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
OUR MISSION
The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases is dedicated to funding research into the cause, treatment, and cure of Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological diseases.
OUR HISTORY
Annette first noticed her MS symptoms in 1987 when she was making the movie “Back to the Beach”, a friendly spoof of her early sand-and-surf films that received both public and critical acclaim. Despite recurring symptoms, in 1989, Annette teamed up with long-time friend and Beach Party co-star, Frankie Avalon, for a successful year-long concert tour that re-lived the music and fun of the 1960’s. By 1992, rumors and gossip began to surface in the press after Annette’s MS symptoms became increasingly pronounced. It was then she decided to go public with her condition.
As she recalls in her book, “When stories about my MS came out, everyone gave me their love and prayers. I’m human, and sometimes I can’t help but ask, ‘Why me?’ But I believe that everything happens for a reason, and I know now that my mission is to help others raise funds for MS.” True to her word, in 1993 she established the Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases with a dream of finding a cure.
OUR ORGANIZATION
The Annette Funicello Research Fund for Neurological Diseases is a non-profit foundation with a specific interest in supporting clinical studies that seek to expose the underlying cause of Multiple Sclerosis and therapies that show promise of reversing the symptoms of this and other neurological diseases. Unlike most non-profits, we have no paid staff, which allows our organization to operate at little cost, and per Annette’s wishes, ensure nearly all donated funds are used for research purposes only.
Please visit AnnetteConnection.com for more information.
You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Annette Funicello Research Fund For Neurological Diseases. 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
Since 2003, in Abdi’s name, we have helped raise awareness and organized many Bone Marrow drives in partnership with City of Hope and Be The Match, operated by the National Marrow Donor Program and helped register more diverse people in the Marrow Registry to improve the chances of finding a match for any child anywhere in the world. We need more people to join the registry all over the world. The cure for blood cancer lies in the hands of ordinary people. Learn more by visiting www.bethematch.org.
With the help of our generous donors, we can do more every year! Here are some examples of how we have made a difference over the years:
- We have partnered up with a wonderful non-profit organization called the Dream Foundation to give life to final Dreams of many terminal Leukemia patients, improving the quality of their precious lives in ways medicine alone cannot. For example, in Abdi’s name: Theodore, 48 from Lake Owego, OR, Alva, 32 from Moreno Valley, CA and Miguel, 18 from Santa Ana, CA were able to create one final joyful memory with their loved ones at the happiest place on earth: Disneyland. Roene, 70 of Maine went on a memorable trip with her two sisters. We also sent Denise, 58 from Forked River, New Jersey to Graceland with her husband. Tracie Ann, 32 was able to travel to Hawaii with her wonderful mother.
- Every year we have helped pay for the expenses & treatment of impoverished children suffering from leukemia in Iran as well as financial support to their families through a wonderful non-profit, non-governmental organization called MAHAK.
- We have sent kids diagnosed with leukemia/brain tumor/cancer along with their siblings to the summer Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, which is a place where kids with cancer can be kids again, play outside and have fun like any healthy kid.
- We have given grants to City of Hope’s Sheri & Les Biller Patient & Family Resource Center that help Leukemia patients through pain & palliative care physicians, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, spiritual care chaplains, healing arts workshops, social workers, spiritual care chaplains, healing arts workshops, peer support groups, health information, complementary medicine, nutrition education, etc.
- With the help of another amazing non-profit organization called Challenged America (our non-profit fiscal sponsor) that provides wheelchairs, etc. to kids with disabilities, we were able to hold fundraising events in Abdi’s memory and raised enough money to donate tens of thousands of dollars to the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach, which provides comprehensive treatment and research for children and their families who are fighting cancer or a serious blood disorder. They provide psychological testing, late effects follow up, and counseling to assist children facing school and social issues as a result of fighting a life-threatening disease.
- We sponsored children suffering from leukemia in the Annual Champions Run for Life as well as sponsored “A Day in the Playroom” for one week in the pediatric hematology-oncology unit, which benefited the Jonathan Jacques Children’s Cancer Center at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach: They provide comprehensive treatment and research for children and their families who are fighting cancer or a serious blood disorder.
- We have sent grants to the City of Hope Clinical Social Work Dept to help alleviate financial pressures on leukemia patients’ families in need.
- We have made contributions to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, as well as to “Challenged America”
- We are continually looking for ways to make a difference now in the lives of those suffering from leukemia in our beloved Abdi’s name and are grateful for the incredible support you have shown us; hope you will continue to support us in our endeavor for years to come.
About the Fund
Abdullah “Abdi” Towfigh’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 lived in America until his sudden, early death on Oct. 10, 2003, from leukemia. He was only 30 years old.
Abdi attended UCLA as an undergraduate student 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.
Abdi had a closely-knit circle of friends who were incredibly supportive. A former colleague’s eloquent words embody the degree of appreciation and respect those closest to him 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 medical leave of absence, he was gone — a victim of the ravages of leukemia.”
With help from Abdi’s former firm, Paul Hastings, the Towfigh family in 2003 created the Abdi Towfigh Fund to Fight Leukemia in his memory. Fund proceeds provide hope and help to children and others who suffer from this dreadful illness.
You may also send checks payable to the California Community Foundation, noting that the donation is for the Abdi Towfigh Fund to Fight Leukemia. Checks should be mailed to:
California Community Foundation
717 W Temple St.
Los Angeles, CA 90012