Moving Forward - Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law

Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
ANNUAL REPORT 2012–13
Moving Forward
A Thank You from our President
Many of you know that the Center
is in the second year of the Century
Campaign. The centerpiece of our annual
fundraising efforts used to be an annual
Theater Benefit. But we determined that
the Theater Benefit consumed too many
resources – both monetary and staff time
– that could be better used to serve our
clients. Under the leadership of Larry
A. Ginsberg, the Century Campaign
has replaced the Theater Benefit as
our primary development vehicle and
has been an unqualified success. Our
resources are now devoted to those to
whom they were intended – the poorest
members of our community who seek
assistance with a family law issue.
I am honored to report that our
indefatigable Executive Director Betty
L. Nordwind was recently honored by
the State Bar of California as the 2014
Loren Miller Legal Services Award
recipient. This is a lifetime achievement
award that is given annually to a lawyer
who has demonstrated a long-term
commitment to extending legal services
to the poor. Under the leadership of
Betty, our outstanding staff provides
legal representation to our clients,
which is second to none.
Finally, serving 1,000 clients annually
would not be possible without our
volunteers – including lawyers, paralegals,
and law students – who provide more
than 10,000 hours of service annually.
Because of these volunteers, the Center is
able to accept far more clients, with more
complex and time-consuming cases, than
it could if dependent only upon staff.
Without the generosity of our volunteers,
the Center as we know it simply could
not function, and hundreds of prospective
clients would be turned away each year.
To each of our donors, staff members,
and volunteers, I cannot thank you
enough for making the work of the
Center possible. With your continued
support, we will continue to achieve
our core mission of protecting victims
of domestic violence and improving the
well-being of children living in poverty.
Advisory Council 2012–2013
Board of Directors 2012
Board of Directors 2013
Gisselle Acevedo
Leroy Baca
Leah M. Bishop
Hon. Kenneth A. Black, (Ret.)
Hon. Aviva Bobb, (Ret.)
Jeff Buhai
Bruce Clemens
Hon. Isabel R. Cohen, (Ret.)
Bruce Cooperman
Emily Shappell Edelman**
Judith R. Forman (Chair)
Paula Kane
Tracy Farryl Katz
Jessica A. Uzcategui | President
Emily Shappell Edelman | Vice President, Secretary
William Scott Mowrey, Jr. | Treasurer
Jessica A. Uzcategui | President
Louise Nixon | Vice President
David P. Shebby | Secretary
William Scott Mowrey, Jr. | Treasurer
To Our Dedicated Friends
and Supporters:
Recent years have brought
tremendous material success to many
of our fellow citizens. But our vision
of a community where poverty is not
a barrier to those who seek to resolve
family law matters is far from a reality.
To the contrary, poverty remains the
defining impediment to justice for many
of our brothers and sisters. I am proud
to report that the ability of the Harriett
Buhai Center for Family Law to provide
no-cost legal services to those most
in need remains robust. Through our
unique model, whereby an attorneyclient relationship is formed with each
client, the Center serves approximately
1,000 clients each year. Those clients
have an average monthly household
income of a little more than $900.
Robert Kaufman
Stephen A. Kolodny
Hon. Veronica Simmons
McBeth, (Ret.)
Joan Patsy Ostroy (Co-founder)
Patricia Phillips
Hon. Robert Schnider, (Ret.)
Judith Salkow Shapiro
Paul Tanaka
Sorrell Trope
Laura A. Wasser
Susan E. Wiesner
**Member of Advisory Council for 2013 Only
Ex Officio
Also members of the Advisory Council
Yolande C. Adelson *
Larry A. Ginsberg
Blanche C. Bersch
Fahi Takesh Hallin
Vera Brown-Curtis *
Nedra Jenkins
Valerie Cohen
Susan R. Stockel
Carolyn DeFrancesco
Beverly A. Williams
Mablean Ephriam (Co-founder)
* Deceased
Deborah Ewing
2 | Annual Report 2012–2013 | www.hbcfl.org
Susan C. Alker
Stephanie M. Barnett
Kalyani R. Chirra
Jorja Cirigliana
Carole H. Cohen
Valerie Cohen
Lorrina M. Duffy
David Ettinger
William J. Glucksman
Patty Kestin
Louise Nixon
Candice K. Rogers
Trina L. Saunders
David P. Shebby
Jody Bell Ticknor
Sam Wald
David P. Shebby
President, Board of Directors
Susan C. Alker
Stephanie M. Barnett
Kalyani R. Chirra
Jorja Cirigliana
Carole H. Cohen
Andrew DeBlock
Lorrina M. Duffy
Marie Ebersbacher
David Ettinger
William J. Glucksman
Candice K. Rogers
Trina L. Saunders
Jody Bell Ticknor
James L. White
In Her Own Words
These days, Marguerite radiates the
confidence of someone who has taken
charge of her life. What a difference from
the desperate woman who sought help
from the Harriett Buhai Center for Family
Law to keep herself and her children
safe from her abusive husband. Here is
Marguerite’s story, in her own words:
“When I got married with Jorge*
he’d hit me. When he found out I was
pregnant he stopped for a while but
when I was seven months, he kicked me.
I was sent to the hospital. I told him that
I was going to tell the doctor. He begged
me not to because they’d send him to
jail. I didn’t tell. When I was pregnant
with our second child he tried to strangle
me with a pillow. That’s how it went.
“I feel brave
and empowered.”
“When the boys were 5 and 6 years
old, Jorge just left. I found an apartment
and supported us alone. A year later he
bought a house and convinced me to
come back—and I did because I always
felt responsible. But it was exactly the
same. He told me I was worthless and
that he wanted me to leave. He hit me
again. I decided that this was going to
be the last time and called the police.
I had no idea what was going on after
that—I got (criminal protective) papers
in the mail.
“I went to court and told the
(criminal) judge, ‘I have two sons with
this man and he does not want to help
me. I want him to.’ The judge said that
this was not the court to ask for that and
I had to ask for a divorce. I filed and I
thought that was all I had to do. Jorge
tried to harm me by keeping our kids
from me but he really ended up hurting
our sons.
“When I came to the Center I wanted
custody of my kids. I always fought for
their custody but it simply cannot be
done quickly—it’s step by step. Although
the Center lawyers didn’t always give
me the answers I wanted to hear, they
always told me what would work. With
all the advice and help I had from the
Center, I was able to go to court and do
it on my own. I learned how to navigate
the court system and present myself in
court. I feel brave and empowered.”
Marguerite returned recently to the
Center to thank staff members who
helped her master the legal system on
her own and fight for custody of her
children. The years of abuse in their
home took its toll on Marguerite and
her children, but together they are
growing, healing and re-building their
relationships, one step at a time.
*Names have been changed to protect our client’s privacy.
