Jewish Big Brother Big Sister of Los Angeles' 'Big' Event Brings in Big Donations -- over $500K for 90-Year-Old Agency's Mentoring Programs.

LOS ANGELES -- Larry King and over 700 Attendees Honored David L. Swartz and Artie Berrick at 14th Annual Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner and Auction Gala

Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles (JBBBSLA), a non-profit organization specializing in "Excellence in Mentoring," celebrated 90 years of serving children in Los Angeles, raised over $500,000 and honored two extraordinary mentors at The "Big" Event, Lifetime Achievement Award Dinner on Saturday night at the Century Plaza Hotel. With help from the evening's emcee, CNN talk show host, Larry King, the agency auctioned off over $85,000 in prizes, including a 2006 Lexus RX 400h "Chai-brid" from Lexus Santa Monica.

At the 14th annual event, JBBBSLA took the opportunity to honor David L. Swartz with the Sydney J. Rosenberg Lifetime Achievement Award and Artie Berrick with the Big Brother of the Year Award.

"It is remarkable that after 90 years of mentoring, the Los Angeles community continues to show tremendous support to our agency and its programs," said Margy Feldman, president & CEO of JBBBSLA. "We are thrilled that over 700 people came to honor David and Artie."

The Sydney J. Rosenberg Lifetime Achievement Award is presented annually to an individual who demonstrates notable accomplishments comparable to Rosenberg's, who served the agency for over 50 years as a Jewish Big Brother, Board Member and Board President.

For the past 30 years, David Swartz has helped reshape and renew JBBBSLA's Camp Max Straus, a facility that provides invaluable mentoring opportunities and relationships for over 1,600 children annually.

As a Big Brother of 12-year-old Ava for the past six years and a board member for the past three, JBBBSLA acknowledged Artie Berrick's devotion with the 2nd annual Big Brother of the Year award.

"It was not until I picked up Ava for the first time that I realized that her mother was entrusting me with her most prized possession," said Berrick during his acceptance speech on Saturday Night. "Anything that Ava has received from our past six years as Big Brother and Little Sister, I have received two-fold. Being a Big Brother is one of the highlights of my life."

Past recipients of the Sydney J. Rosenberg Lifetime Achievement Award include Marshall J. Wax, Mark Canton, Karl Sussman, James Honore, Robert Shadur, Arnold S. Nelson, Robert Waldorf, Manny Light, Maurice Schwartz, Jr., Leonard Goldman, Scott R. Isdaner and Jerry Steinbaum.

Editor's Note: Contact Lisa Townsend at [e-mail] or 310-556-4443 for images from the event.

About Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles

Founded in 1915, Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters of Los Angeles specializes in mentoring children through its core matching program Jewish Big Brothers Big Sisters; its residential summer camp, Camp Max Straus, where almost 1,000 at-risk, inner-city children that would not otherwise have this opportunity, its scholarship programs; and its free weekend mentoring programs for children, Sports and Arts Buddies. The organization specializes in mentoring children through its extensive network of volunteers and staff. Approximately 1,600 children benefit from the organization's programs and services annually. For more information, visit www.jbbbsla.org, or call, 323-761-8675.