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Women of larchmont 2016
Larchmont Chronicle
August 2016
Jill Bauman helps families exit homelessness with 'Imagine' By Jane Gilman Jill Bauman is passionate about solving family homelessness. Seated in her art-lined and book-filled living room, Bauman recounts the road to becoming head of Imagine LA, the non-profit agency that is using creative methods to remedy the homeless dilemma. Born in Pasadena and raised in Santa Barbara, she briefly lived on June St. Bauman graduated from Smith College with a degree in economics and received two masters degrees in business administration and public policy and management from Yale University. Bauman went into computer system design (“I was one of the first to use an Apple Mac”) and later became an investment banker. She has launched three businesses, been a board member of several nonprofits including the cofounder of the Weingart Center “Weingart Partner” young professionals group. Her resume also includes developing an adopt-a-family program and a transitional housing facility for women and children. But it was when Bauman joined Imagine LA as a board member in 2006, in the second year of the agency, that the Windsor Village resident found her niche. Bauman was able to combine her concern for women’s issues with the problem of homelessness.
Jill Bauman
A year later, the president resigned, and Bauman was asked to take the reins. “One-third of the homeless are families,” she explained. “At Imagine LA we utilize a family empowerment and mentorship model and access private and public resources, Bauman said. “We match and train volunteers to work with families emerging from homelessness or at severe risk of homelessness to maintain their housing, to attain selfsufficiency and to ensure that every family member thrives.” Mentors are always needed. Their roles include contacting their families weekly, helping them with budgets, tutoring, nutrition and taking them on outings such as to the Los Angeles Zoo, picnics and festivals. One of the agency’s biggest boosters is Anne Loveland, Hancock Park. Anne said, “Jill
Bauman and her team are doing amazing work here in our own backyard. Often these families have simply had a job loss or a medical situation and no cash reserves / safety net. I have gone through a thoughtful training process with the organization, volunteered, contributed financial resources and spent time encouraging Bauman as a leader over the last five to six years.” Anne echoes Bauman’s appeal for volunteers. She says, “Participation is sorely needed. One person can make all the difference plus helping another feels great!” The Bauman family moved to the area 10 years ago, and Bauman is thrilled to be part of this community. “In addition to local board members, we have the support of groups like NGA, Big Sunday and The Ebell of Los Angeles,” she said. Her friends at the Los Angeles Tennis Club also donate or volunteer to the agency. Bauman is ranked an “A” player and also keeps trim by swimming. Husband John is a literary agent “and a gourmet cook.” He also founded the Shakespeare Company that gives free performances in Griffith Park. Isabelle, 19, is a student at Brown, and James, 17, attends Loyola High School. Some summers the family will be at Ashland, Ore., to see the enactments of the Bard’s works.
The Bauman backyard is a retreat for Jill where she relaxes and enjoys viewing the stone labyrinth the family has created. It’s here she can re-
flect on the success of Imagine LA in helping end the cycle of homelessness. For more information, go to imaginela.org.
GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL continues to benefit from the work of Susan Blumenthal.
Woman of Larchmont still serving the community 21 years later By John Welborne Quintessential volunteer Susan Blumenthal was recognized in 1995 as a Woman of Larchmont, and the results of her good works are still with us today. Plus, she continues to lead, especially in support of the Good Samaritan Hospital. The Hancock Park resident also has been active with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, the Junior League of Los Angeles and the Hancock Park Garden Club. A third-generation Angeleno, whose grandmother was born in Grass Valley in 1878, Mrs. Blumenthal also has been a board member and officer of First Century Families. While other Blumenthal family members have handson duties at the family-owned Gearys in Beverly Hills and in managing property, including on Larchmont Blvd., Susan is increasingly active in her role as a trustee at “Good Sam.” 20 years on the board This coming January, she will have been a member of the Board of Trustees for 20 years. Says Mrs. Blumenthal: “My board responsibilities include serving as chairman of the Development Committee and as a member of the Patient Satisfaction Committee.” In the development area, “we have been very busy with the Campaign for Cardiology that is allowing us to construct and equip two new electrophysiology laboratories, or ‘EP Labs.’” Mrs. Blumenthal observed that one of the many strengths of the hospital is maternity care. In the past 25 years, 100,000 babies have been born at the hospital’s perinatal medicine center, making it one of the busiest labor and delivery departments in Los Angeles. “To support the perinatal program,” says Mrs. Blumen-
thal, “our Development Committee has overseen a $3.3 million ‘Mother and Baby Care Campaign’ that has been enhancing services for the hospital’s smallest patients and their families.” New building progresses Switching topics, she noted that the years-long construction — at the corner of Witmer St. and Wilshire Blvd. — of the new medical office tower and the Frank R. Seaver Ambulatory Surgery Center is nearing completion. “Doctors and patients should be using the new facilities in February or March of 2017,” she said. In addition to all of her Good Samaritan board committee work, Mrs. Blumenthal serves as the advisor to The Auxiliary, a support group founded in 1951. She served as The Auxiliary’s president from 1984 to 1986 “which seems like such a long time ago,” she says. But she also says that the 20 years of board work have gone by very quickly because there always is so much to do and because of “the exceptional doctors and loyal volunteers who are the essence of Good Sam.”
Sway with the palms at South Pacific feast Enjoy the smells and tastes of the South Pacific at the Garden of the Ebell barbecue, 741 S. Lucerne Blvd., Fri., Aug. 12 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Besides roast pork, grilled chicken and fish and vegetarian choices, there will also be specially themed cocktails. Tickets are $35 for members, $40 for nonmembers, $15 for children ages eight to 12 years old (no charge for children under eight years old). Call 323-931-1277 or go to ebelleventtickets.com.