The Leslie Orticke Memorial Scholarship will financially support African American students transferring into UCLA. Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority (DST), Inc., and the New Environmental Leaders of America (NELA) have partnered with the UCLA Black Alumni Association (UBAA) to establish this scholarship under the umbrella of the Winston C. Doby Legacy Scholarship.

Ms. Orticke, who passed away in 2021, was a Los Angeles native with a lifetime commitment to community service and educating the underserved.  After receiving her A.A. degree from Santa Monica College, Ms. Orticke transferred to UCLA, where she was awarded a degree in Political Science. Given that she, herself, was a proud student, there is no gift Ms. Orticke would have appreciated more than a scholarship in her name that supports a new generation of transfer students at her beloved alma mater.

As an undergraduate, Ms. Orticke was an active member of DST’s Pi Chapter at UCLA.  After she graduated, she continued her commitment to DST by joining the Century City Alumnae Chapter.  In addition to her active membership with her beloved Sorority, Ms. Orticke volunteered with several community organizations, including UBAA, twice serving as the Chair of the UBAA Winston Doby Scholarship Gala. She also served in leadership roles in many other service-related organizations, including the Inglewood Pacific Chapter of the Links, Inc., the Commission of the Status of Women, the Los Angeles Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen, the United Negro College Fund, and the Lullaby Guild.

Ms. Orticke dedicated her life to serving and supporting many worthy causes.  The community of organizations that benefitted from her generous heart and many, many hours of her time is honored to unite our efforts to endow the Leslie Orticke Memorial Scholarship. Your generous gift is very much appreciated and help UBAA continue Leslie Orticke’s impressive legacy of philanthropy, volunteerism, and community service.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Leslie Orticke Memorial Scholarship. Checks should be mailed to:

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

George Shapiro created the Festivus Fund on December 23rd, 2021 to support efforts he cared deeply about, including providing food and clothing to those in need, relieving suffering and promoting vitality through meditative practices and nurturing relationships with animals, supporting the health and happiness of children, and funding scholarships for low-income students.

George Shapiro died peacefully on May 26, 2022 at his home in Los Angeles, a few days after a joyous 91st birthday dinner with his family. He was deeply loved and respected by his many family members, friends and colleagues. He was also a revered and widely-loved talent manager and producer who guided the careers of many comedians, including Carl Reiner, Andy Kaufman and Jerry Seinfeld.

George is survived by Melody Shapiro, his lifelong friend and mother of his children, his brother Don Shapiro, son Dan Shapiro and daughter-in-law Hester Parker, daughter Carrie Shapiro Fuentes and son-in-law Mark Fuentes, Stefanie Shapiro and 5 grandchildren, Adam Shapiro, Nathan Fuentes, Audrey Fuentes, Skylar Shapiro and Alana Shapiro.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Festivus Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

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

 

 

We are pleased to announce that the Battle Studios Community Project (BSCP) has been established in loving memory of Gregory Carlton Battle, who passed away on December 3, 2021. Gregory was an 8th degree Black Belt Master who trained under Grand Master Ki Whang Kim and became lead instructor at Kim Studios in Washington DC. Later, Gregory took his talents and Master Kim’s lessons west, and would teach Tae Kwon Do in the Venice, CA area for over 40 years.

Battle Studios began humbly with three students in a carport in Venice. However, in the tradition of legendary masters, Gregory’s philosophy—which emphasizes martial arts skills, personal development (especially dedication, discipline, and effort), and caring—transcended self-defense training. Three students in a carport became a community that spans the globe, multiple generations, and countless lives lived more fully.

Gregory’s broader mission meant that once a student started at Battle Studio, he would insist that they continue their study regardless of ability to pay. The Battle Studios Community Project is being established to continue Gregory’s mission. BSCP will provide martial arts training and life lessons to children, young adults and families who embrace Master Battle’s philosophy regardless of the ability to pay.

BSCP is currently securing its not-for-profit status. In the interim BSCP has partnered with the California Community Foundation (CCF), a 501(c)(3), to create and administer a fund on the CCF platform, advised by BSCP, that can receive tax deductible donations today.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Battle Studios Community Project. Checks should be mailed to:

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

 

The Philip M. Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship Fund honors Phil’s lifelong spirit of giving.  The fund awards an annual scholarship to support higher educational goals of graduating students from Phil’s high school alma mater (San Gabriel High School) located in the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles, California.

Born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley, Phil was a force to be reckoned with. His love of music at a young age led him to a career in radio where he started at the bottom and rose to voice “Raoul” on KMET radio during the 70’s and early 80’s.  He loved the movie “Almost Famous” because he felt a connection with the times and music it featured.  He regaled anyone who would listen with his countless rock star encounters and stories with musicians like Phil Collins, Tom Petty and David Lee Roth. A prolific air guitar player, Phil was so proud of his career in radio and the colleagues that became life-long friends.

