Los Angeles Family Housing (LAFH), founded in 1983 to serve homeless families and increase affordable housing, raised $500,000 at its 7 th Annual Awards Dinner attended by 400 supporters October 19 at Universal Studios-Hollywood. The event brought together some of LAFH's longest supporters to honor the organization's founding board member Reverend John Simmons, actor/comedian Paul Rodriguez and Los Angeles Business Council President Mary Leslie.

Presenting sponsors were Century Housing, The Audrey and Sydney Irmas Charitable Foundation and Washington Mutual. Dinner chairs were Deborah Kamins Irmas and Matthew Irmas of Santa Monica.

Simmons, an 89-year-old Lutheran minister of Burbank, got a standing ovation as he received the distinguished Sydney M. Irmas Outstanding Humanitarian Award named for LAFH's original donor. With Irmas' help Simmons and a number of clergy and others took a blighted North Hollywood motel and turned it into the renowned organization that today includes 21 facilities in the San Fernando Valley and East and South Los Angeles, and has served 100,000 homeless and low-income families.

Presenting the award, Sydney Irmas' daughter Deborah Irmas of Westwood said Simmons' courage withstood the harshest rebuke. "John fought the forced internment of Japanese Americans during WWII-an action that alone justifies this award," she said.

Admonishing the audience that "if you care, you must share," Simmons said LAFH wouldn't exist without the continuing generosity and commitment of the entire Irmas family, including the late attorney and philanthropist's wife Audrey of Beverly Hills, son Matthew and daughter-in-law Deborah Kamins Irmas of Santa Monica, son Robert and daughter-in-law Ann Jacobus of Encino and daughter Deborah. Simmons said he's often asked why he continues the effort when many more are now homeless in Los Angeles than when LAFH opened. "That's an even stronger motivation to keep working and that's what you are doing here tonight with this marvelous support," he said.

Born in Mount Grove, Missouri on May 20, 1917, Simmons was ordained a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA), the nation's 5 th largest Christian denomination, on May 7, 1942 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He was joined at the LAFH dinner by more than 100 friends and family including ELCA Southwest California Synod Bishop Dean Nelson of San Pedro and Emmy-winning actor Edward Asner of Studio City.

From TV's Lou Grant, Mary Tyler Moore and most recently Studio Sixty on the Sunset Strip Asner remarked, "Popular or not, John is always on the side of justice." Asner gave money to Simmons' 1986 and 1988 congressional campaigns. "Not enough!" Simmons joked, who lost both races.

Well-wishers also included his wife Beth of 33 years and his 25 year-old Baltimore Ravens quarterback grandson Kyle Boller, fresh from throwing three touchdowns in a hard-fought 23-21 loss to the Carolina Panthers on October 15. The charming 6'3" 220 Valencia native and William S. Hart High School football champion was a last minute surprise for his grandfather. Also lauding Simmons was Burbank Vice Mayor Marsha Ramos and her mother Lila Ramirez who has known and worked with Simmons for more than 50 years.

"More than 65 percent of renters cannot afford the average $2,000 a month it takes to rent in Los Angeles," Leslie said, "and 88 percent of L.A. residents can't buy a medium sized home." While she joked she was "way too young" for a legacy award, Leslie said that "whether what's motivating you is morality or monetary gain, it's in our best economic interest to provide safe, affordable housing to attract and retain a strong workforce and housing for wage earners at every economic level."

NoHo neighbor, actress and comedienne Shayla Rivera emceed the evening and presented the L.A. Family Housing Inspiration Award to actor/comedian Paul Rodriguez of Studio City. Jumping off Mary Leslie's support of the ballot measure, longtime LAFH supporter Rodriguez joked that he too supported "Preparation H." After some side-splitting banter, Rodriguez quietly told the audience that he wanted to follow his adored father who inspired his children to service. "I guess he's proud now," Rodriguez said humbly accepting the award.

Two families helped by LAFH also spoke during the evening. Charles and Mischell Mencer, joined by their three young daughters, described how their stay with LAFH gave them safe housing and the impetus to repay debts, secure medical services and build back their savings. Charles now holds a supervisory position and the family moved into a three-bedroom home in North Hollywood without the need for government assistance.

Fleeing an abusive relationship, Chenia Jefferson and her five young children entered LAFH's Comunidad Cesar Chavez emergency family shelter in East Los Angeles in August 2005.

She commended the Comunidad staff, particularly 6½ year veteran program director Kris Freed, who taught her the meaning of "suiting up and showing up" and how to plan, budget and save for her family's future. With the confidence gained from succeeding in an entry level data collection job and LAFH's mandatory savings program, Chenia moved her family to their permanent independent home at LAFH's Johnny Cochran Villa in South Los Angeles.

The Oakwood School Jazz Band of North Hollywood and The Pat Longo Orchestra entertained guests and the sumptuous dinner was catered by Wolfgang Puck. LAFH has served 100,000 people through a wide range of housing and supportive services. LAFH has built and currently manages 21 facilities with 439 units and nearly 2,000 beds, including emergency shelter for up to 90 days, transitional housing for up to two years-including beds for veterans, disabled, and those with HIV/AIDS-and permanent affordable housing throughout Los Angeles. LAFH has also helped 20 homeless and low-income families purchase homes. For more information about L.A. Family Housing please go to www.lafh.org