Palisadians Partner to Prevent Child Abuse

Children’s Bureau Hosts Celebrity Chefs and Wine Tasting Event on Oct. 2

United by their vision to significantly change the lives of at-risk children by providing state-of-the-art child abuse prevention and treatment services, Palisadians are paying it forward through an ongoing partnership with Children’s Bureau – one of the largest investors in child abuse prevention in the country.

Through a network of more than 70 county, city and community organizations, Children’s Bureau serves a particularly vulnerable community where 92 percent of families live at or below the poverty line.

Through support from the Angelic Auxiliary, which includes more than two dozen Palisadian women, and the League for Children, more than 50 Palisadians are involved in supporting the 35,000 children living in the neighborhoods within the 5-square miles of the Magnolia Catchment area.

“We aren’t near to the Palisades and we serve a community very different from the Palisades, but we have so many dedicated volunteers from that community who make the effort and work as a team with our staff because they know they are making a difference,” said Susan Wirth, director of communication.

Palisadian Kris Losito was a member of the Angelic Auxiliary for 12 years before she moved into her position on the board of directors three years ago.

“The work we do here teaches rather than berates. It’s not just a handout. The people we serve in this community have to participate – and they want to participate. They want to be good parents to their children; they want to learn and to be better,” she said.

Losito remembers a former police chief commenting that because of the work Children’s Bureau was doing, he was confidant he wouldn’t be seeing the kids again later in life.

“He understood completely. We’re preventing these kids from making bad choices in the future by giving their parents the tools to give them a good start. It’s much easier to stop a problem if you catch it before it becomes one.”

Dating as far back as 1904, Children’s Bureau serves more than 28,000 children and families each year throughout Southern California. Going beyond traditional services, the bureau provides services that include school readiness, parenting classes, family resource centers, support groups, mental healthcare, counseling, foster care and adoption.

“The people we serve come in with a need, but they are also learning that they have strengths too. They can go back into their communities and use those strengths,” said Ron Brown, chief program officer. “That is how we are going to transform an entire at-risk community – by helping vulnerable children become productive, caring adults.”

Philanthropic Palisadians will have the chance to rub shoulders with corporate and civic leaders involved in Children’s Bureau efforts at the historic Casa Vertigo in Downtown Los Angeles at the Children’s Bureau Celebrity Chefs and Wine Tasting event on Oct. 2.

The top chefs in the country will be serving an array of tapas-style creations to please any foodie while a variety of 90 point and above wines are poured from well-known wineries in California and around the world. The event will also feature Master Sommelier Fred Dame as well as exciting silent auction items, entertainment and more.

“We’re focused on prevention, but the hard part is – nobody pays for prevention. There’s no money for it,” Brown said. “Services are necessary but not sufficient. We are trying to foster empathy and real change and the need in this community is bigger than any one of us. We need the money, but this isn’t about the money. This is about teaching a community to take care of community.”

For more information about Children’s Bureau and to register for Celebrity Chefs and Wine Tasting, visit www.all4kids.org/celebritychefs.