Holiday Comfort & Joy

On December 3, 2022, the 7^th Annual LATLC Holiday event returned to St. Patrick’s Church for another “Miracle on 34th Street.” For the fourth year, we partnered with LAPD’s Newton Division and the Los Angeles Fire Department to provide more than 2,100 toys, household items, and groceries to 500 South Los Angeles families. Each family was selected by the LAPD and local community groups. This year, families were able to select the groceries they needed, and children happily picked out their own toys! The event included a petting zoo, a candy area, and balloon twisters. Children also wrote their holiday wishes on heart-shaped cards for Lovey. And of course, Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus arrived with their elves in style – a pink LAPD vehicle, led by fancy cars provided by the Driven Project. The morning was covered on Channels 2, 9 and 4.

The 6th Annual LATLC Holiday event was a REAL “Miracle on 34th Street.” We again partnered with LAPD’s Newton Division and the Los Angeles Fire Department to provide 2,000 toys, household items, and groceries for 500 South Los Angeles families. Each family was selected by the LAPD and local community groups and completed forms with their children’s ages and genders. The week before the event, LATLC volunteers and LAPD officers filled and numbered the bags with toys specially chosen for each family. After Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived (in style, on a fire truck, escorted by motorcycle officers!) the families walked through a wonderland of inflatable characters and holiday decorations on 34th and Central. Photos were taken as children sat safely, 6 ft away from with Santa, Mrs. Claus and “elves” (the incredible Palencia family!). Children then received ornaments to decorate at home and candy canes. KNBC and KTLA showcased the event LIVE on television! Thank you to EVERYONE who volunteered and sponsored the wonderful event.

The 5th Annual LATLC Holiday event brought “Comfort and Joy” to more than 500 families – even during the pandemic.

In January, LATLC again partnered with the LAPD’s Newton Division and St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, set a date (December 5), and began planning the biggest holiday party ever.

Within six months, it was obvious that a holiday village with thousands of attendees would not be possible. And without our major fundraising events, LATLC did not know if we could provide food, groceries, and toys to those who needed it the most.

With a little imagination – and a virtual poker tournament – LATLC raised more than $50,000, purchased over 2,000 toys and household goods like food and paper items. LATLC even bought special gift cards to supplement the food items since bulk purchasing became impossible. Volunteers were anxious to help assemble bags of the much-needed items, and then give them to families driving or walking, socially distant, along the street in front of LAPD’s Newton Division. This was nicknamed the “Miracle on 34th Street.”

Then a new COVID surge began the week of the planned event. Not to be stopped – and with everything already purchased and delivered to the Newton Division – officers transformed into “Patrol Car Santas,” organized all the items, filled the bags, and personally delivered them to more than 500 families in the community. THIS was the real Miracle on 34th Street!

The 4th Annual LATLC Holiday event, now known as “Comfort and Joy”, was both wonderful and bittersweet. Following the illness and then sad passing of Pastor E.L. Williams (1955-2019), whose dream this event was originally, LATLC moved the annual holiday event to the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church on Central and 34th Street. It was held on December 14, 2019. For the first time, we partnered with the LAPD’s Newton Division. LATLC modified the event to best meet the needs of the community, considered one of the poorest in Los Angeles. As many families do not even have the facilities to cook a large turkey, we provided cooked and frozen hams instead. We added a Holiday Market, giving away much needed household items –from diapers to toilet paper to cooking oil and more. Separate fundraising for the Market brought in $25,000 from law firms, vendors, as well as individuals who wanted to give back to the community. The basics of the event remained the same: a huge Holiday Village with games, food, and activities; toys for the children; the fixings for a holiday meal; and now, additional groceries. We worked closely with the Newton Division, who identified the families in need and helped distribute tickets to 550 families. They even provided an incredible escort for Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus –a motorcade (and luxury ride thanks to Mercedes-Benz of Los Angeles) with helicopter overhead!

This was our most successful event with over 2,000 attendees, 1,500 toys distributed and 208 volunteers(twice the amount from past years!).

Thank you to the law firms that sponsored the Holiday Village activities: The Mandell Law Firm; Aidikoff Law; Ellis Law Corporation; Lallande Law; The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus; Wilshire Law Firm; Girardi |Keese; Michael Burgis and Associates; Cohen and Marzban Law Corp.; Scott J. Corwin, PLC; Bianco Arias APC; Mark Bloom/Daniel K. Kramer; Levin & Nalbandyan, LLP; Sailer Law Firm APC; Christopher Aumais/Girardi | Keese; Carrazco Law APC; Feher Law, APC; Pansky Markle; Krystale Rosal/Law Offices of Mauro Fiore, Jr.; Selarz Law Corp.; The Wallace Firm; Michelle West/Robinson Calagnie; New Lawyers of CAALA.

