Daily Archives: April 30, 2012

BURBANK ARTS FOR ALL FOUNDATION HOLDS INAUGURAL PARTY ON THE PLAZA GALA EVENT

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Hosted by NBC4 Weatherman Fritz Coleman, the night commenced with a distinctive reception followed by a silent auction leading to a seated dinner and awards presentation.  This year’s award

Award Recipients Warner Bros Lisa Rawlins, Barbara Miller, and Beth Morrison. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

recipients were: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc; Educator Beth Morrison; and PTA Council President Barbara Miller. Art teacher Jonelle Pickett and her Burbank High School sculpture students, Annelle Charles and Sun Mo Koo, created the special awards. Cocktail reception entertainment was provided by the Burbank High School Jazz Ensemble and the event portion by the popular band Splash. A spectacular night was shared with art professionals and enthusiasts from all disciplines with proceeds benefiting the Burbank Arts For All Foundation.

The Party on the Plaza gala event marked the Burbank Arts for All Foundation’s sixth year as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing grant funding to support arts education as a core curriculum in Burbank’s public schools and supporting the Burbank Unified School District’s Arts for All plan. Since it was founded in 2006, the Foundation has awarded more than $150,000 in grant funds supporting projects like new musical instruments, artist in residency programs, professional development for teachers, a new kiln, an animated P.S.A. workshop, auditorium and sound system upgrades and many dance, theatre, music and art productions and projects.

Event sponsors included The Walt Disney Company, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc., NBC Universal, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Deluxe, mOcean, Woodbury University, Shamrock Holdings Inc, Poquito Mas, Community Chevrolet and more.   Cocktails were courtesy of GREY GOOSE Vodka

Alexandra Helfrich and Craig Murray, co-chairs, Burbank Arts For All, stated, “We are honored to recognize Warner Bros. with the inaugural Patron of the Arts Award. They established Burbank Arts For All Foundation in 2006 and have continued to give both of their time and generosity in order for arts programs to thrive in all of Burbank public schools,” said Helfrich and Murray in making the announcement. “Additionally, Burbank Arts For All Foundation could not think of two more deserving and inspirational individuals to honor than Beth Morrison and Barbara Miller. They have

Warner Bros V.P. of Government Affairs Lisa Rawlins. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

raised the bar in the advancement of arts education and have given so much of their own time which has directly benefited our schools and profoundly impacted the lives of Burbank kids. We are thrilled to pay tribute to them for their remarkable achievements at this special event.”

 

Patron of the Arts Award: Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.

Honored for establishing the Foundation, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. received the Patron of the Arts Award which is presented to a local business or corporation whose support has made a significant impact on the Foundation’s mission.

 

Arts For All Educator Award: Beth Morrison

This award is presented to an educator who dedicates their own personal time to enrich the lives of all Burbank students through their exceptional commitment to furthering arts education for all.

Beth Morrison, a highly regarded and gifted fine arts teacher at John Burroughs High School, was honored with the Arts For All Educator Award for going above and beyond instructional work. She teaches her students that by leveraging their talents, interests, passions, and time, individually and collectively, they can make very positive contributions to the world… and that art is a powerful vehicle that has the potential to change the world. She has introduced her students to fundraising for important causes through their artistic endeavors that have helped raise thousands of dollars in funding for numerous organizations including The Keep A Breast Foundation (a model and inspiration for their Breast Cancer Awareness projects), the Susan B. Komen Foundation for Breast Cancer research, St. Joseph’s Breast Health Center and other breast cancer related organizations.

Her students have also raised money for the Burbank Arts For All Foundation. She collaborates with many core subject teachers at JBHS so they can better integrate visual arts into their curriculum. She also enjoys working with kids and adults involved in the BYSTI program over the summer. A frequent grant recipient, Ms. Morrison embodies the spirit of Burbank Arts for All Foundation by continuing to give back to students in Burbank schools through arts education.

