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August 2017 Cover Story - Raise Your Glass 2017: Socializing for a Cause

by Todd G. Friedland

Over $170,000!!! That is how much in grants the Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund awarded to worthwhile organizations in 2017. But we can do better, and the Charitable Fund’s “Raise Your Glass” wine tasting and awards event on August 24, 2017 at Newport Beach Country Club is your chance to help shape Orange County.

The Orange County Bar Association Charitable Fund is the OCBA’s charitable giving arm that supports numerous community programs consistent with the OCBA’s mission “To Enhance the System of Justice, To Support the Lawyers Who Serve It, and To Assist the Community Served By It.” The Charitable Fund raises money through only two events: the Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble and Raise Your Glass. This year, the golf tournament raised a record $102,000 to support the Charitable Fund’s efforts. If we can match that amount at Raise Your Glass, the Charitable Fund should be in a position to support additional programs or increase grants to amazing programs such as these:

California Youth Connection, Creating Leaders from Within, $2,000

Chapman University Dale E. Fowler School of Law, Bette and Wylie Aitken Family Protection Clinic, $12,000

Constitutional Rights Foundation, Orange County, Constitutional Futures Project, $45,000

Human Options, Legal Advocacy Program, $10,000

Laura’s House, Legal Advocacy Program, $10,000

Legal Aid Society of Orange County, Legal Intake for Orange County’s Homeless Residents, $30,000

Orange County Bar Foundation, Project SELF, $3,600

Orange County Korean American Bar Association Foundation, Pro Bono Legal Clinics, $4,000

Public Law Center, Courthouse Clinics, $30,000

University of California, Irvine School of Law, Pre-Law Outreach, $10,000

Veterans Legal Institute, Pro Bono Veterans Clinics, $18,000

Women’s Transitional Living Center, Legal Advocacy Services, $5,000

Where else can your contributions, or attendance at an event, have such a profound impact on so many organizations and the people they serve? Help the Charitable Fund do good. Go to www.ocbacf.org and sponsor, or buy a ticket to Raise Your Glass.

Cheers to Those Who Serve

As an 8,000-member-strong volunteer organization, the OCBA and its Charitable Fund are only as good as those who contribute their time and energy to accomplish the OCBA Charitable Fund’s mission, and who work tirelessly to make Orange County a great place. At Raise Your Glass, we also say “cheers” to some wonderful charitable partners in the legal community, honoring a law firm, a community partner, and an individual each year.

The Incredible Honorees for 2017

Law Firm Honoree: One of California’s most respected personal injury law firms, Aitken Aitken Cohn (AAC) is dedicated to serving the injured and aggrieved consumer in a variety of legal conflicts. In addition to being top-notch attorneys (Wylie Aitken won the OCBA’s Franklin G. West award in 2007), the firm is also dedicated to giving back and serving our community by donating time and money to numerous charities including the OCBA Charitable Fund. AAC is a long-time supporter of both Charitable Fund annual fundraisers: Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble and Raise Your Glass. In fact, AAC has been one of the Charitable Fund’s leading steadfast contributors for years. Indeed, I dare you to find an important charity event in the legal community, and beyond, that has no Aitken firm member in attendance. Wylie Aitken and his team are prolific, serial supporters of worthy causes.

But AAC’s contributions go far beyond monetary contributions. Firm members have given generously of their time through service on the OCBA and OCBA Charitable Fund boards and committees, speaking at MCLE presentations, attending events, and providing auction items. They have even opened their homes to host events to help spotlight the Charitable Fund’s mission.

AAC’s lawyers also provide leadership. Wylie Aitken and others have spoken at numerous MCLE events. Darren Aitken, Ashleigh Aitken, and Michael Penn have all served on the OCBA Board of Directors. Ashleigh Aitken served as the 2015 OCBA President and 2016 OCBA Charitable Fund President. Rich Cohn currently co-chairs the OCBA Education Committee. AAC lawyers have also served on the boards of, or in executive leadership with, the Celtic Bar Association; Constitutional Rights Foundation, Orange County; Orange County Trial Lawyers Association; Public Law Center; Orange County Lavender Bar Association; and many, many more.

In fact, each year attorneys at AAC donate hundreds of hours of time on pro bono and charitable activities. This dedication to worthy causes goes beyond the legal community. One such effort is AAC’s staunch support of Ryan’s Reach, the first non-profit brain injury treatment program in the country—and it is based here in Orange County.

So, a hearty “cheers” goes out to AAC for all you have done to support the OCBA, the legal community, and our Orange County community as a whole.

Community Partner Honoree: The Constitutional Rights Foundation, Orange County (CRF-OC) is dedicated to promoting civic literacy, youth leadership, and career awareness among Orange County teens, improving the lives of thousands of Orange County high school students each year. Since its inception in 1981, CRF-OC has opened doors for Orange County youth by teaching them about civic duty and providing leadership skills.