Staff 2012–2013
Betty L. Nordwind | Executive Director
Heidi Slater | Deputy Director
Fred H. Emmer | Senior Supervising Attorney
Cheryl Segal | Senior Staff Attorney
Nina Combellack | Staff Attorney/Pro Bono Manager
Rehema Rhodes Williams | Staff Attorney/Pro Bono Manager
Meredith Alexander | Staff Attorney
Jacqueline Klein | Staff Attorney/ Irmas Foundation Fellow
Holly Leonard | Staff Attorney
Pablo Schlueter-Corey | Staff Attorney
Judith Schwartz-Behar | Staff Attorney
Katherine Ojeda Stewart | Staff Attorney/Equal Justice Fellow
Elvira Castillo | Senior Client Assistant
Karina Estrella | Senior Supervising Client Assistant
Melissa Adams | Client Assistant
Camille Arca | Client Assistant
Noemi Hidalgo | Client Assistant
Isabel Tovar | Client Assistant
Glorimar Pagan | Office Manager
Alyson Weeces | Office Manager
Nicola Kennedy | Volunteer Coordinator
Erin Kimmel | Development Associate
Lauren Sisson | Development and Communications Associate
Esther Castillo | Administrative Assistant
Eunice Castillo | Administrative Assistant
Alline Lee | Administrative Assistant
Catalina Esquivel | Program Assistant
www.hbcfl.org | Annual Report 2012–2013 | 3
Our Programs
The Harriett Buhai Center for Family
Law offers a variety of free services
throughout Los Angeles County, which
is home to some of the poorest families
in the nation. The average client of
the Center is a single parent with one
child living on less than $11,000 a
year. In order to meet the growing need
for legal services, the Center continues to
innovate and implement key programs
and provide direct representation for
low-income individuals, families and
children. For clients of the Center, the
experience and knowledge they acquire
through involvement with staff and
volunteers has a long-term, positive
impact on their lives and the lives of
their children for years after.
Since its inception, the Center
has established several pioneering
programs. Pro Per is a model for selfhelp assistance throughout the United
States. It empowers clients to represent
themselves effectively in court, building
self-esteem and fostering independence
in the process.
When clients cannot represent
themselves due to factors such as severe
abuse or complex legal issues, the
Pro Bono Panel utilizes the services
of private practitioners who donate
4 | Annual Report 2012–2013 | www.hbcfl.org
their time to represent them. Persons
with mental disabilities oftentimes
face particular challenges in the
courts stemming from fear, bias and
misunderstanding, and the Center makes
special efforts to assist them through the
Mental Health Project.
“I call the attorneys at the
Center my Dream Team
because they worked so
diligently on my case.”
—B.B., former client
Nearly 80 percent of the more than
1,800 persons assisted throughout 2012
and 2013 were low-income women,
primarily of color with children, the
majority who reported being victims
of domestic violence. The Domestic
Violence Project offers services, which
include legal protection from an abusive
partner, custody, visitation and support
orders, as well as social service and
immigration assistance to ensure a stable,
safe and economically secure household
free of violence.
The Community College and
Neighborhood Outreach Program plays
an important role in helping community
college students who are experiencing
domestic violence stay in school and
complete their education. The Center
presents day-long legal counseling and
group educational sessions at community
colleges and provides similar services at
non-profit agency sites. In addition to its
Community College program, the Center
has broad outreach in the Los Angeles
community bringing the law office to
neighborhoods and people. In the two
year period of this Report, Harriett Buhai
Center staff and volunteers worked 82
days in the community providing direct
legal assistance—at government centers,
colleges, and non-profit agencies. At
the same time, the Center provided 22
legal education programs to over 650
community members.
I received so much more than
just the help filling out the
right forms. The Center helps
you feel empowered.”
—K.R., former client
In response to another growing
need, the Center designed the Family
Reunification and Reentry Program
for post-incarcerated women, most
of whom are mothers and victims of
domestic violence. The program provides
direct legal assistance and educational
workshops on family violence, child
custody and welfare to facilitate the
healthy reunification of families and
reduce the rate of recidivism.
of women veterans who are victims of
domestic abuse. The Domestic Violence
Outreach for Women Veterans Project
educates female service members about
intimate partner violence and where help
Through the Fatherhood Project, the
Center in collaboration with Children’s
Institute Inc. conducts seminars and
workshops on child support, custody,
visitation and other topics for lowincome fathers completing cases in
Children’s Court. The project encourages
low-income dads to become more
active, nurturing and responsible
participants in the lives of their children.
Throughout 2012 and 2013, Center
staff and volunteers educated over 300
low-income dads at 21 community
presentations, in addition to the
provision of individual legal assistance.
In 2013, the Center established a new
service program to address the needs
300 volunteers, who enable the Center
to double the amount of legal services
it provides each year. Center volunteers
donated over 31,000 hours, combined
with more than 25,000 hours produced
by staff attorneys and paralegals, for
more than 56,000 hours of free legal
assistance provided during the two year
period. The Center places special focus
on recruiting law students who will
become the public interest lawyers of
the future.
“While interning at the Center, I always felt that my opinions
and work were valued. My experience there has shown me that
the best way to learn is by doing.”
—Brittany Gorin, former law student intern
can be received, and also offers service
providers information about screening
patients and referrals.
Volunteers are the backbone of the
Center and the Volunteer and Law
Student Development Program offers
attorneys, law students, paralegals and
other professionals an opportunity to
give back to our local community. The
Center maintains an active group of over
IN MEMORIAM
Betty S. Hoffenberg
Dolores Portillo
September 12, 1922—October 26, 2013
October 22, 1939—August 31, 2013
Betty Hoffenberg, a dedicated supporter of social
justice causes who became a lawyer late in life, was an
unwavering friend of the Harriett Buhai Center for more
than a quarter century.
“She was a firm believer in the significance of law
to promote opportunity, equality and protections,” said
her younger son, Professor Peter Hoffenberg.
“The Buhai Center was important because she believed in its
mission and understood that it was succeeding in that mission, a very
difficult one,” he said.
Betty fulfilled a lifelong dream when she passed the bar on her
first attempt at age 66. About that time, she heard the Center’s thennew Executive Director Betty Nordwind speak on a panel at UCLA
Law School, introduced herself and became an enthusiastic volunteer
and loyal supporter.
“She really supported our growth. She believed in what we were
doing. Because of her steadfastness, she was there to support the
changes that we’ve made,” Nordwind said.
Dolores Portillo, a former staff member and
volunteer who held a close relationship with the
Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law for over a decade,
who made people in need feel welcome during their
contact with the Center. She greeted people who
were desperate for help and integrated them into the
services offered.
“She related to our clients and understood their struggles,”
Executive Director Betty Nordwind said. “She certainly understood
the power of change. She believed in how the Center could help our
clients transform their lives.”
Dolores embraced change herself. A native of New Mexico, she
grew up near downtown Los Angeles. As a single mother, she juggled
two jobs to raise her three children and rose to a managerial position
at a large bank in LA.
“Dolores had a lot of spirit. She had a lot of opinions and
embraced her job 100 percent. She really did love the Center, and
she was loyal to us. I really admired her fortitude,” Nordwind said.
www.hbcfl.org | Annual Report 2012–2013 | 5
Outstanding Volunteer Service
Annually, the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law honors its volunteers for their exemplary service. The Center is proud to
recognize the 2012 and 2013 Volunteer Award recipients and have our readers learn more about what motivates them to help.
Robert Moss
Irán Hopkins
Hall of Fame 2012-2013
Frances Wender Kandel Volunteer of the Year Award, 2013
When Robert Moss began volunteering at the Center
in 2004 he wanted to learn more about family law and
to help people in need. He achieved that, and more.
“I’ve grown personally and professionally
through my work at the Center,” he said. “I’ve
learned to listen better and be more patient with
people who are under a great deal of stress.
“I’ve found that through my work at the Center,
the more that you give, the more you receive in
terms of confidence, fulfillment and happiness. I think I’m a much
better person because it’s less about me, and more about being part
of the community.”