 

Champion of the Arts Award: Barbara Miller

This award is presented to an individual or organization whose volunteer commitment to providing equitable access to the arts has made a significant impact on the students of Burbank Unified School District and the Burbank community.

Honored for her tireless dedication to the advancement of the arts in the Burbank community, Burbank PTA Council President, Barbara Miller, will receive the Champion of the Arts Award. She is an invaluable resource and works with the California State PTA to follow legislative and budget changes regarding all areas of education and in particular the arts. This dedicated mother of three also serves on the BUSD Facilities Oversight Committee, the Superintendent’s Finance Advisory Committee and the Burbank Arts for All Summer School Advisory Committee. Her dedication bridges the mission of Burbank Arts For All Foundation and the PTA and she was instrumental in both organizations becoming Allied Agencies. Through Mrs. Miller’s on-going commitment to arts education as well as her untiring volunteerism efforts, she continues to be an extraordinary advocate for Burbank Arts for All Foundation.

 

To learn more about Burbank Arts For All Foundation please contact Trena Pitchford, Executive Director of Development at trena@burbankartsforall.org

More Great Pictures From Ross A. Benson

Remembering Frank Pawluc

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Burbank Review
by Stan Lynch

My friend Frank Pawluc, who died April 1, was quite a guy.  He was always involved in some worthwhile activity or another to help the community.  He also had a knack for helping others.

I first met Frank back in the late 1960’s when he was involved with the Exchange Club of Burbank.  Frank was the manager of the Republic Federal Savings & Loan office in Magnolia Park.   We became friends, a friendship that lasted over 40 years.

Frank’s philosophy of helping others had a practical side.  He was good at finding jobs for other people.  A number of folks who needed a job found work thanks to Frank.  Sometimes he helped people in ways that even they didn’t realize.

When Frank bought his home on Rose St. in Magnolia Park, he decided to make a major addition to the home, adding a second floor and completely remodeling the house.  I, along with my friend Bill Stevens, and several other members of the Magnolia Park Exchange Club volunteered to help Frank.  Among the things we did to help, was nail up all the drywall in the house.  We spent many a night, and several weekends doing the work.  We loved to kid Frank about buying “defective” nails.  We would hold up a nail, turn it backward, and tell Frank the head of the nail was on the wrong end.  He would retort that those were the nails for the “other side” of the wall.

We still joke about what a great guy Frank was to give us all “free drywall lessons.”   We did all the work for free, but in hindsight it was Frank who did us a favor.  The practical knowledge we picked up helping build his house has served us all well over the years.

A few years later I was with a group of high school kids from church during Easter vacation.  We were given the task of hanging drywall on the ceiling of a community center on an Indian reservation in central California.  No one was quite sure how to do it, but I knew, thanks to Frank.   And when my friend Bill made a major addition to his home in Burbank some years later, he and I knew exactly how to do the drywall.  Again, thanks to Frank.

Frank Pawluc was one of the good guys.  If the large turnout of friends recently for a celebration of Frank’s life was any indication, a lot of people were touched by his life.   The community will miss him, and so will I.

(Frank J. Pawluc Obituary)

Mayor Puts Ball in Cup as Term Begins to Wind Down

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The Burbank Sunrise Kiwanis Club held its 15th Annual Mayor’s Cup Golf Tournament at the DeBell Golf Course on Friday, April 27.

Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes joins Golf Chair Mike Caggiano and Vice Mayor Dave Golonski. (Photo by Ross A. Benson)

Some of the organizations that benefit from the Mayor’s Cup are the Burbank Boys and Girls Club, Burbank Family Service Agency, Burbank Police Youth Outreach Center, Outreach for Community Support of Underprivileged Children, Children’s Hospital, Boy Scouts of America, Salvation Army, Bret Harte Elementary School, and De Bell Junior Golf and First Tee.

Besides the current mayor, Jess Talamantes, other former mayors  that attended this year’s event included Gary Bric, Vincent Stafano, Dave Golonski, and Mary Lou Howard.

Mike Caggiano was the Golf Chairman this year, and a fun time was had for all.

