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In 1999, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation created the firm's Adopt-A-Center Program. Its purpose is to aid local non-profit organizations who help those organizations which provide services to families and children.

To date, the Adopt-A-Center Program has assisted 13 unique groups, all of whom have benefited tremendously from the firm's commitment.

Not only does Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation donate and raise money for these worthy non-profit organizations, the attorneys and staff provides hands-on participation in various activities and events during a 12-month period of service. Moreover, many stay on after the completion of the firm's commitment in order to assist as Board members and volunteers.

2012 - IMAGINE LA

Imagine LA is a non-profit organization whose vision is to mobilize the community to help make Los Angeles a city where no child sleeps on the street. Imagine LA's efforts are focused on the Los Angeles County homeless family population.

2011 - UPWARD BOUND HOUSE

Upward Bound House is a community-based, social service agency founded in 1991 to help mitigate the affordable housing crisis on the Westside of Los Angeles County and specifically, its impact on two vulnerable populations: homeless families with minor children and very low-income seniors. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation hosted a "Day Out at the Hollywood Bowl" where youth from Upward Bound House programs were given a ride in a private coach to the Hollywood Bowl for a gracious catered dinner and a fun musical evening under the stars. In addition, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation showcased the drawing of an 11-year-old youth in the firm's holiday card to help further spread the inspiring mission and message of Upward Bound House among Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation friends and clients.

2010 - UNITED IN HARMONY MENTORING PROGRAM

United in Harmony's mission is to provide homeless and impoverished children with hope and opportunities to develop positive self-esteem through interactions with teenage and adult role models. United in Harmony is a non-profit organization that provides a variety of enriching programs for children 7-13 years of age from over 12 shelters in Los Angeles County. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation planned "A Day at the Getty" with 20 children and their mentors in support of United in Harmony. Attendees were picked up by private bus and made their way into the hills of West Los Angeles. There they enjoyed a tour of this world-renowned museum, as well as a picnic lunch with the gorgeous gardens of the Getty as a backdrop. The children and mentors took home book bags and picnic blankets as a remembrance of their day.

2009 - FRED JORDAN MISSIONS - BACK-TO-SCHOOL BACKPACK PROGRAM

In 2009, the firm unanimously voted to provide assistance to Fred Jordan Missions' Back-To-School Backpack Day. This ongoing program aids impoverished youngsters by providing them with backpacks, school supplies, haircuts and sneakers. To show their support, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation closed its doors for the day so that principals, along with associates and staff, could be on hand to stuff the backpacks. The Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation team, along with a host of other volunteers, passed out the supply-filled backpacks to over 5,000 students, ranging in age from 5 to 17. With the change in the economy, FJM's donations were far less than in years past. As a result, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation decided to forego internal holiday gifts for 2009, and instead, donated additional materials and supplies to assist FJM in its efforts to bolster its "backpack" program.

2008 - FRED JORDAN MISSIONS (FJM) AND THE LEVITT PAVILION PASADENA

Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation took on a dual effort for 2008, offering assistance to the Fred Jordan Mission in Skid Row and underwriting an evening of music at the Levitt Pavilion. The Fred Jordan Mission holds a special place in the firm's heart dating back to the times a Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation staff member would visit this mission as a youngster with her father to provide assistance and to volunteer. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation participated in the Back-to-School Backpack Day, filling backpacks with school supplies for 5,000 children in need. Later in the year, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation hosted a busload of youth from Fred Jordan Missions to an outdoor concert at the Levitt Pavilion featuring Bill Reveles and The Folk Collection, a folk band listed as among the firm's favorite live musical acts. From transportation to entertainment to the evening's catered fare, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation extended its generosity by underwriting the entire program in support of the Levitt Pavilion mission to offer its concerts free to the general public to encourage community spirit, promote respect for diversity, enhance appreciation for the arts, and enrich family values. See video on the event

2007 - BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS - LOS ANGELES AND THE INLAND EMPIRE CHAPTERS

Big Brothers and Big Sisters is an organization that helps youngsters reach their potential through one-to-one relationships with mentors. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation enthusiastically endorsed Big Brothers and Big Sisters as its 2007 Adopt-A-Center recipient. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation treated a group of 300 to a special event at Dodger Stadium where the Dodgers played the Toronto Blue Jays. The local organization was invited to bring their charges for "A Day with the Dodgers" and enjoy Dodger dogs, sodas, goody bags and t-shirts.

2006 - INNER-CITY SCHOOL/LOS ANGELES

Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation chose a group of Los Angeles inner-city school children who were a part of the Dispute Resolution Services Youth Initiative Program, to adopt for the year. On September 17, 2006, youngsters, parents, and sponsors alike enjoyed "A Day with the Dodgers," when the Dodgers played against the San Diego Padres. The firm provided the tickets and its guests enjoyed refreshments, t-shirts, and an exciting game.