In 1986, Phil transitioned from radio to TV where he held positions in marketing, promotions, public service, etc. for the next 24 years. He was truly a master of his craft, not only building a reputation for himself within the industry but most importantly, helping to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for events such as the Special Olympics.  His work was his life and creating promotions and events to benefit non-profits in need was what kept him alive and vibrant.

He was genuine with his advice and mentored countless “interns” as they forged their own way within the entertainment industry.  He was never short on advice or connections to help propel other’s careers forward.

Phil adored his large, supportive family and would do ANYTHING for any one of his parents, siblings, nieces, nephews and Godchildren.

Those lucky enough to call Phil a friend would be hard pressed to find a better one.  He said what he meant and he meant what he said.  He was kind and unapologetically giving.  If anyone deserves to be remembered for his giving nature, it is undoubtedly Phil.

He will be forever missed by his friends and family but his legacy of giving will live on through the Philip M. Gonzalez Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Diane Shader Smith and Mark Smith are pleased to announce Mallory’s Legacy Fund, established in loving memory of Mallory Beatrice Smith, who died in November 2017, two months after receiving a double-lung transplant.

Donations to Mallory’s Legacy Fund support research and clinical innovation to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR) with a specific focus on phage therapy. To date, the fund has provided the inaugural grant to the Center for Innovative Phage Applications and Therapeutics (IPATH) at UC San Diego and seed funding to launch a phage/AMR research lab at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. We also support the Center for Phage Biology and Therapy at Yale and the Hatfull Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh among other research institutions.  

Phage therapy targets antibiotic-resistant bacteria (“superbugs”), one of the top global public health and development threats. It is estimated that bacterial AMR was directly responsible for 1.27 million global deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million deaths according to the World Health Organization. 

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Mallory’s Legacy Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

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

The Armenian Fund was set up to help various non-profits who help and serve in our communities and across the globe with causes near and dear to our hearts.

If you would like to support the Armenian communities please make a contribution to the Armenian Fund.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Armenian Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

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

John W. Mack served as a Commissioner on the City of Los Angeles Planning Commission. Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed him to the Planning Commission in September of 2013.

From 2005 to 2013, Mack served as a Los Angeles Police Commissioner. He was appointed to the Board of Police Commissioners by Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa in August of 2005. He held the position of President of the Police Commission for two consecutive years, and then the position of Vice President for two years. In 2009, he was re-elected to the President post and served for two years. In 2011, he was once again elected to the Vice President post.

Mack held the position of President of the Los Angeles Urban League from August of 1969, until his retirement in 2005. He began his career with the Urban League in Flint, Michigan in 1964 and was appointed Executive Director in 1965. Prior to heading the Los Angeles Urban League, he served on the Urban League’s National staff for six months during the Whitney Young era in Washington, D.C. Mack was a leader in the 1960 student civil rights movement in Atlanta – and Co-Founder and Vice Chairperson of the Committee on the Appeal for Human Rights. He earned his Bachelor of Science Degree in Applied Sociology from North Carolina A&T State University. He holds a Master’s Degree from Clark Atlanta University. He was a Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School Institute of Politics in 1998. In 2006, Commissioner Mack was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Management Degree from the Claremont Graduate University School of Education; and in 2011, he was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree by the California State University Board of Trustees at California State University, Los Angeles.

During his tenure, the Los Angeles Urban League became one of the most successful non-profit community organizations in Los Angeles with an annual budget of $25 million. The Los Angeles Urban League served over 100,000 individuals each year and operates a number of innovative, result-oriented job training, job placement, education, academic tutorial, youth achievement and business development programs serving African-Americans and other people of color utilizing state of the art computer technology preparing League constituents for the 21st Century. In 1997, United Way presented its Agency of the Year Award to the Los Angeles Urban League. He was the first Urban League Affiliate President to become a Trustee of the National Urban League Board of Directors.

Mack was a highly respected advocate for equal opportunities in education, law enforcement and economic empowerment for African-Americans and other minorities – and a bridge builder across all racial, cultural, economic, gender and religious lines. The rare combination of his extraordinary experience and expertise in both civil rights and law enforcement garnered him the coveted Flame Award from the National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement in 2014. Mack fought tirelessly for decades to fundamentally change the culture of the LAPD–through litigation, advocacy, community and political pressure, and civilian oversight. As a member and two-term President of the LAPD Board of Police Commissioners from 2005 through 2014, he played a major role in helping the LAPD develop and implement significant reforms of its policies, procedures, and investigations concerning biased policing, and helped the Department achieve full compliance with the federal consent decree that had been in place since 2001.

In 2016, Mack was honored by the Los Angeles Business Journal as one of the 500 most influential leaders in Los Angeles.