The Burbank Sunrise Kiwanis meets Wednesday mornings at 7 a.m. at the DeBell Golf Club Clubhouse. For more information, contact Donna Anderson at (818) 238-5880 or at danderson@ci.burbank.ca.us.

Viacom Gives Family Service Agency a Helping Hand

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By Joyce Rudolph

 

Employees of Viacom celebrated a day of giving back to the community by adding their creative touches to Linden House, a transitional facility for young adults run by the Family Service Agency of Burbank.

Alexis Block, left, and Rory Patterson prepare the water feature for the zen garden in the front yard of Linden House. (Photo by Joyce Rudolph)

It is an annual event that brings together employees from the companies under the Viacom umbrella, including Nickelodeon Animation Studio in Burbank and Nickelodeon Games in Glendale, VH1 and Comedy Central, according to Carson Smith, human resources manager at Nickelodeon in Burbank. The cost of materials is covered by Viacom.

“One day a year we go out in the community and do something good,” Smith said. “It is an opportunity to reach out in the community, where we work and many of us live, to help.”

So on April 20, a team of more than 25 employees got an early start at 7:30 a.m. to work their magic in several locations at Linden House.

Working on the mural in the exercise room at Linden House are from left Emily Asaro, Kim Neebe and George Nachev. (Photo by Joyce Rudolph)

Emily Asaro, a production assistant who works on “Dora the Explorer”, was working on a mural on the walls in the garage, which will become a workout and social area.

“One of our painters George Nachev designed it,” she said. “It’s an abstract design.”

Story board artist Ysty Veluz liked the colors in the design — olive, gray blue and flesh tones with white intersecting lines.

“The color scheme is not too loud,” she said. “The design is dynamic with muted colors. I think it’s appropriate for the age group.”

In the front yard Alexis Block and Rory Patterson were installing a water feature — a big orange ball that would become a water fountain. A few feet away Mardine Pouryousef, Eric Swanborg and David Wigforss were building a wooden bench.

Ysty Veluz paints the mural in the workout room at Linden House. (Photo by Joyce Rudolph)

Linden House is a partnership between the Family Service Agency and the Burbank Housing Corp., according to Judith Arandes, executive director of the city’s housing corporation.

“We buy neglected properties and we rehabilitate them,” she said. “As a nonprofit we get good loans from the City of Burbank and that enables us to keep the rents low and rent them to lower income families.”

Seven years ago, the corporation started a partnership with the Family Service Agency to create living spaces for special needs populations. The first project was CARE Cottages, which provides housing for women and children who were victims of domestic violence. The second joint venture was Home Front Project, a residential program for homeless families.

Linden House is a transitional home for young adults, ages 14 to 24, who are homeless, at risk of being homeless and/or have aged out of the foster care system. Over their two years at Linden House, they receive counseling through Family Service Agency, and are given the tools to become self-sufficient.

George Nachev paints the abstract design he created for the workout room of Linden House. (Photo by Joyce Rudolph)

Within six months of moving in, they must have found a part-time job and be in school full time or in some career/job training program, said Laurie Bleick, executive director of the Family Service Agency.

“These young adults are survivors and they can teach us something about getting through the day,” Bleick said. “We want them to take a moment and breathe in a safe environment where they can think beyond tomorrow, that they can start planning for a year from now … 20 years from now and think about what they want from their lives and be able to construct a life that is beyond survival.”

Each participant in the program has their own individualized treatment plan. They have a therapist through Family Service Agency and participate in support groups. Most of them are utilizing some form of art therapy or non-verbal ways of communicating the traumas they have experienced before coming to Linden House. They all complete a financial planning class, life skills class, and participate in communal activities.

“We are now moving the kids toward coming up with a project every year that they will give back to the community, and they will begin to learn not just receiving but giving back, and they are excited about that,” Bleick said. “So, Linden House is not just about individual treatment but about building community.”

Building a bench with slatted cover are from left, Mardine Pouryousef, Eric Swanborg and David Wigforss. (Photo by Joyce Rudolph)