accomplished in my life, this fund is a tribute to them and an ongoing continuation of their good works.”
Bloomfield was born in Chicago on June 15, 1943. After earning a business degree from the University of Miami, Bloomfield returned to Chicago and became a stockbroker.
He had a talent for financial matters and became a full member of the Chicago Board of Trade in 1972. He took great pride in his work on the Board, remaining active in the exchange throughout his illness.
Bloomfield was a private man who took a keen interest in the welfare of others, particularly the disadvantaged. He served on many commissions and committees, contributing his ideas on health care, taxation, transportation, and, especially, fairness. He was an arbitration judge for the New York Stock Exchange and a mediator for the Los Angeles County courts. For Bloomfield, it was about helping people.
Bloomfield interests were many. He was active in Toastmasters and even took a stand-up comedy class. He to collect clocks, mineral and rock specimens, sculpture, art and cars. He especially enjoyed serving as a judge at many car shows. He played the guitar, loved to play show tunes on the piano and listen to blues and rock and roll.
Chuck Bloomfield will live in the hearts of his family and friends, and his spirit will continue to shine in the improvements he made in our quality of life and that of future generations.
You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Betty & Daniel Bloomfield Fund. Checks should be mailed to:
California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Annemarie Pellerito suffered from neurofibromatosis, a debilitating genetic disorder. When she passed away just weeks before her 30th birthday, her family and friends established this fund to honor her memory and her passion for living life to the fullest.
The Annemarie Pellerito Memorial Foundation was established at the California Community Foundation in 2003 to enrich the lives of physically and mentally challenged children and young adults by supporting social and recreational programs and opportunities with special consideration to animal related activities, programs that improved Annemarie’s quality of life.
The Annemarie Pellerito Memorial Foundation awards scholarships to college students pursuing a degree in a health related field that provides care, support or inspiration to those with neurofibromatosis and other chronic, life-threatening illnesses.
More About Annemarie
Despite the time she spent coping with neuro-fibromatosis — she had 12 major surgeries and countless other procedures — Annemarie did not let the disease that ravaged her body define her. She was a warm, determined person who strove to the best of her abilities with humor and grace.
Annemarie was a natural horsewoman, winning multiple gold medals in riding and jumping at the Special Olympics Equestrian, culminating in 1998 with an award for Most Inspirational Athlete.
People who met her learned from her: lessons of living in the moment, of being adaptable, of keeping spirits high, of self-acceptance, of courage. She was a mentor to her older brother and an inspiration to all who knew her.
In loving memory of Annemarie Pellerito, September 15, 1973 – August 7, 2003.
You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Annemarie Pellerito Memorial Foundation. Checks should be mailed to:
California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012
The Angelrock Project Foundation supports global programs for women and underserved youth from low socio-economic backgrounds in the U.S. and abroad, with a particular focus in South Africa.
In particular, the foundation sponsors Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service, a volunteer and educational program for youth from Brooklyn, N.Y. that begins with a two-week service mission to Johannesburg, South Africa. The year-long program allows youth to act as global ambassadors fully engaged in the world around them through education, service and advocacy activities. The program targets inner-city youth and has three main objectives:
- Expose them to world travel
- Promote active and ongoing community service projects
- Promote gratitude and excellence in education and beyond
In South Africa, The Angelrock Project Foundation specifically supports educational initiatives for orphaned and vulnerable children, provides nutritional support and sponsors income-generating programs for grandmothers who are raising their grandchildren due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
The Angelrock Project Foundation also supports breast cancer research, child abuse awareness initiatives and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.
The Angelrock Project Foundation is an affiliate fund of the California Community Foundation and supports the causes of The Angel Rock Project, an online e-village promoting volunteerism, social responsibility and sustainable change.
About Journey for Change: Empowering Youth Through Global Service
With help from South African non-governmental organizations and U.S. supporters, 30 inner-city, at-risk youth from Brooklyn, N.Y. began their year of service in August 2008 and were led by humanitarian and activist Malaak Compton-Rock, wife of comedian Chris Rock. For two weeks, the group spent time in shantytowns of Johannesburg, South Africa, and worked with orphaned and vulnerable children and granny-led households. The youth volunteers also visited Johannesburg’s important monuments, museums and national parks through the support of South African Tourism. Named Global Ambassadors for one year upon their return, youth are involved in advocacy, educational and service activities through September 2009.
Journey for Change’s youth participants attend the Salvation Army Bushwick Community Center’s after-school program, the same center that Compton-Rock’s husband attended as a child. Since gang violence, illegal drugs and poverty is rampant in the participants’ neighborhoods, the community center serves as a haven by providing a safe, nurturing environment where youth can access tutoring, technology, recreational and nutritional programs.
Learn more about the project by viewing CNN coverage about the youth’s travels.
About the Angelrock Project
The Angelrock Project is an online e-village promoting volunteerism, social responsibility and sustainable change. It was created in 2008 by Malaak Compton-Rock to promote community service, humanity, peace, equality, social responsibility and sustainable change.
Learn more about the The Angelrock Project.
You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for The Angelrock Project. Checks should be mailed to:
California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012