Much of the credit goes to the Center’s staff, he said. “The staff
is very caring and knowledgeable from the top to bottom, and the
bottom to the top. That’s the force behind it all,” he said.
“I think we all want to make a difference. At the Center, we do
that one person at a time. When we lift one person up, I think we lift
all of us up.”
Working with clients who are at a crisis point in
their lives has allowed Irán Hopkins to develop and
practice her skills as a lawyer and counselor.
“People come in so upset, so emotionally raw from
dealing with the traumas of life. I tell clients all the time
that the hard part was making the decision to come
to the Center,” she said. “You should view this as one
door closing and another one opening.”
She said the Center’s Self-Help program
enables clients to walk through that open door.
“Over time, with the help of the Center, they gain access to the
courts, they learn about their rights, and they come to understand
what resources and options are available to them,” she said.
“They generally feel liberated and ready to start the next chapter of
their life.”
Christine Twining
Tala Davis
Ten Years of Service Award, 2013
New Volunteer of the Year Award, 2013
Christine Twining was in her second year of law
school when she began volunteering at the Center.
It’s no exaggeration to say that the experience
changed the course of her professional life.
“It completely confirmed that I wanted to
go into this area of law,” she said. “I got a lot of
practical experience. I was interviewing, talking
directly with clients, drafting letters, drafting legal
documents.”
It enriched her life in other ways, as well. “I always say that,
yes, we’re volunteering, but the reason we’re doing it is we get
something really special out of it. It’s great to feel like we’re making
a difference,” she said.
Twining has been impressed by the Center’s growth on several
fronts through the years, including developing new programs
such as Family Reunification and ReEntry for mothers who are
incarcerated, and in raising the efficiency of its fundraising efforts.
“I love the fact that so much of every dollar donated goes to
programs,” she said.
For Tala Davis, volunteering at the Center has
helped her gain a new perspective on life.
“You see people who overcome all of these
obstacles—they have to take a bus, they have to do
all kinds of things just to make it to Harriett Buhai.
Some of it is not physical, it’s mental and emotional,
and they do it,” she said.
“You have to give people respect, and it puts
your life in perspective.”
Davis said she is inspired by the courage and resilience of the
Center’s clients, and by the dedication of its staff.
“You see how well they meet the needs of their clients, and you
see how much need there is,” she said.
“I think any of us who become a part of that, we hold that with us
no matter where we go.”
2012–2013 VOLUNTEER AWARD RECIPIENTS
Hall of Fame
Robert Moss (2012-2013)
Frances Wender Kandel
Volunteer of the Year
Nora Kavner (2012)
Iran Hopkins (2013)
Pro Bono Volunteer of the Year
Merlyn Hernandez (2012)
Karen Rosin (2013)
New Volunteer of the Year
Tala Davis (2012)
Stephen Goodin (2013)
6 | Annual Report 2012–2013 | www.hbcfl.org
Distinguished Service
James Green (2013)
20 Years of Service
Graham Sherr (2013)
25 Years of Service
Mercy Fresno (2013)
Lauren Petkin (2013)
15 Years of Service
David Ettinger (2012)
Janet Casey (2013)
Roger Halfhide (2013)
Carol Palumbo (2013)
10 Years of Service
Robert Moss (2013)
Ellen Peck (2013)
Adalberto Pena (2013)
Wilson Quan (2013)
Christine Twining (2013)
Meet Our Volunteers
The Center is proud to recognize the nearly
500 attorneys, paralegals, law graduates,
law students and community volunteers,
who donated over 31,000 hours of free legal
assistance to Center clients from January 2012
through December 2013.
Nicole Abboud
Iman Abdella
Jeremiah Abrigo
Joel Acuario
Oscar Acuna
Patience Agbenyadzie
Randi Akasaki
Cibeles Alcaraz
Wynne Alexander
Honey Kessler Amado
Nathalie Amir
Debbie An
Zoraida Anderson
Carolina Andrade
Lindsay Archie
Concepcion Arechabala
Myra Arredondo
Roger Au
Suzanne Austin
Martha Avila
Monica Ayala
Rotimi Ayanbeku
Cynthia Ayon
Elizabeth Ayral
David Azar
Leila Azari
Andrew Babbitt
Rashan Barnes
Yixi Barrientos
Jean Beaty
Kimberly McReynolds Bell
Joselyn Beltran
Sondra BenNaEim
Sarah Bensinger
Barbara Bergen
Robin Berger
Steven Berman
Kristin Bernstein
Alina Bershatski
Violett Beyder
Leah Bishop
Taylor Bouchard
Margo Bouchet
Ana Bowman-Rivera
Rick Boydston
Johnna Boylan
Maria Bravo
Joanna Braynin
Shane Brengle
Kimberly Britts
Melissa Buchman
Sande Buhai
Nanette Buoneto
Charian Caesar
Ashley Caldwell
Theresa Calimag
Ana Calle
Sara Campos
Janet Canon
Long Cao
Kristine Capell
Cheryl Carney
Liana Carter
Janet Casey
Andrea Caster
Esther Castillo
Ezequiel Castillo
Georgina Cetto
Faviola Chaidez
John Chason
Mike Chicco
Lillian Chin
Alexandra Chirico
Anthony Cho
Stephen Chong
Solveig Christiansen
Austin Chung
Victor Cisneros
Benjamin Clements
Teresa Coe
Ram Cogan
Carole Cohen
Jessica Cohen
Valerie Cohen
Mary Conte
Randi Cooper
Emily Cuatto
Liza Cunanan
Arcadio Da
Erin Dabbs
Muky Dai
Cara Daneman
Erik Davis
Tala Davis
Rachel Davis
Desiree De Surra
Carolyn DeFrancesco
Mary Derparseghian
Alyssa Dickerson
Marina Dini
Diana Diskin
Laura Diven
Cosme Dominguez
James Dooley
Maricela Dorado
John Douglas
Nina Drucker
Ebony Duckett
Lia Duncan
Sanaz Dunn
Emily Shappell Edelman
Amelia Edwards
Donald Eisenberg
Cathie Enriquez
Elvia Enriquez
Elizabeth Erickson
Perla Esquivel