Contrary to what the name might imply, CRF-OC is not holding fireside chats where high school students recite the Constitution. Instead, CRF-OC administers the Mock Trial program that fielded over forty-five high school teams in 2016. These teams exhibited incredible oratory and analytical skills. Numerous alumni of this program have become lawyers and judicial officers (including Magistrate Judge Karen Scott and Superior Court Judge Richard Lee). CRF-OC also attracted nearly 1,000 students to Career Forum where students learned from professionals about various careers and heard from Adrienne Slaughter, an inspirational athlete and cancer survivor, whose life story demonstrates the power of perseverance over obstacles.

CRF-OC also runs the Peer Court juvenile diversion program, in which offenders are judged by a jury of their peers. Part Scared Straight! and part rehabilitation—in 2016, 78 offenders, more than 350 jurors, and over 2,500 student audience members participated. In addition to these programs, CRF-OC also educated students about our legal system through the Law Day conference and a Constitution Day classroom outreach program. CRF-OC programs expose students to new and different educational and career opportunities and provide them with skills to succeed in their future endeavors.

In sum, CRF-OC organizes interactive, non-partisan civic and law-related education programs that connect students directly with professionals and community leaders. These innovative programs help local teens understand and appreciate our democratic institutions and the rights and responsibilities of citizenship, develop academic and leadership skills, and foster an interest in contributing to the larger community.

Individual Honoree: Anyone who has attended the Charitable Fund’s Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble over the last 33 years (and that should be all of you) has seen and heard from one of its founders, Judge Ronald P. Kreber (Ret.). Judge Kreber retired from Orange County Superior Court in 2014. Unfortunately, the court system does not have the authority to refuse to accept a judge’s decision to retire. Judge Kreber has mentored multiple generations of lawyers. He also has a long history of involvement with organizations such as the OCBA, police academy, Hispanic Bar Association, Celtic Bar Association, and the list goes on, and on, and on.

The legal community has benefited from Judge Kreber’s perspective. He is a former Los Angeles Police Officer (1963-1972), where he rose to the rank of Sergeant of the Homicide Division. Judge Kreber worked as an Orange County Deputy District Attorney from 1972 to 1979. And he was appointed to the Municipal Court Bench in October of 1990 by Governor George Deukmejian. His dedication to public service has always been on display, and remains on display today.

Judge Kreber has long dedicated his time to community service, and has been involved with the Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble since its inception. At the Judge Kenneth Lae Charity Golf Scramble, Judge Kreber traditionally shares the history of the tournament, some golfing anecdotes, and stories about his good friend, Franklin G. West award honoree Judge Kenneth Lae. He reminds us of Judge Lae’s impact. Judge Lae was lauded as “absolutely fair,” and Judge Kreber’s work keeping Judge Lae’s memory alive and raising funds to support the Charitable Fund is important to the OCBA and its members. Judge Kreber has supported the golf tournament with his time, money, and wit for many years. In fact, his service and dedication goes back at least to when the Charitable Fund was known as OCBA ACTS Foundation—and that is a long time ago.

Perhaps Judge Kreber is best summed up on the words of his daughter, Judge Mary Kreber Varipapa, who said: “He brings dignity, honor, and respect with him into his courtroom by the way he treats every person. He brings that same dignity, honor, and respect with him in his regular life. People rarely know he is a judge, but are rarely surprised when they find out.” We at the OCBA Charitable Fund agree wholeheartedly. Judge Kreber is a worthy recipient as this year’s individual honoree.

Wine, Network, Bid, Repeat

At Raise Your Glass, you can taste wines from numerous outstanding wineries, network with the bench and bar, and bid on unique auction items. Then do it again, over and over, until your wine IQ is increased, you have connected with 300 new friends, and your cash has gone to a good cause.

But you would not have those opportunities if not for the hard work of our event co-chairs, Nikki Miliband (who practically invented the Raise Your Glass event) and Jordon Steinberg, as well as their entire Annual Benefit Committee, the OCBA Charitable Fund Board, and the Wine-Tasting Committee (although that group held its meetings at The Wine Gallery). Their hard work and dedication will undoubtedly result in a fun evening for all that will be of great value to the worthy organizations supported by the Charitable Fund.

The OCBA, the Charitable Fund, their boards, and our members are devoted to bettering our legal community, and the community as a whole, but we need you to help raise much-needed funds to support programs like those mentioned ealier. Join us in support of these causes, and to salute our honorees. Register today at www.ocbar.org, or email events@ocbar.org, or simply call 949.440.6700.

Todd G. Friedland is the 2017 OCBA Charitable Fund President because he needed something to do after his term as OCBA President, and we figured the Charitable Fund is such a worthy cause that even he couldn’t drive people away.
Q: Hey Todd, where can I learn more about the Charitable Fund?
A: Try www.ocbacf.org.

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