Dear Friends,
From our simple beginnings with community members volunteering part-time from a small storefront on Fairfax Blvd., Bet Tzedek has grown into one of the largest legal aid organizations in Los Angeles County. We are a nationally recognized leader in providing free legal assistance to low-income seniors, adults, and their families; leaders in promoting economic security through our employment rights and small business efforts; and one of only two major agencies in the nation to offer free legal services to aging Holocaust survivors.
In the 1980s — a decade that concluded with our initial 16 years of service — we helped tens of thousands of Angelenos uphold their legal rights and, in the process, create greater security in their lives. This includes assisting more than 9,000 clients in 1987 alone, according to a December 1988 issue of the L.A. Times. Housing stability, access to public benefits, and assistance with conservatorship and advance planning, for example, allowed individuals to thrive then and for generations to come.
To celebrate our impact on communities across the region throughout the decades, we look forward to Bet Tzedek’s 50th Anniversary Dinner Gala coming up on May 2nd. Come be a part of something extraordinary, where each effort makes an impact on the lives of over 80,000 low-income Angelenos annually. Together, we’re not just dreaming of change — we’re making it happen!
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Join Us for an Unforgettable Night at Our May 2nd Gala and After Party
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At the 50th Anniversary Dinner Gala, we will proudly honor Edison International Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Bet Tzedek Board member Adam S. Umanoff with Bet Tzedek’s 2024 Luis Lainer Founder’s Award.
- For over nine years, Mr. Umanoff has been a critical member of Edison International’s leadership team, helping guide and support the company’s business and philanthropic endeavors.
- This has included supporting his colleagues’ pro bono work for numerous Bet Tzedek clients and raising close to a million dollars on Bet Tzedek’s behalf during his tenure of over seven years as a Board member.
In addition, we will present the 2024 Rose L. Schiff Commitment to Justice Award to Angel City Football Club.
- Angel City FC was founded in 2020 and, in just three years, has built an incredible legacy both on and off the pitch.
- In addition to reaching the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs during the team’s second season, the team has had an indelible impact on Los Angeles through its philanthropic efforts focused on education, food security, sports equity, LGBTQ+ and gender equality, and more.
Joining Mr. Umanoff and Angel City Football Club on stage will be our 2024 Jack H. Skirball Community Justice Award Honoree, Amy Peckner, Bet Tzedek Senior Development Officer.
- In her 15 years with Bet Tzedek, Amy’s efforts overseeing the annual dinner gala and stewarding numerous donor gifts have resulted in raising more than $25 million dollars for the agency.
Finally, we will highlight the important work of Bet Tzedek’s various pro bono partners and their incredible efforts assisting our clients.
This soirée is not just a gathering; it’s a powerhouse event that fuels the momentum behind our mission. The energy will be palpable as we bring together more than 1,000 of SoCal’s attorneys and civic leaders, philanthropists and activists, athletes and media, banking and financial services professionals, and friends old and new! This will be an unforgettable celebration of the Bet Tzedek community’s five decades-long service to Los Angeles.
Join us on May 2nd as we raise a collective glass to toast Bet Tzedek’s past and future.
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| After the Gala, step into a spectacular celebration under the stars! Join us at the Rooftop Deck of the Intercontinental Hotel for Bet Tzedek's 50th Anniversary Gala After Party. The After Party is free to attend and open to our entire Bet Tzedek community.
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Cherished Partner WorkingNation Brings Our History and Mission to Life
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Catch a glimpse of the stories to come at Bet Tzedek’s 50th Anniversary Gala on May 2nd with this trailer above. Thank you to our incredible filmmakers and Justice Leader sponsor, WorkingNation! The full videos will be available to stream on WorkingNation's website in early May, following the Gala.
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Bet Tzedek in the 1980s and Tenured Staff Member, Spencer Lord
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The social and economic issues of the 1980s, such as rising housing prices and unemployment rates, set the context for Bet Tzedek’s first decade-plus of work in Los Angeles. By helping vulnerable communities such as older community members and low-income homeowners and tenants uphold their legal rights, Bet Tzedek attorneys worked to create equity across the city and fight for justice for all. Learn more as we dive into our history on our social media accounts, found on the bottom of this page.
Back in the ‘80s, our Hearing Representative Spencer Lord (then a paralegal), was there to address our early work. Spencer joined Bet Tzedek in 1987 and has been with our organization for an astounding 36 years, with plans to retire later this year. Since ’87, Spencer has consulted with over 9,600 Bet Tzedek clients and has also done legal counseling at all Bet Tzedek County Law program senior centers. Spencer received the Jack H. Skirball Community Justice Award at the 2007 Bet Tzedek Gala for his hard work, dedication, and mission-driven mindset.
When asked about his 36 years of service, Spencer explained, "I stayed at BT because of the people we served. I grew up in the projects in Far Rockaway, New York, which is a similar community to the communities that we service. I like the fight and the struggle of each case. I appreciate the legacy of our staff. They understand that each battle that we win makes our clients’ lives a little better." Thank you, Spencer, for your important contributions to our 50 Years of Justice for All!
Read more about Spencer here.
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Welcome Our New EDP Directing Attorney, Magda Madrigal
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Our Eviction Defense Project (EDP) Senior Attorney, Magda Madrigal, has been promoted to Directing Attorney for the EDP team! Since becoming an attorney, Magda has exclusively represented vulnerable tenants in eviction defense and other housing-related matters. Prior to joining Bet Tzedek in 2022, Magda worked at The Eviction Defense Network and, later, at Basta, Inc.
During this critical time for tenants in Los Angeles, and as local governments aim to keep people safe and housed, Magda brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Eviction Defense Project and to the organization. She will continue to share her knowledge by mentoring up-and-coming lawyers and those new to eviction defense.
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Pro Bono Call: Help a Widowed Mother and Her Disabled Son Preserve Their Home
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Case Description: A widowed mother and her young adult son living with an intellectual disability need help securing their home. Mom and Dad were unmarried and had three children. In 2012, they lost one of their sons who had become severely disabled due to medical malpractice. At the time of their son’s death, the family was living in the home purchased through the special needs trust of the deceased son. After the son’s death, the trustee of the special needs trust signed a quitclaim deed giving the house 50% to Mom and 50% to Dad as tenants in common. Mom and Dad continued to live in the home with their two remaining children, a young developmentally disabled son who is conservated and daughter. Dad recently passed away without an estate plan in place. Mom seeks pro bono assistance to preserve her home.
Staffing: This case is best suited for a probate attorney who speaks Spanish or has resources to secure a translator.
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Join the Bet Tzedek Team!
Have a passion for helping underserved residents in the community? Want to work alongside dedicated staff and volunteers who help up to 100,000 people per year?
Here are some critical positions we need to fill, plus more (see button below):
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Have anything you'd like us to add to future newsletters? Respond to this email.
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