The holiday dinner groceries and market sponsors included: Accident Fighters, APC; Dan Ambrose & Steve King; CasePeer; V. James DeSimone Law; Doctors on Liens; Pat Farber, Atlas Settlement Group; Healthcare Financial Services; Johnson & Johnson; Karns & Karns; The Medina Family; ThruLaw/Mi Abogado; Hon. R. Bruce Minto (Ret.).; The Rager Law Firm; Rockpoint Legal Funding; Sachs Law; Alan Saler Mediation Services; Signature Resolution; Robert A. Skillin; Law Office of Kenneth L. Snyder; Steno; Robert M. Tessier; TorkLaw; Trial by Human; Z Settlement Advisors – Ringler

Our 3rd Annual Los Angeles Trial Lawyers’ Charities Holiday Turkey & Toy Giveaway was held on December 9, 2018 at the Broadway Corridor and the New Prospect Baptist Church located at 10910 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061. This was an incredible event. More than 100 trial lawyer volunteers were joined by local, state, and federal elected officials and community leaders to distribute frozen turkeys, groceries and toys to local families in need in the community. Over 2,500 guests attended the annual event. LATLC once again worked in conjunction with the LAPD South East Division, the LAFD and the LA City Council 8th District and Councilperson Marqueece Harris-Dawson and Pastor Edwin Williams, Jr. of the New Prospect Baptist Church to make this a most special day in our community.

Thank you to all the sponsors of the event: Lallande Law, Carpenter Zuckerman and Rowley, Wilshire Law Firm, Law Office of Twila S. White, Kramer Holcomb Sheik LLP, Aghaeian Law Michelle West/Robinson Calcagnie, Nguyen Lawyers, Clarkson Law Firm, P.J. Javaheri, Esq. and Mi Abogado, Consumer Attorneys New Lawyers, PanskyMarkle, Law Offices of Bradley S. Wallace, Vartazarian Law Firm, Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus, Scott J. Corwin Law, Ellis Law Corporation, Krystale Rosal /Law Offices of Mauro Fiore Jr., and Christopher Aumais/Girardi Keese.

Our 2nd Annual Holiday Turkey and Toy Giveaway was held on December 16, 2017. The Event Committee Co-Chairs were Immediate Past President Scott Corwin, Vice President Gerry Marcus, Past President Minh Nguyen, and President Elect Dena Weiss. This year was even bigger and better than the year before, with an expanded Holiday Village, and more than 2,500 people in attendance.

We were able to give away the ingredients for a complete turkey dinner and toys to more than 550 low income families! This year, our wonderful attorney sponsors helped us provide “reindeer” rides, face painting, carnival games, snacks, and arts and crafts to make this year’s giveaway a truly magical event. Even Santa and Mrs. Claus joined in to help spread the holiday cheer. The event was attended by city and state elected officials including LA City Attorney Mike Feuer (a member of our LATLC Honorary Board).

We are so grateful to Pastor Williams, City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, the LAPD, and LAFD for their continued support and assistance in putting on this event. Thank you also to our volunteers, who worked tirelessly toensure that the event ran smoothly.

We are so grateful to the many sponsors who made the event successful: Holiday Village Sponsor – Lallande Law; Turkey Sponsor – ThruLaw; Santa Hat Sponsor – Minh T. Nguyen, ALC; Midway Games Sponsor – Girardi | Keese; Wish Upon a Star Sponsor – Carpenter, Zuckerman & Rowley; Sitting With Santa Sponsor – The Clarkson Law Firm; Entertainment Sponsor – The Law Offices of Gerald L. Marcus; Pony Carousel Sponsor – The Law Offices of Twila S. White; Face Painter Sponsor – The Law Offices of Mauro Fiore Jr.; Balloon Twister Sponsor – Kramer Holcomb Sheik LLP; Caricature Artist Sponsor – TORKLAW; Healthy Snacks Sponsor – The Law Offices of Michael Burgis & Associates; Kettle Corn Sponsor – Scott J. Corwin, APLC; Cotton Candy Sponsor – TORKLAW; Hot Chocolate Bar Sponsor – Aghaeian Law; Holiday Tree Sponsor – CAALA New Lawyers Committee

Before long, that modest idea had snowballed intoa massive event. It was decided that LATLC would help 500 families in need. It became clear that the New Prospect Baptist Church alone would be too small to house an event of this magnitude. The entire block of South Broadway, between West 109th Street and West 109th Place was reserved for the event. Turkeys, canned goods, and toys were purchased. However, the committee wanted the event to be more special and meaningful than an ordinary Holiday Giveaway. Minh Nguyen and Mendivil Events envisioned a magical Winter Wonderland complete with arts and crafts activities, games, and Santa & Mrs. Claus.

On December 17, 2016, 90 volunteers transformed South Broadway into a festive holiday village. Over 2,000 people came to pick up their turkeys and toys, and partake in the merriment. 500 turkeys and over 1,000 toys were distributed. The joy was palpable. Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, Los Angeles City Controller Ron Galperin, Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, and Pastor Williams were among the distinguished guests, who gave speeches to kick off our inaugural event. It was a huge success.