David Ettinger
Deborah Ewing
Robert Fairfield
Ethan Fallon
Sheryl Fears
Corey Feldman
Deitra Fernandes
Tracy Fink
Rose Finmore
Rebecca Fischer
Alejandra Flores
Elizabeth Flores
Bernice Fong
Leeah Fontaine
Katherine Forster
Benjamin Freidman
Mercedes Fresno
Angela Fresquez
Alexander Fuqua
Emma Gagliardi
Louis Galaz
Veronica Galaz
Lily Gallegos
Mel Galvez
Lin Gan
Susana Garcia
Donald Gardiner
Phallen Gaskin
Ann Gatsi
Maria Gaucin-Campos
Milly Gaydos
Hannah Geller
Sarah Gettings
Hadassa Gilbert
Larry Ginsberg
Annie Glass
Meaghan Glisczinski
William Glucksman
Karina Godoy
Blythe Golay
Victoria Goldfarb
Carlos Gomez
Monique Gonzalez
Stephen Goodin
Diane Goodman
Brittany Gorin
Mary Elizabeth Grant
Matthew Grayson
James Green
Erin Grey
Linda Gross
Michael Guerrero
Luella Hairston
Roger Halfhide
Stefanie Hall
Fahi Takesh Hallin
Roland Hamilton
Thomas Haraikawa
Mary Harenburg
Jamilla Harris
Jullian Harris-Calvin
Matilda Hartounian
Katie Heersema
Clifford Held
Diane Henry
Merlyn Hernandez
Elisa Herrmann
Ciera Hertzog
Julia High
Kristen Hirashima
Agnes Ho
Tiffany Holm
Carrie Holmes
Iran Hopkins
Michelle Hopkins
Kayla Horacek
Julie Husmoe
Madiina Hussein
Sheral Hyde
Amy Ifurung
Jeffrey Imerman
Nicole Jabson
Kevin Jang
Tiffany Johnson
Andrew Jones
Taufiki Joshua
Heather Kadeg
Laurence Kaldor
Jeffrey Katz
Nora Kavner
Tara Kearns
Alexis Kelly
Samira Kermani
Michelle Khoury
Elisabete Kim
Julia Kim
Soo Kim
Ji Young Kim
Marcia Kislinger
Jacqueline Klein
Jesse Koppin
Laurie Koscielak
Dena Kravitz
Ruth Kremen
Michael Kretzmer
Bindu Kundanmal
Daniel Kuperstein
Shani Kupferman
Julia Shear Kushner
Susan Kussin
Ana La Shier
Leona Lam
Juan Landa
Nicole Lasseube
Katherine Lawrence
Beverly Lazarus
Kris Le Fan
Arthur Leach
Benjamin Lee
Daniel Lee
Sharlene Lee
Anne Lemus
Iman Lemus
Cecilia Leon
Halie Leonard
Holly Leonard
Jennifer Leong
Barry Levy
Ed Allan Lindain
Jeannine Lombard
Adriana Lopez
Rolando Lopez
Brittany Lopez
Kelley Lowe
Charles Lozano
Amanda Lucas
Mary Lund
Deanny Lungu
Minh Luong
John Macaulay
Michael MacDonald
Yeni Maddox
Edith Madrid
Carolyn Makupson
Amarpreet Malik
Karin Manger
Margaret Maraschino
David Marcus
Dvorah Markman
Andres Marquez
Hector Marquez
Alma Martinez
Anthony Martinez
Nicole Martinez
Yxzthlallytth Martinez
Nicole Maruyama
Daniel McAlister
Michelle McCarthy
James McCullaugh
Brody McKelvey
Darrell McKnight
Melissa McNair
Suzanna Megrabyan
Sydney Mehringer
Dean Mellor
Aida Melvin
Vanessa Meraz
Chante Mezzera
Greg Michalak
Amy Miles
Sara Militello
Elie Miller
Grace Mitsuhata
Ann Moder
Maricruz Moghaddam
Limor Mojdehiazad
Ricardo Montellano
Camille Moore-Hunley
Sandra Moreno
Jennifer Morra
Linda Russano Morra
Robert Moss
Claudia Munoz
Michael Murillo-Zuniga
Katherine Myers
Denise Nardi
America Navarro
Amy Neiman
Ritzel Ngo
Anh Nguyen
Denise Nguyen
Lan Nguyen
Myle Nguyen
Nicole Nichols-Hegazy
Louise Nixon
Brian Nobe
Negar Nosrat
Katrina Novak
Sandra Nutt
Ann Oakleaf
Ignatius Uju Ogbogu
Fabianna Olivares
Chris Olsen
Yahera Oropeza
Lisa Barkin Oxley
Ellin Palmer
Carol Palumbo
Tigran Palyan
Katherine Paradero
Clarissa Park
Ebrahim Parsakia
Sanjay Paul
Edward Pausic
Ellen Peck
Ilona Peltyn
Adalberto Pena
Tania Pereira
Jose Perez
Jennifer Peters
Lauren Petkin
Jeff Phillips
Jill Piano
Leticia Pinon
Katherine Podein
Adriana Porras
Alex Port
Howard Posner
Nancy Prado
Arathi Premkumar
Michael Preston
Marta Price
Estela Pruce
Lidia Puente
Jessica Pureco
Carmen Qualls
Wilson Quan
Mark Rademacher
Hugo Ramirez
Sandra Ramirez
Maria Ramon
Beatriz Ramos
Scheherazade Rastegar
Erin Reisman
Claudia Ribet
Natasha Riggs
Marcia Rittikaidachar
Julie Rivera-Coo
Lynette Berg Robe
Karen Barlevi Roberts
Odetta Robinson
Candice Rogers
Rodolfo Romo
Ruth Rose
Charles Rosenberg
Lisa Rosenberg
Sarah Rosenblatt
Karen Rosin
Maxine Rosin
Thomas Rounds
Brenda Ruiz
Judith Rushlow
Ian Russ
Marshall Rutter
Hamid Safavi
Brett Safford
Christine Salib
Danielle Salka
Natasha Saltz
Jamie San Gabriel
Daniel Sanchez
Joanna Sanchez
Mayra Sanchez
Robyn Santucci
Jennifer Saunders
Lori Schaffhauser
Hon. Robert Schnider, (Ret.)
Elizabeth Potter Scully
Maxine Sealey
Robles Sergio
Francesca Shahrouz
David Shebby
Graham Sherr
Sreoshi Datta Sheth
Warren Shiell
Jesus Silva
Jennifer Skolnick
Hortense Snower
Stephanie Solomos
Lynn Soodik
Shumika Sookdeo
Connie Soto
Hector Soto
Jenna Spatz
Lance Spiegel
Marshall Spiegel
Olga Spilman
Daniel Spitzer
Maya Spitzer
John Thomas St. Clair
Penny Ramos St. John
Marean Spero Steen
Theresa Steen
Iris Stein
Cori Stockman
Anthony Storm
Jennifer Storm
Deborah Sun
Kacey Surratt
Regina Tathum
Laurie Taylor
Mary Test
Golden Thrower
Jodi Bell Ticknor
Rebecca Tierney
Edwin Tobar
Joseph Torri
Paul Tran
David Treyman
Serine Tsuda
Vicotria Tsylina
Christine Twining
J.B. Twomey
Elena Uliantzeff
Maribel Uriostegui
Teresa Vargas Valdes
Guadalupe Valdez
Brigette Vargas
Richard Vasquez
Crystal Ventura
Todd Vigus
Cynthia Villa
Nora Venegas Wagner
Rodena Waldmann
Tobie Waxman
Aissa Wayne
Staci Weinzoff
Mary Weiss
Della Welch
James Whiggam
Mary Dinius White
Michael White
Michael Whitmarsh
Carol Widmer
Rehema Rhodes Williams
Patricia Williams
Annie Wishingrad
Alexa Wolff
Chloe Wolman
Eva Wood
Merrick Woodard
Justin Yu
Marina Zakiyan
Heather Zakson
Gina Zaragoza
Laura Zaragoza
Bassma Zebib
Chenchen Zhang
Teresa Zhen
Stuart Zimring
Erin Zivic
www.hbcfl.org | Annual Report 2012–2013 | 7
Impact for Generations
“As a donor, if I know that a
significantly greater percentage
of the money that I give is
going directly to services that
the Center provides to the
community, I’m a happy man.”
