Thank you for joining us at Bet Tzedek’s 50th Anniversary Dinner Gala to celebrate the work and impact of this remarkable organization.
From our humble beginnings at a small office on Fairfax Blvd. with a staff of part-time volunteers, Bet Tzedek has grown into one of the largest legal aid organizations in Los Angeles County. We are a nationally recognized leader in providing legal assistance to low-income seniors, adults, and their families; leaders in promoting economic security through our employment rights and small business efforts; and one of only two major agencies in the nation to offer free legal services to aging Holocaust survivors. Many of our most vulnerable and marginalized neighbors depend on Bet Tzedek for access to their basic rights and life necessities.
At the 50th Anniversary Dinner Gala, we proudly honored Edison International Executive Vice President and General Counsel and Bet Tzedek Board member Adam S. Umanoff with Bet Tzedek’s 2024 Luis Lainer Founder’s Award. For over nine years, Mr. Umanoff has been a critical member of Edison International’s leadership team, helping guide and support the company’s business and philanthropic endeavors. This has included supporting his colleagues’ pro bono work for numerous Bet Tzedek clients and raising close to a million dollars on Bet Tzedek’s behalf during his tenure of over seven years as a Board member.
In addition, we presented the 2024 Rose L. Schiff Commitment to Justice Award to Angel City Football Club. Angel City FC was founded in 2020 and, in just three years, has built an incredible legacy both on and off the pitch. In addition to reaching the National Women’s Soccer League playoffs during the team’s second season, the team has had an indelible impact on Los Angeles through its philanthropic efforts focused on education, food security, sports equity, LGBTQ+ and gender equality, and more.
Joining Mr. Umanoff and Angel City Football Club on stage was our 2024 Jack H. Skirball Community Justice Award Honoree, Amy Peckner, Bet Tzedek Senior Development Officer. In her 15 years with Bet Tzedek, Amy’s efforts overseeing the annual dinner gala and stewarding numerous donor gifts have resulted in raising more than $25 million dollars for the agency.