2005 - DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES YOUTH INITIATIVE PROGRAM

Based in Los Angeles, the Dispute Resolution Services Youth Initiative Program, a nationwide collaborative of partnerships, connecting governmental, public and private non-profit agencies with schools, families and community groups, to instill positive conflict prevention, resolution and life-skills in children grades K-12. The firm hosted a one day outing at the El Capitan Theater in Hollywood for a private showing of Disney's "Chicken Little" for youngsters enrolled in the program. Children from former Adopt-A-Center recipients Children Uniting Nations and Vista Del Mar were also in attendance. With an extended invite to the children's friends and family, 800 guests donned 3-D glasses and were able to enjoy a classic Disney movie. The firm event was able to raise funds to support additional workshops and instructional sessions for the children enrolled in the programs.

2004 - CHILDREN UNITING NATIONS

Located in Beverly Hills, Children Uniting Nations is an organization dedicated to providing academic and relationship-based mentoring for children at risk. As part of its "adoption" of Children Uniting Nations, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation hosted a table at Children Uniting Nations' annual Academy Awards gala as well as participated in "A Day with the Dodgers" at Dodger Stadium and the "Day of the Child" held at Pierce College in Woodland Hills. During both the "Dodger" and "Day of the Child" events, individuals from the community at large were invited to join the children.

2003 - OCEAN PARK COMMUNITY CENTER

Based in Santa Monica, Ocean Park Community Center is a network of shelters and services for low-income individuals, the homeless, battered women and their children, at-risk youngsters and runaways. Friends of the firm sit on Ocean Park Community Center's Board of Directors who reached out to Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation to "adopt" Ocean Park Community Center for the year. Ocean Park Community Center offers a number of services primarily those that aid displaced individuals in rebuilding their lives. During an outdoor carnival/chuck wagon barbecue, which Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation co-sponsored, the firm hosted a children's activity area complete with games, rides, a visit from Barney, and a petting zoo.

2002 - BREAK THE CYCLE

This Los Angeles-based organization's mission is to engage, educate and empower youth to end dating violence. The preventive education organization offers free legal services, advocacy and support to young people ages 12 to 22. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation honored the firm by hosted a garden party for them at the world-famous Beverly Hills Greystone Mansion. Many of the youngsters involved in Break the Cycle, along with singers from UCLA, performed a variety of song and dance numbers for attendees. Break the Cycle has since grown into a national organization, with offices in Los Angeles and Washington D.C., and has improved the lives of more than 150,000 youth nationwide.

2001 - VENICE FAMILY CLINIC

The Venice Family Clinic provides comprehensive primary health care for those in need regardless of their ability to pay. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation found this organization through a friend who sat on the Clinic's Board of Directors. The clinic serves the uninsured, low income and homeless children. The firm, joined by clinic personnel and guests, painted individual decorative tiles that now make up a floor-to-ceiling mural affixed on the clinic's second floor lobby wall. Each clay tile was personally adorned with sayings, drawings and symbols that ranged in artistic styles from four-year-olds to sixty-year-olds. During this special Sunday afternoon "Old Fashioned Ho-Down," the firm provided a full celebration with country-rock music, a full barbecue spread, bales of hay for lounging, beverages and multi-flavored snow cones.

2000 - FREE ARTS FOR ABUSED CHILDREN FOUNDATION

Free Arts for Abused Children broadcasts its philosophy: "Art Heals" which encourages abused and neglected children to express themselves through the fine arts in both Los Angeles and Orange County. The firm hosted an art auction at a prestigious West Los Angeles gallery, where people bid on oil paintings, watercolors, photographs, line drawings and other pieces of framed artwork created by the children, as part of their therapy, and raising more than $20,000 in support of Free Arts for Abused Children. The firm also hosted a "Free Arts Day" to help the children create art projects-reinforcing the Foundation's philosophy that art heals.

1999 - VISTA DEL MAR CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES

It was important to Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation to inaugurate the Adopt-A-Center Program by helping an organization located right in its backyard and Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services was the natural choice. Located in West Los Angeles, Vista Del Mar and its affiliates Reiss-Davis Child Study Center, Home-SAFE Child Care and Julia Ann Singer Center are dedicated to the well-being and care of children and families in Southern California who suffer the emotional, physical, psychological and social consequences of abuse, neglect and abandonment. Vista Del Mar is a multi-faceted facility that provides not only shelter and counseling to women and children, but also offers both an on-site boarding and day school and a host of educational and rehabilitation programs. During its one-year adoption, Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation threw monthly birthday parties, which included pizza, soda, cake and presents for the children who lived at Vista. Phillips Lerner, A Law Corporation also hosted a cocktail party fundraiser and organized and participated in several beautification projects, such as flower and tree planting.