Attorney Larry A. Ginsberg and Hon. Isabel R. Cohen
(Ret.) are among the Harriett Buhai Center for Family
Law’s most dedicated supporters. Their principles, values
and ideals are aligned with the Center’s mission, and their
continuous investment of time, talent and funds has made
fulfilling its goals possible. They offer their thoughts on the
growth of the Center.
“The Center has become a
force in the world of family law
in the state of California, not
just the county of Los Angeles.”
—Hon. Isabel R. Cohen (Ret.)
“The Center has become a force in the world of family law
in the state of California, not just the county of Los Angeles,”
said Cohen, a founding board member.
“It has made law which effects poor people, and it has been
a model for the nonprofit law community. It has trained many,
many lawyers,” she said.
Today, the Center is moving forward with the Century
Campaign, which directs the organization’s limited resources
and staff time toward its core mission of providing free legal
assistance and education to low-income clients.
—Larry A. Ginsberg, attorney, CFLS
“A larger percentage of the dollar goes to the reason for the
Center’s existence, which is the attainment of social justice for
poor people who are otherwise locked out of the courtroom,”
Cohen said.
Ginsberg, who leads the Century Campaign, endorses the
new fundraising model for that reason. “As a donor, if I know
that a significantly greater percentage of the money that I give
is going directly to services that the Center provides to the
community, I’m a happy man,” he said.
According to Ginsberg, the benefits of the Center’s work
are incalculable. “The Center is not just providing domestic
violence assistance to one woman or one man or helping one
woman or one man gain financial assistance from his or her
spouse to support the kids,” he said.
“Pulling one individual or one family out of that cycle and
getting them to a better place has immeasurable benefits.
Everything the Center does has impact for generations.”
The Century Campaign
In 2013, the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law made a big change.
The Center decided to forego its
annual Theater Benefit and Buhai
Brunch, and sowed the seeds for the
Century Campaign—the new, annual
initiative to raise support for its
innovative programs and services.
The Century Campaign enables the
Center to use donor contributions in
the most productive way possible. By
redirecting valuable funds and staff time
8 | Annual Report 2012–2013 | www.hbcfl.org
once expended for entertainment toward
hands-on assistance and programs, the
Center reduced fundraising expenses by
nearly 60%. The Center has accomplished
what means the most to its supporters:
more money directly allocated for
assisting low-income families, children
and victims of domestic violence.
Forward-thinking, the Century
Campaign ensures a thriving future for
the Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
for generations to come.
Our Donors
The Center is very grateful to the following
individuals, firms, businesses and institutional
supporters who made philanthropic gifts in
2012 and 2013. Each donor is listed only
once, reflecting their cumulative giving during
the two year period.
Leader ($50,000+)
Harris · Ginsberg LLP
Champion ($40,000-49,999)
CMM, LLP
Jaffe and Clemens
Guardian ($30,000-39,999)
Law Offices of
Judith R. Forman, P.C.
Ms. Gene H. LePere
Mayer Hoffman McCann,
P.C., CPAs
Sustainer ($20,000-29,999)
Audrey and Sydney Irmas
Charitable Foundation
Kolodny Law Group
Hon. Jill S. Robbins, (Ret.)
and Robert W. Eisfelder
Susan R. Stockel
Sorrell and Linda Trope
Wasser, Cooperman
& Carter, P.C.
David and Susan Wilstein
Partner ($10,000-19,999)
Angels Foundation
Leah M. Bishop
and Gary M. Yale
David Bohnett Foundation
Gursey | Schneider LLP
Loeb & Loeb, LLP
Meyer, Olson, Lowy
& Meyers LLP
Susan Steinhauser
and Daniel Greenberg
Wasserman Foundation
White, Zuckerman,
Warsavsky, Luna & Hunt LLP
Benefactor ($5,000-9,999)
Greg and Susan Alker
Ron J. Anfuso, CPA, ABV,
CFF, CDFA, FABFA
Anonymous
Diane and Noel Applebaum
The California Endowment
Kalyani Chirra
and Peter Simon
Hon. Isabel R. Cohen, (Ret.)
and Paul F. Cohen
Law Offices of
Emily Shappell Edelman
David and Susan Ettinger
Feinberg, Mindel, Brandt
& Klein, LLP
Gigi V. Fitzmorris
Fox Rothschild LLP
Freid and Goldsman, APLC
Mercedes Fresno
Hargrave & Hargrave, CPAs
Horvitz & Levy LLP
Stanley Iezman
and Nancy Stark/
American Realty Advisors
Jacobson Scully Shebby LLP
Law Office of Paula Kane
Robert S. and K.C. Kaufman
Denise, Sheldon, Dena
and Jason Kravitz
Vivian Landau
Alexandra Leichter,
Ariel Leichter-Maroko
and Jenna C. Spatz
QDRO Counsel Inc., APCLouise Nixon, Esq., President
Paula and Aaron Nordwind
Joan Patsy Ostroy
and James R. Eliaser
Phillips Lerner,
A Law Corporation
Donald and Suzanne Randolph/
Randolph & Associates
Sacks, Glazier, Franklin
& Lodise, LLP
Hon. John H. Sandoz, (Ret.)
and Ms. Beverley
Morgan-Sandoz
Cori B. Steinberg, Esq.
Walter J. and Holly O.
Thomson Foundation
Walzer & Melcher LLP
Young, Spiegel & Lee, LLP
Patron ($2,500-4,999)
1st Century Bank
Adelman & Seide, LLP
Allred, Maroko & Goldberg
Hon. Aviva Bobb, (Ret.)
Johnna K. Boylan, Esq.
Law Office of Kappy K. Bristol
Brot & Gross, LLP
Jeff Buhai
and Suzanne Rosenblatt
Buter, Buzard, Fishbein
& Royce LLP
Carole and Leslie Cohen
Core Wealth Management, LLC
Donald S. Eisenberg
Friedman & Friedman
Glassman, Browning,
Saltsman & Jacobs, Inc.
Bill and Janet Glucksman
Hahn & Hahn, LLP
Stefanie M. Hall,
Hall Family Law
Hersh, Mannis & Bogen, LLP
Andrea and Matthew Heyn
Elliot and Karriann Farrell Hinds
Ezra and Lauren Kest Family Fund
Liner Grode Stein Yankelevitz
Sunshine Regenstreif & Taylor,
LLP and Robert Kaufman
Misho, Kirker & Associates LLP
Christopher Moore
and Sharon A. Bryan/
Moore, Bryan & Schroff, LLP
Denise A. Nardi
Law Offices of
Lynette Berg Robe, APC
Jeffrey Robinov
Karen and Charles Rosin
Schwartz & Shapiro LLP
Stockwell, Harris, Woolverton
and Muehl
Taylor and Lieberman, ACC
The Law Office
of Christine V. Twining
Jessica Uzcategui
and Carlos Singer
Venable Foundation
Bunny Wasser
and Howard Bernstein
Stevie Wonder
Sponsor ($1,500-2,499)
Akin, Gump, Strauss,
Hauer & Feld, LLP
The Bell Family Trust
Martha and Barry Berkett
Karen Bierman
and Richard Nordwind
Gary and Marsha Blum
Nancy Braden-Parker
Joel T. Brantham
Ramon Cintron
and Christina Ramirez
Dorskind Family Foundation, Inc.
