Thursday, October 10, 2002
Page 4
Exceptional Children’s Foundation Names Three Attorneys to Its Board of Directors
By LORELEI LAIRD, Staff Writer
A Los Angeles organization serving the developmentally disabled has named three local attorneys to its Board of Directors.
The Exceptional Children’s Foundation, a nonprofit organization that helps children and adults with disabilities such as autism and Down’s Syndrome, announced Tuesday that it had added Kevin DeBré of Kelley Drye & Warren, K&R Law Group’s Edna Chism and Nelsen, Thompson, Pegue and Thornton’s Shirley Deutsch to its board. They join three other Los Angeles-area attorneys—Myman Abell Fineman’s Les Abell, Klint McKay of McKay, Meyer and Herbert, and Joseph Tilem of Tilem & Gole—on the board.
Despite the abundance of attorneys on ECF’s board, President and CEO Scott Bowling said, their legal skills won’t be called upon nearly as often as their leadership skills. Mainly, he said, they’d be making decisions for the organization, helping raise funds and organize events.
“I have personally found these attorneys to be some of the most competent and compassionate professionals currently serving a nonprofit,” he said. “They truly expressed an interest in the mission, beyond other people that we’ve interviewed.”
However, Deutsch said she was sure her professional experience would come in handy.
“I’m an employment lawyer, so for me the idea of getting people who have disabilities, getting them out working really enhances their self-esteem and it really can transform the person,” Deutsch said. “And it’s just amazing to see that. They really want to contribute and really want to work.”
Deutsch and Bowling both credit Carl Terzian, head of the eponymous public relations firm, with connecting ECF to the three attorneys. As a business owner, Deutsch said, Terzian sets up many networking events and strongly encourages professionals to get involved in nonprofit work.
Bowling added that Terzian’s firm has been a great help to his organization, providing services at a “miniscule” fee and giving back “six, seven, eight times more.”
“This is something I’m really excited about doing,” added Deutsch. “These are some of the most helpless little kids, and what they do for them is incredible.”
The Exceptional Children’s Foundation helps children and adults with cognitive disorders and their families obtain workforce training, early childhood developmental activity, supported employment, recreation and other services. Founded in 1946, it helps about 2,000 people in the Los Angeles area each year.
Copyright 2002, Metropolitan News Company