ORGANIZATIONS/AFFILIATIONS

• Board Member, National Urban League Board of Trustees
• Board Member, United Way
• Life Trustee, Cedars Sinai Medical Center
• Former Board Member, The California Institute of Technology Board of Trustees
• Member of Wells Fargo Bank Community Advisory Board
• Board of Governors, City Club on Bunker Hill
• Member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
• Member of Xi Boule Sigma Psi Pi Fraternity
• Board of Directors, Weingart Foundation

SPECIAL HONORS AND AWARDS

• 1992 Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity’s Thurgood Marshall Civil Rights Award
• 1993 Los Angeles Urban League’s Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award recipient
• 1993 Jewish Federation Council Community Relations Committee’s Hollzer Memorial Award
• 1997 NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Black Women of Achievement’s Special Recognition Award
• 2000 National Urban League “Legend of the Century” Honoree
• 2000 Presented Los Angeles NAACP’s “Lifetime Achievement Award”
• 2000 Presented Clark Atlanta University Whitney M. Young, Jr. School of Social Work “Whitney M. Young, Jr. Distinguished Alumnus Award”
• 2001 The New Leaders “Lifetime of Giving Achievement Award”
• 2001 Operation Hope “Living Legend Award”
• 2003 American Jewish Committee’s first C.I. Newman Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2004 Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) Martin Luther King, Jr. President’s Award
• 2004 The Magic Johnson Foundation Humanitarian Spirit Award
• 2004 NCCJ Lifetime Achievement Award
• 2005 The City of Los Angeles honored him by celebrating “John W. Mack Day” upon his retirement
• 2005 The Los Angeles Board of Education named the “John W. Mack Elementary School” in recognition of his retirement and leadership advancing a level playing field and a quality education for African Americans and other youth of color
• 2005 The L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce’s Civic Medal of Honor Award
• 2006 Thurgood Marshall Fund’s Thurgood Marshall Award
• 2006 Inducted into the National Black Alumni Association Hall of Fame
• 2006 Honorary Doctor of Management Degree from the Claremont Graduate University, School of Education
• 2007 Presented the Lifetime Achievement Award by the California Afro American Museum
• 2011 Presented the Johnnie Cochran Jr. Public Service Award by Loyola Law School
• 2011 Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Conferred by California State University Board of Trustees at California State University, Los Angeles
• 2012 Presented the Community Service Award by the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs
• 2014 National Association of Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement Flame Award

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the The John W. Mack Memorial Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

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

Joyce Jane Cammilleri lived a full and accomplished life as daughter, sister, wife, mother, teacher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.   Her philanthropy, however, was one of the aspects of her life of which she was most proud.

During her lifetime, she took great joy in helping those in need.   After the sale of her company, JOICO Laboratories, in 2001 she founded the Joyce Jane Cammilleri Family Fund here at the California Community Foundation with the goal of giving to the following causes:

1. Assistance to organizations engaged in or supporting medical research;
2. Assistance to organizations serving children with disabilities;
3. Assistance to religious organizations, and
4. Assistance to organizations serving economically disadvantaged children.

Through the fund, Joyce and her family have supported numerous causes and organizations dedicated to creating a brighter and healthier future, including USC’s pioneering Brain and Creativity Institute. For more info on Joyce’s life, and to contribute any stories, memories, and photos of Joyce that you might have, please visit her online memorial at:

http://www.forevermissed.com/joyce-jane-cammilleri/

Please join us in honoring Joyce’s legacy of giving to the above causes.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Joyce Jane Cammilleri Family Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

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

The Courtney M. Mullin Fund honors the life and passions of Courtney Margaret Mullin, beloved daughter, sister, aunt and friend. The fund supports the issues and causes closest to her heart, including art, gardens and the environment.

Born in Santa Monica, Courtney was a woman who contained multitudes: superior intelligence, a poet’s soul and a boundless energy for life and adventure, perhaps best embodied in her signature laugh. She was a voracious reader with a vast vocabulary who loved verbal sparring, skills she perfected with friends and family alike.

She was a beautiful and charismatic woman who embraced those from all walks of life. At her graduation from Marlborough School in Los Angeles, Courtney was awarded the Bank of America award for creative writing, which is given selectively. There, she built lifelong friendships, a sisterhood rich with character and grace.

Courtney graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz, where she cultivated her love of botany and plants — she was known to point out shrubs on a hike not just by their common name but by their Latin name as well. Courtney was well-read in a variety of subjects, from science to art to history and literature. She committed an impressive volume of facts to memory, which she could pull out at just the right moment, stunning and silencing those around her. Her wit was notable, as was her command of the English language. She worked in public relations and recently founded her own firm in Los Angeles.

Known to friends simply as Coco, she was charming and bright. She loved rescuing animals and also had a sweet tooth, sometimes eating just the frosting. That sweetness was tempered, though. She was a true skeptic who challenged conventions and questioned conventional wisdom. She forged her own path, with a loud soundtrack and lots of friends along the way. She dug her teeth into life.

Courtney is survived by her mother, Pamela Mullin; her father and stepmother, Peter and Merle Mullin; Brian and Kelly Mullin; Darcy and Matt Cobb; Timothy and Rebecca Mullin; 12 nieces and nephews and friends far and wide.

You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Courtney M. Mullin Fund. Checks should be mailed to:

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