Frankel & Reichman LLP
Linda S. Gross
Wendy A. Herzog
and Stephen F. Rohde
Roy and Judi Kaufman
Patricia Kenner
Patty Kestin
Dr. Larry Kidwell
and Ms. Barbara Segal
Dena Kravitz
Roger and Mary Kumble
Jamie and Chuck Meyer
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP
Phillips Jessner LLP
The Charitable Foundation of
Prudential California Realty
David M. Quigley
Candice K. Rogers
Judith Salkow Shapiro
and Martin Shapiro
Laurie J. Taylor
U.S. Trust, Bank of America
Vignolo Farms
Friend ($500-1,499)
Raul and Leila Acevedo
Bryan and Suzanna Altman
Anonymous
Leroy Baca
Douglas A. Bagby
Judith S. Bain
Jackie and Howard Banchik
Gail and George Baril
Dr. Nicole Baril
Adam and Stephanie Barnett
Rachel and Meir Bartur
Lowell Becourtney
Marciela Bermudez
Alex Beroukhim
Mickey and Manny Bierman
Bird, Marella, Boxer, Wolpert,
Nessim, Drooks
& Lincenberg, APC
Ken Blanchard Companies
Reuben Raucher & Blum
Stephanie and Harold
Bronson Fund
Radell and Sydney Brown
Eric and Melissa Buchman
Lillian Chin
Mark Katz and Benita Chorn
Angelica and David Clark
Presiding Judge Ursula Clemons
Valerie and Bradford Cohen
Joyce G. Cook and Michael Lyons
Cooper, Moss, Resnick,
Klein and Co., LLP
Elizabeth Courtenay
Elizabeth Crowe
Robert W. Dickerson
Barbara and Bruce Dobkin
Epson America Inc.
Elizabeth Erickson
Davis J. Factor, III
Leah and Sam Fischer
Rick and Carole Flam
Katherine M. Forster
Friars Charitable Foundation
Hon. Holly Fujie
Sue and Frank Garfield
Kennedy, Woodruff,
Gessford and Nixon Families
Frida Popik Glucoft
David and Judith Goldstein
Law and Mediation Office
of Diane M. Goodman, APC
Kenneth and Debra Gordon
Brenda and Hugh Gottfried
Vicki J. Greene
Patricia Griffith
Herbert J. Groelinger
Michael A. Guerrero
Richard and Susan Gurman
Haight Brown & Bonesteel, LLP
Marc Herman
Iris Spein and Roger Heyman
Joshlyn Higgins
Colleen Hilton
Janice Holton
Cuneo & Hoover, P.C.
Ann Janss
Tylie Jones
Hon. Mark A. Juhas
Jeffrey Kaplan
Wayne and Sylvia Kazan
Hon. Holly E. Kendig
Elizabeth and Ray Kennedy
John and Barbara Kimmel
Roger L. Kohn
Elaine Kramer
Susan Kussin and Greg Bordo
Hon. Stephen Lachs, (Ret.)
and Michael Ruvo
Alfred Landolph
Latham & Watkins LLP
Nancy Lawler
Barbara and Tom Leanse
Holly Leonard
Mark Lininger
Kevin and Dale Lipton
Judith Seeds Miller
Susan Millmann and Steve Clare
Rukshan Mistry
Brucker & Morra, APC
Michele Mulrooney
and James Jackoway
Amy Newman/Alternative
Resolution Centers
Anne Osberg and Moose Moravec
Hon. John W. Ouderkirk, (Ret.)
Our Family Wizard
Lorne and Ilona Parker
Donald and Shana Passman
Carol Petschek
Sandra Segal Polin
Jane Preece
Ann Rector and Nancy Megli
Fred and Nadine Rosen
Lee and Barry Rosenberg
Mr. and Mrs. James W. Ross
Shannon and Michael Rotenberg
The Rutter Group
Debbie Saidoff
Fern Topas Salka
Benjamin and Susan Shapell
Mary Elizabeth Smith
Hon. Erithe A. Smith
Arleene and Larry Sommer
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Anne-Marie Spataru
Rondi Springer
Ainslie and Steven Sugarman
Myra Sun and Carlton Gunn
Jodi Bell Ticknor
Barbara Torrest and Peter Dormont
United Way
Patricia Van Haren
Ruth Waddell and Eric Stockel
Sam Wald
Catherine Portillo and Scott Wallace
Loretta Warabow
David Weber
Angela White
Whitebell, Inc.
Patrick and Lauren Whitesell
Joseph and Sharon Winship
Annie Wishingrad
Associate ($250-499)
Michael L. Abrams
Honey Kessler Amado
Carl T. Anderson
Grace Bates
Ruthlee Becker
LuAnn Beckloff
Alan and Phyllis Berger
Gene Bishop
www.hbcfl.org | Annual Report 2012–2013 | 9
Our Donors, continued
Mary Catherine Bohen
Sandra and Marcus Bohi
Barry Brewer
Eli and Edythe Broad
Kimberly Carvalho-Faucher
and Corwyn Faucher
Hon. Eli Chernow (Ret.)
and Arlene Chernow
Vicki Christianson
City National Bank
Robert L. Corbin
Liza Cunanan
Carolyn DeFrancesco
James and Lynne Dewitt
Josephine Nolfo
Henry and Kathy Donner
Cathy R. Dreyfuss
Lorrina M. Duffy
Thomas and Janis Durkin
Lucy and David Eisenberg
Elizabeth Elson
Suzanne Emerson
Mablean Ephriam
Ella and Howard Ettinger
Bill and Cheryl Finney
Hon. Janet M. Frangie
Stephen G. Frank
Hon. Reva Goetz
Joan Gordon
Marian Gordon
and Lawrence Abbott
James Green
Susan Grueneberg
Robert Haber
Jennifer Haug
Freddie Hayes
Iran and Christopher Hopkins
Eleanor and Jack Jaye
JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Wendy, Adrienne
and Susan Kandel
Diane Karpman
Nora Kavner
Freya Kay
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Kehr
Michael Kenney
Paul and Ana Koliander
Bonnie Kossoff and Steve Uslan
The Kramers
Waltereise Lamb-Stanzell
Marsha Barr Levin
David and Fran Loew
Alex Loots
Ann Lopez
Carolyn Makupson
Mitchell Maso and Barbra Solnit
Robie & Matthai
Lisa and Peter McCubbin
Angela Novas McGill
Danica McKellar
Katherine McKeon
Susan Wise Miller, M.A.
Rashna Mistry
and Rajit Malhotra
Carol and Jerry Muchin
Sherri and Arnold Nelson
Emily Nordwind
Andrea Sheridan Ordin
Lynn and Neville Ostrick
Ellen Peck
John and Nancy Reinisch
Judith L. Resnick
Pauline Y. Robins
Beth Roemer
Herbert and Margarita Rosenthal
Ian Russ, Ph.D.
William Ryden
Hon. Maria Salas-Mendoza
Colin and Caron Sapire
Trina L. Saunders
Erin Schaefer
Hon. Robert A. Schnider, (Ret.)
and Perryne Anker
Lawrence Schwartz
Sean M. SeLegue
Leslie Shear
Bernardo and Carla Silva
Paul Alan Smith
Gail D. Solo
Penny St. John
Hon. Marjorie S. Steinberg, (Ret.)
Roslyn and Warren Steinhauser
David H. Susson
Stephen Twining
Carol Vernon and Robert Turbin
Janice and Daniel Wallace
Sayre Weaver
Sherry A. Weinman
Hon. Susan K. Weiss
Hon. Diana M. Wheatley
Mary Dinius White
Tiffany and Jon Woodruff
Alan Yang
Ballard Spahr LLP
Bonnie Zane
General Donations
Yvette Abich
Margaret Irene Adams
Abby and John Adorney
Patience Agbenyadzie
Deborah Alexander
Ann and Brad Alford
Nicholas R. Allis
Marilyn W. Alper
Nicole Altamirano
Estelle and David Andelman
Carole and Kenneth Appel
Monica Arca
Mark and Shelley Austrian
Leila Azari
Sandra Bacharach
Philip and Terry Ball
Lynn G. Barancik
Gordon Baranco
The Law Offices
of Gustavo A. Barcena
Tamika Barnes
Mark and Susan Barter
Martin and Brenda Becker
Michael Bell
Stew and Cathy Bellus
Bennett & Erdman
Sarah Bensinger
Liza Bercovici and David Axelrad
Barbara H. Bergen
Elayne Berg-Wilion
Lori Bernstein
10 | Annual Report 2012–2013 | www.hbcfl.org
Blanche C. Bersch
Jason Brooks
Steve Bilan
Tammara Billik
Karen L. Bizzini
Hon. Kenneth A. Black (Ret.)
Muriel Blankfort
Heather and Matthew Borlenghi
Linda Bradlyn
Scott and Laurie Bresnick
Courtney Brewer
Nancy Brucker
Illece Buckley-Weber
Marcia Burnam
Patricia A. Butler
Betty Jean Campbell-Lahr
Deborah Carabet
Nancy Caton
Debby Chanen
Williana Chang
Renee and Edward Chanon
Tien Chung Chen
Jorja Cirigliana
Barbara H. Clark
Eve M. Coddon
Eileen Cohen-Shore
Michael and Ellen Singer Coleman
Pamela Collingwood
Amy Croot
Mary B. Culbert
Andrew DeBlock
Josephine DeCarolis
William and Lindsay Delgado
Christine Diaz
Nancy M. Diego
Christopher Dingess
Hon. Marguerite Downing
Ruth Drexler
DriveWise Auto
Marie Ebersbacher
Arline Edelbaum
Kathy and Dan Egan
Phyllis M. Elsky
Itta C. Englander
Cathie Enriquez
Hon. Norman L. Epstein
Jack I. Esensten
Dr. and Mrs. Martin Ettinger
Naomi and Finesse Farley
Donald and Diane Feldman
L. Ernestine Fields
Lucy Fisher and Douglas Wick
Judy and Tom Flesh
Debby and James Fogelman
Hon. Elaine J. Fong
Georgia Franklin-Shutan
Alexander Fuqua
John and Marilyn Gaims
Linda Garrett
Anne Gauldin
Hadassa Gilbert
Hon. Arthur Gilbert
Kathleen Gilmore
Christine Callahan and Jon Glickman
Malcolm S. Gordon
Chris Rizza and
Elizabeth Gordon-Rizza
Amy and Jeff Gorin
Rabbi Michael Gotlieb
William Grady
Kevin Grant and Lisa Trivedi
Sibylle Grebe Esq./
Conover & Grebe LLP
Michael Grizzi
Doris P. Haims
Janet Halbert
Hon. Louise Halevy
Roger Halfhide
Barbara Hardy
Susan L. Harris
Hon. Terry J. Hatter
Faith Henkin
Hon. Margaret Henry
Molly Henthorne
Roseann Herman
Mark and Merlyn Hanasono
Susan Hill/ Hill & Piibe
Sari Horovitz and Howard Hoffman
Jean Huang
Boyd Hudson
Yardenna Hurvitz
Phoebe Hyun
Ann Imes
Rebecca Ingram
Charles M. Isaacs
Marilynn Ito
Alan Jacobs
Edwin and Muriel Jacobs
Marilyn A. Joel
Chris Jones
Jody Joseph
Teresa Juarez
Guy and Joelle Juillard
Lily Kang
Benjamin and Janet Kaplan
Terri Keville
Linda Teague Key
Dan, Shelley, Lauren
and Ariel Klein
Hon. Joan Dempsey Klein
and Conrad Lee Klein
Jill Klein
Jane Koehler
Jesse M. Koppin
Annette R. Kulik
David Kuroda, LCSW
Sherrill Kushner
Frumeh Labow
Katherine L’Amour
Sharlene Lee
Diane S. Lenkin
Linda Lennon
Steven A. Lewis
Larry and Irene Linder
Judi and Paul Lippe
Marsha B. Liss
Lloyd S. Berkett
Insurance Agency, Inc.
Alan and Susan Loots
Los Angeles Times
Kristi Lousteau
Roger and Barabra Lowenstein
Fernando Luna
Cecile Lyons
Beverly Magid
Andrea Maitra-Konell
Barbara A. Marcus
Lorie Marshall
James C. Martin
Hon. Marilyn Kading Martinez
Hon. Howard Matz
and Ms. Jane Matz
Judith E. Matz
Linda and Stephen Mazur
Lauren McCurdy
Lauren McAuliffe
Melissa D. McNair
Grace Melton
Rochelle Meredith
Joshua Meyer and Vicki Botnick
Homa Mikael
Barbara Mills
Ted O. Mills
Miod and Company LLP
Leticia Miranda
Julia Mosel
Lynn Moyers
Robert A. Murphy
Jean Musmaker
Kenneth Nagy
Barbara Nardi
Greg and Teresa Nathanson
Essie Neff
Bea Nemlaha
Ron and Paulette Nessim
Kip Niven
Wendy Sue Noah
Tom Nunziato
Ann and Ted Nye
Susie J. Oh
Neil O’Hanlon
Ron Okubo
Parima Pandkhou and John Thorpe
Linda Paquette
Joan Park
Ilona Peltyn
Dan Persoff
Hon. Joy Picus
Dianne Pirtle
Julie Platt and Family
Jane Platt-Brown
Ivy Pochoda
Selma and Steven Pokress
Amy and Samuel Pryor
Robert and Esther Quon
Hon. Sara K. Radin
Sandra Radoff-Bernstein
Johnnie Raines
Debra Ravden
Tom and Lynn Reed
John and Charlotte Reith
Dennis L. Riedle
and Kenneth E. Pearson
Ellen G. Riley
Delilah Knox Rios
Dulce M. Rivera
Jane Robbins
Karen and Leo Roberts
Judy and Jerry Rosenberg
Cathy and Louis Rosenmayer
Rachel Kronick and James Rothbart
Dietrich and Marilyn Rueschemeyer
Julia Rueschemeyer
Law Office of Marshall A. Rutter
Samuel and June Sale
Joanna Sanchez
Mandee Sanderson
Jerome Sapiro, Jr.
Helen and Moshe Sassover
Dr. and Mrs. Charles Schatz
Ruth Scheppers
Daniel Schofield
Clifford and Nina Segil
Adrienne and Ben Seigel
Ruth Seroussi
Stephen N. Shapiro
Alvia and Diane Shaw
Susan Shebby
Sreoshi Datta and Neil Sheth
Alice Short and Steven Vielhaber
Rick Silver, O.D.
Yvonne Simon
Lauren Sisson and Kevin Costello
Kimberly Smith
Talbott Smith
Dominique Snyder
Abby Soven
Charlotte and Arthur Spiegelman
Daniel Spitzer
Tammy Stafford
Iris and Roger Stein
Sasha Stern
Henry Stewart
Karen Stone
Joyce Tapper
Stuart and Marianne Taussig
Ariella Thal
Geoffrey and Reba Thomas
Lane Thomas
Daniel and Francine Ticknor
John Tietjen
and Patricia Cummins
Phyllis Alden Truby
Wendy Turk
Paul W. Vapnek
Violet Vaughnes
Richard Velasquez
Robert S. Vinetz, MD
and Nancy Kezlarian, MFT
Leslie and William Waldman
Paulette L. Walker
Heather Wax
Arthur and Judith Weber
Charles and Elissa Weber
Judith and Howard Weiner
Joan Wilner
Diane Wilson
Michael Wine
Roger H. Wood
Helena Yli-Renko
Gloria Young
Rosalyn S. Zakheim
Tricia Zoeller
Gifts in Tribute
Donations in honor, celebration
or memory of the following
individuals were generously
made in 2012 and 2013:
Don Mike Anthony
Ann Beaudry
Elayne Berg-Wilion
Manny Bierman
Leah M. Bishop
Irving Borow
John Brackett
Vera Brown-Curtis Hayes
Harriett Buhai
Mercedes Cabana
Kalyani Chirra
Ulysses L. Clemons
Carole H. Cohen
Andrew DeBlock
Patrick DeCarolis, Sr.
Emily Shappell Edelman
Fred Edelman
Ike Eines
Phyllis Elsky
Fred Emmer
Elizabeth Erickson
and Kevin Etten
Martin and Mitzi Ettinger
David Ettinger
Judith R. Forman
Mercy Fresno
Stephanie Geller
and Jean Weishar
Larry A. Ginsberg
Hon. Hank Goldberg
Betty Goldstein
Jim Green
The Green Family
Daniel Greenberg
Erin Grey
Harris · Ginsberg LLP
Kariann and Elliot Hinds
Bala Isaacs
Steven Jaye
Diane Foley Jones
Joy Joseph
Betty Katanick
Nora Kavner
Steven Knowles
Barbara Kramar
Dena Kravitz
Bindu Kundanmal
Vivian Landau
Gloria Leonard
Carolyn Makupson
Ira Mishkind
Robert M. Moss
Louise Nixon
Betty L. Nordwind
Lindsey and Josh Passman
Ellen R. Peck
Dolores Portillo
Ruth J. Roemer
Avery Rosin
Karen and Charles Rosin
Chuck Rosini
Ruth Savage
Pamela Sellers
David P. Shebby
Eleanor Sherr
Heidi Slater
Grace Rose Smith
Julia Stanton
Judy Steinfeldt
Jodi Bell Ticknor
Linda and Sorrell Trope
Christine Twining
Jessica Uzcategui
George Wallace
Laura A. Wasser
Marjorie J. Weinzweig
Laura Wight
Evelyn Zemlin
In-Kind Contributions
The following individuals, firms
and businesses made donations
in-kind during this period:
Apartment 3B Productions
Attorney’s Briefcase
California Family Law Report
Law Offices of Judith R. Forman
Gregory Bell/The Conga Room
Marcia Kislinger
Latham & Watkins LLP
LexisNexis Matthew Bender
Los Angeles County
Bar Association
Family Law Section
Loyola Law School
Martin Dean’s Essential Forms
Danica McKellar
Roland Mesa,
Toy Box Entertainment
Our Family Wizard
Adalberto Pena
Karen and Charles Rosin
The Rutter Group
David P. Shebby
Something Massive
Southwestern Law School
Every effort has been made to print the correct
information. If there should are any corrections,
omissions or changes, please call the
Harriett Buhai Center for Family Law
at (213) 388-7505, ext. 317. Thank you.
Institutional Support
More than 50 percent of funding
for the Center is the result of grants
from government entities, public
and private foundations, civic and
employee organizations and bar
associations. We are grateful for
their support during the 2012 and
2013 calendar years:
Aaroe Associates Charitable
Foundation
AEGON Transamerica Foundation
American Academy of
Matrimonial Lawyers Southern California Chapter
Audrey Irmas Foundation
for Social Justice
Bigglesworth Fund
Black Women Lawyers
Association of Los Angeles
California Community Foundation
Carl E. Wynn Foundation
Children’s Institute, Inc.,
Project Fatherhood
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Social
Services, CalWORKS
Domestic Violence Supportive
Services Program
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Social
Services, Community Services
Block Grant Program
(Districts 1, 2 and 4)
Equal Justice Works
Henry and Sylvia Yaschik
Foundation
J.B. and Emily Van Nuys Charities
Lillian Robbins Estate
Los Angeles Chapter of the
Links, Inc. and Los Angeles
Cotillion Charitable Trust
Los Angeles County
Bar Association
The Morrison & Foerster
Foundation
Neda Nobari Foundation
The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation
The Rose Hills Foundation
S. Mark Taper Foundation
Sidney Stern Memorial Trust
State Bar of California Client
Trust Fund Program
State Bar of California
Equal Access Fund
Susan and Lloyd Stockel Fund
Swords to Plowshares
Trope and Trope/USC Family
Law Public Interest Family
Law Fellowship
Wells Fargo Foundation
Women Lawyers Association
of Los Angeles
FINANCIAL STATEMENT
July 31
2013
2012
2011
SUPPORT
Government Contracts
Special Events
Foundations
Individuals
Client Donations
Total Support
$ 539,972
$ 132,290
$ 196,972
$ 448,737
$
463
$ 1,318,434
$ 555,595
$ 498,559
$ 210,217
$
73,626
$
786
$ 1,338,783
$ 728,637
$ 539,749
$ 113,250
$
54,705
$
385
$ 1,436,726
$
42,003
$
171
$
42,174
$ 3,453,238
$ 4,813,846
$
35,121
$
1,315
$
36,436
$ 3,601,479
$ 4,976,698
$
30,197
$
2,749
$
32,946
$ 3,444,478
$ 4,914,150
$ 4,461,167
$ 4,730,068
$ 4,676,976
$ 344,534
$ 4,805,701
$ 437,752
$ 5,167,820
$ 447,953
$ 5,124,929
REVENUE
Manual Sales
Investment Income
Total Revenue
Donated Services
Total Support and Revenue
EXPENSES
Program Services:
Family Law and Legal Aid
Supporting Services:
General Administrative
and Fundraising
Total Expenses
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
$
8,145
$ (191,122)
$ (210,779)
Net Assets, Beginning of Year
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Net Assets, End of Year
$
$
$
726,245
8,145
734,390
$ 917,367
$ (191,122)
$ 726,245
$ 1,128,146
$ (210,779)
$ 917,367
www.hbcfl.org | Annual Report 2012–2013 | 11
Mission
We protect victims of domestic violence and improve the
well-being of children living in poverty. With the help of volunteers,
the Center provides free family law assistance and legal education
to the poor. We strive to empower people in need and assure them
meaningful access to courts.
Vision
We aspire to create a community where poverty is not a barrier
to those who seek to resolve critical family law matters.
3250 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 710
Los Angeles, CA 90010
(213) 388-7505
www.hbcfl.org
www.twitter.com/hbcfl
www.youtube.com/HarriettBuhaiCenter
A co-sponsored project of the
Black Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles,
Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the
Women Lawyers Association of Los Angeles
Graphic Design: Patrick Walling
www.facebook.com Search: Harriett Buhai Center
www.patrickwalling.com
Stay Connected!